She studied biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She completed her Master of Surgery from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at the Indiana University, her Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Ecology from Oregon State University, and did postdoctoral research at the University of North Carolina.
She previously worked at National Aeronautics and Space Administration and at the University of California Berkeley. Her professional titles at Stanford are Chester Naramore Dean of the School of Earth Sciences, and Richard and Rhoda Goldman Professor of Environmental Studies. Pamela Matson grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin.
After graduation Matson started a career that would center on environmental issues.
Ames Associate Fellow (1992) Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1992) National Aeronautics and Space Administration Exceptional Service Medal (1993) United States National Academy of Sciences (1994) MacArthur Fellowship (1995–2000) University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Distinguished Alumni Award (1996) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1997) Oregon State University Distinguished Alumni Award (1998) McMurtrey Fellow for Undergraduate Education.
National Academy of Sciences. American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
