Third-Gen Blue Hose earns valedictory honors

Dr. Margaret Matthews embarks on a career in clinical pharmacy after finishing at the top of her class at the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy

When Dr. Margaret Matthews walked across the stage last spring to receive her doctoral hood from the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, she not only graduated with distinction — she did so as the valedictorian of the Class of 2025 and as a proud third-generation Blue Hose.

For Matthews, the moment was surreal.

“I’ve never achieved anything like this before,” she said. “It was very surprising, honestly. I’m the kind of person who just takes the exams and moves on. I don’t really compare or think too much about it.”

But at some point during her second year in pharmacy school, Matthews realized she was at the top of her class — and decided to stay there.

“I thought, ‘Well, I’m here now. I can’t let it go,’” she said with a laugh.

A Passion for Knowledge

What set Matthews apart was not just her academic performance, but her commitment to truly understanding her field. While many students chase grades, she pursued knowledge.

“I’m very inquisitive. I’ve always wanted to know the why behind everything,” she said. “In pharmacy school, everything just made sense. I wanted to know things not just for the boards, but for real-life practice.”

Matthews has worked in retail pharmacy, but her ultimate goal lies in the hospital setting. She recently matched for a pharmacy residency at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, S.C. — a competitive program that will prepare her for a career as a clinical pharmacist, possibly specializing in internal medicine or critical care.

“In that environment, the rounding teams depend on you,” she said. “You’ve got to be on your game. You have to know everything.”

Finding Her Calling

Matthews was introduced to healthcare early in life. Her mother is a dietician and a diabetes educator and her sister has Type 1 diabetes. Those experiences, combined with comments from her mother’s coworkers — who often remarked she “acted like a pharmacist” — sparked her interest in the field.

But it wasn’t until a campus tour at Presbyterian College that things clicked into place. She accompanied her twin brother, Will, on the visit. The tour was for him — but it ended up changing her life.

“I just tagged along,” she recalled. “But when we left, I was the one who said, ‘OK, I really like this.’”

Determined to understand what a career in pharmacy entailed, Matthews took a job at a CVS in her hometown.

“I wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into,” she said. “And I absolutely loved it.”

That hands-on experience confirmed that pharmacy — and patient care — was her calling.

“I’m not really into the bodily fluids side of healthcare,” she said with a grin. “But being a drug information resource, having people come to me with questions — that’s what makes me feel fulfilled.”

A Family Tradition

Matthews’s PC roots run deep. Her grandfather, William “Bill” Matthews, graduated from PC in 1962 and was a former member of the college’s board of trustees. Her parents, William and Stacy, also graduated from PC, as did her twin brother, Will.

“PC has always been part of our family,” she said. “It’s been really special to be part of that legacy.”

She chose the three-year pre-pharmacy undergraduate track, earning a biology degree with a minor in chemistry before matriculating to the pharmacy school.

“I always recommend the three-year track,” she said. “It cut a year of tuition, but still gave me time to enjoy the college experience. I even took electives like child psychology, which weren’t required but were really interesting.”

That balance of academic rigor and liberal arts breadth shaped her into the well-rounded professional she is today.

“It wasn’t just about learning to be a pharmacist,” she said. “It was about becoming a more well-rounded human being.”

Deep Gratitude for PC’s Science Faculty

Matthews credited the undergraduate science department at PC for laying a solid foundation for her success.

“I feel like they don’t get mentioned enough,” she said. “They really prepared me for pharmacy school — or for anywhere, really.”

She was especially grateful to Dr. Mike Rischbieter, her advisor in the biology department. “He was my mom’s teacher, too, when she was here,” she said. “And (English professor) Dr. Dean Thompson taught my dad.”

That sense of continuity and connection helped reinforce the special role PC played in her family — and in her development as a scholar.

Looking Ahead

As Matthews prepares to begin her residency at the end of June, she carries with her not only years of training but the legacy of her family and the Blue Hose community.

“I’m really excited about what’s next,” she said. “I lived with the same group of friends all through school, and PC has been such a huge part of my life. I would’ve stayed another year if I had anything left to take.”

Her advice to future students is simple: love what you’re learning.

“When you enjoy what you’re studying, it makes all the difference,” she said. “I didn’t get here by competing with anyone else. I just genuinely wanted to understand the material. That’s what carried me through.”

And for those wondering what it takes to graduate as valedictorian of the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy?

“Be curious,” Matthews said. “Be prepared. And never stop asking why.”