EXPERTISE
Higher Education Administration
Community Colleges
Leadership
FACULTY PROFILE
Dr. Matthew Cooney serves as Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Interdisciplinary Leadership Doctoral (INLD) Program in the College of Education and Human Development at Governors State University.
Dr. Cooney researches and teaches on leadership studies and higher education administration with a focus on the college and university presidency. He has more than 10 publications, 30 presentations, and one edited book.
He transitioned into a faculty role after working in administrative roles in higher education including student affairs; undergraduate education; and institutional research and effectiveness. Dr. Cooney was selected to participate in the prestigious Emerging Leaders Program through the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES
Zell, M. C., Pedigo, T., & Cooney, M. (2021). “Come and see for yourself”: Exploration of mindfulness practice by first-year college students. The Qualitative Report, 26(1), 274-295. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4430
Martin, Q & Cooney, M. A. (2020). The climb to the top: Advice for aspiring Black and African American college and university presidents. Journal of Research on the College Presidency, 4, 13-21.
Cooney, M. A., & Borland, K. W. (2018). The next generation of community college presidents: Results of a national study on who they are, how they prepare, and how they lead. Journal of Research on the College Presidency, 2, 14-29.
Dugan, J. P., Bohle. C. W., Woelker, L., & Cooney. M. A. (2014). The role of social perspective-taking in developing students’ leadership capacities. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 51, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1515/jsarp-2014-0001
REFEREED ARTICLES
Cooney, M. A., & Borland, K. W. (2016). Student unrest: From historic infamy to humane inclusivity. Journal of Higher Education Research, Assessment, and Practice, 1, 1-5.
Cooney, M. A., Pernick, J. D., Rice, K. L., & Monago, E. A. (2016). Utilization of change theory to implement an appreciative advising model. Journal of Higher Education Research, Assessment, and Practice, 1, 21-25.
PEER-REVIEWED BOOK CHAPTERS
Pennington, L., & Cooney, M. A. (2022). 10s across the board: Paris is Burning and LGBTQ political trauma. In A. Johnson & P. J. Yoder, (Eds), Hollywood or history? An inquiry-based strategy for using film to acknowledge trauma in social studies (pp.21-36). Information Age Publishing.
Cooney, M.A., Orwacyzk, M., & Long, J. (2022). Crafting your own professional development plan: Lessons from community college leaders. In Q. Martin, (Ed.), Career development and job satisfaction (pp. 113-132). Nova Science Publishing.
Cooney, M. A., & Martin, Q. (2021). Pipeline to the presidency. In G. D. Gearhart & M. T. Miller, (Eds.), Handbook of research on the changing role of college and university leadership (pp. 17-34). IGI Global.
INVITED BOOK CHAPTERS
Cooney, M.A., Martin, Q.M., Garza, R., & Ayers-Palmore, K. (2023). Adaptive leadership in urban community colleges: Meeting new challenges through new ways of thinking. In M. Miller & E. Smith (Eds.), New Directions for Community Colleges: Urban Community Colleges. (Under revision).
Early, S. L., & Cooney, M. A. (2017). Consciousness of self. In K. Skendall & D. T. Ostick, (Eds.), Leadership for a better world facilitation manual (pp. 63-82). Jossey Bass.
BOOK EDITOR
Q. Martin & M. A. Cooney. (Eds.). (2021). The evolving college presidency: Emerging trends, issues, and challenges. IGI Global.
CONFERENCE PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
Cooney, M.A., Martin, Q., Didion, C., Lester, K., Williams, C., & Baness-King, D. (2022, November 7). WEnvision our future together: Collaborative professional development alongside student affairs and faculty. Presentation at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Convention.
Cooney, M. A., Didion, C., Dominguez, A., Hayes, T., Howery, S., Mehmeti, A., & Vujaklija, A. (2021, June 25). Paving the path to the 60 x 25 goal through customized learner support. College Changes Everything Conference, Virtual Conference
Martin, Q & Cooney, M. A. (2021, March 24, 2021). The climb to the top: Perspectives and advice from college and university presidents. Presentation at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Convention.
Cada, E., Cooney, M.A., Didion, C., Johnsen, R., & Sexton, C. (2021, February 3). DEI strategies to move from commitment to engagement to results. Presentation at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Winter Meeting.
Cooney, M. A. & Vujaklija, A.R (2020, October 9). Equity-focused professional development. Presentation at the Southland Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium Faculty Professional Development Conference.
Andrews, J., & Cooney, M. A. (2020). The experiences of historically Black college and university presidents from student affairs. Poster presentation at the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership, Virtual Conference.
Zell, M., Pedigo, T. W., & Cooney, M. A. (2020). Come and see for yourself: Exploration of mindfulness practice by first-year college students. Presentation at the 2020 Annual Gateway Course Experience Conference. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
Cooney, M. A., Peng, L., Durojaye, A., & Schneider, L. (2020, March). Engaging with online students: Utilizing VoiceThreads in curricular and cocurricular contexts. Presentation at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Convention (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
Cooney, M. A., & Pedigo, T. W. (2019, November). Mindfulness and academic success: An exploratory study. Poster presentation at the Association for the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education Annual Conference, Amherst, MA.
Pedigo, T. W., Evans, A., & Cooney, M. A. (2019, November). Creating social change through trauma-informed compassion. Poster presentation at the Association for the Contemplative Mind in Higher Education Annual Conference, Amherst, MA.
Cooney, M. A., Johnsen, B., Deeds, D., Novotny, L. E., & Retian, D. (2018, October). The false narrative of higher education and advising through popular media. Presentation at the National Academic Advising Association Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO
Cooney, M. A., Horton, A. L., & Cleggett, C. (2018, July). Preparation practices of community college leaders of color: Diversification of the community college presidency. Poster presentation at the Association of Leadership Educators National Conference, Chicago, IL.
Pedigo, T. W., & Cooney, M. A. (2018, July). A mindful university: Relational leadership, mindfulness, and shared governance. Poster presentation at the Association of Leadership Educators National Conference, Chicago, IL.
Cooney, M. A., Horton, A. L., & Cleggett, C. (2018, April). Gender differences in the utilization of transformational leadership by community college senior administrators. Presentation at Governors State University Research Day, University Park, IL.
Cooney, M. A., & Turos, J. (2018, June). Amplifying student voices: Training undergraduate students how to conduct qualitative research and assessment. Presentation at the Student Affairs Assessment and Research Conference, Columbus, OH.
Turos, J., Matuga, J., & Cooney, M. A. (2017, October). Student learning analysts: Actively engaging undergraduates in the assessment process. Presentation at the Assessment Institute, Indianapolis, IN.
Starkey, J. J., Cooney, M. A., Delasala, K., & Cazares, V. (2017, October). Performance based funding – Should it impact how we advise? Presentation at the National Academic Advising Association Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO.
Starkey, J. J., Cooney, M. A., Delasala, K., & Cazares, V. (2017, October). The role of academic advisors during student unrest. Presentation at the National Academic Advising Association Annual Conference, St. Louis, MO.
Cooney, M. A., & Borland, K. W. (2017, April). The next generation of community college presidents: Results from a national study. Research paper presentation at Council for the Study of Community Colleges Annual Conference, Fort Worth, TX.
Skendall, K. C., Cooney, M. A., Correia-Harker, B., Karikari, S., & Komives, S. (2017, April). Innovative approaches to facilitating the social change model. Presentation at ACPA: College Student Educators International Annual Convention, Columbus, OH.
Cooney, M. A., & Borland, K. W. (2017, April). Differences in leadership styles between academic and student affairs leaders. Research paper presentation at ACPA: College Student Educators International Annual Convention, Columbus, OH.
Cooney, M. A., & Borland, K. W. (2016, January). International student movements and “The Heart of It All” in the 1960s and 1970s. Presentation at Ohio College Personnel Association Conference, Columbus OH.
Cooney, M. A., Pernick, J. D., & Rice, K. (2016, January). Utilizing appreciative advising in multicultural affairs work. Presentation at Ohio College Personnel Association Conference, Columbus OH.
Valentino, C., Rios, J. R., Cooney, M. A., & Borland, K. W. (2015, March). Utilizing authentic leadership to enhance your professional practice. Presentation at National Association of Student Personnel Administrators International Convention, New Orleans, LA.
Cooney, M. A., & Borland, K. W. (2015, January). “Good to great”: Strategies for new professionals to accelerate their careers. Presentation at Ohio College Personnel Association Conference, Columbus OH.
Cooney, M. A., Doughty, J. D., & Urabe, C. A. (2013, November). Postsecondary students in the media: Misrepresentation of today's generation. Presentation at National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Region 4-East Convention, Columbus, OH.
Bohle, C. W., Cooney, M. A., & Woelker, L. (2011, April). The role of social perspective-taking in developing students’ leadership capacities. A poster presentation at the Loyola University Chicago School of Education Research Symposium, Chicago, IL.
Bohle, C. W., Cooney, M. A., Woelker, L., & Dugan, J. P. (2011, March). The role of social perspective-taking in developing students’ leadership capacities.. Research paper presented at the ACPA: College Student Educators International Annual Convention, Baltimore, MD.
Bohle, C. W., Gebhardt, M., Hofert, M., Wilk, E., & Cooney, M. A. (2010, April). The differential influences of leadership program participation on students’ capacities for socially responsible leadership. A poster presentation at the Loyola University Chicago School of Education Research Symposium, Chicago, IL.
Dugan, J. P., Bohle, C. W., Gebhardt, M., Cooney, M. A., & Osteen, L. (2010, March). Leadership legacies: Influences of formal leadership programs. Presentation at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Convention, Chicago, IL.
INVITED TALKS
Cooney, M. A. (2022, December 2). Supporting LGBTQ students in K-12 education: Tools for aspiring educators. Presentation at 2022 Governors State University Student Teaching Seminar. University Park, IL.
Cooney, M. A. (2022, November 4). Grow where you are planted: Career development lessons from research on the college presidency. Presentation at Bowling Green State University’s New Professionals in Transition Conference. Bowling Green, OH.
Cooney, M. A. (2022, November 3). The college and university presidency. Guest lecture for HIED 7110: Organization and Governance in Higher Education. Bowling Green, OH.
Cooney, M. A. (2020, March 12). Rethinking research for generation Z. Keynote address at Crown Point High School Inaugural Research Day. Crown Point, IN.
DIGITAL MEDIA
Governors State. (2020, February 2). African American students discuss topics in higher education [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/4YbGpWdinWY. [Note: Recruited, organized, and presented video with GSU ILEA team and Digital Media and Learning Design].
Dugan, J. P., Bohle, C. W., Gebhardt, M., Hofert, M., Wilk, E., & Cooney, M. A. (2011). The differential influences of leadership program participation on students’ capacities for socially responsible leadership. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 48, 65-84. https://doi.org/10.2202/1949-6605.6206