Mathew Oakes Email & Phone Number

Rockford, IL, US

Rockford, Illinois, United States

• Utilized disaggregated data to inform course revisions and support student success, achieving a retention rate of 70% or higher across all courses.
• Developed and assessed equity-aligned courses using data-driven methodologies to improve retention and success rates.
• Consistently rated by students as a strong communicator, highly engaging, and approachable (85% strongly agree).
• Awarded Faculty of the Year (2023) and the inaugural Outstanding Faculty, EAGLE Award of Excellence for… Show more
• Awarded Faculty of the Year (2023) and the inaugural Outstanding Faculty, EAGLE Award of Excellence for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2022). Show less

Rockford, IL

• Wrote and won a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant-funded project focused on archiving oral histories and storytelling practices from the desegregation of Rockford Public Schools (1989–2002).
• Leading a cross-functional team to gather, analyze, and synthesize oral histories that illuminate the lived experiences of those impacted by desegregation policies.
• Managing all aspects of the project, including a $60,000 budget, ensuring funds were allocated effectively to… Show more
• Managing all aspects of the project, including a $60,000 budget, ensuring funds were allocated effectively to support research, technology, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• Organized public-facing events and workshops to share findings, foster dialogue, and amplify community voices, resulting in increased public awareness and engagement with local history. Show less

Rockford, Illinois, United States

• Designed and led nonpartisan civic engagement initiatives, leveraging demographic data to inform outreach strategies, increasing student voter turnout.
• Leveraged data insights to guide campaign strategies, targeting outreach efforts based on demographic trends, past voter participation rates, and student feedback.
• Recognized by ALL IN as a 2024 Most Engaged Campus for voter engagement efforts.

Rockford, IL

• Act as the primary liaison between faculty and administration, addressing labor and contract matters to promote equitable and transparent workplace policies.
• Led the resolution of faculty grievances by mediating conflicts, analyzing contract provisions, and negotiating fair outcomes, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.

United States

• Collaboratively lead CAST’s flagship course on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in higher education, engaging administrators and educators across the country to adopt inclusive, student-centered teaching practices.
• Deliver keynote presentations and customized workshops for higher education institutions, focusing on embedding UDL principles into curriculum design, instructional methods, and assessment practices.

United States

• Conducted interview and storytelling research to advance institutional change at Rock Valley College and across the Campus Compact Community College Network
• Co-facilitate Campus Compact’s pre-conference, Community College Institute.
• Collaborated with Campus Compact fellows on developing best practices for civic engagement in community colleges.

Rockford, IL

• Chaired DEIB initiative with a $35,000 budget, using metrics to evaluate program success and integrate lessons learned into RVC’s strategic DEI efforts.
• Drafted RVC’s DEI Board Policy and the first version of RVC’s DEI Strategic Plan in 2020.
• Collaborate across campus on DEIB initiatives as member Race & Ethnicity Commission resulting in the development of RVC as an AAC&U Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center (forthcoming).

Rockford, IL

• Served as a key connector between faculty and the Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence, facilitating professional development opportunities to advance innovative teaching practices, promote student success, and.
• Designed and delivered workshops on effective pedagogy and strategies for fostering inclusive classrooms, benefiting faculty across diverse disciplines.
• Spearheaded the implementation of faculty learning communities to foster peer… Show more
• Spearheaded the implementation of faculty learning communities to foster peer collaboration, share best practices, and drive continuous improvement in teaching and learning.
• Evaluated the effectiveness of professional development initiatives through faculty feedback and participation metrics, using data to inform ongoing improvements to programming. Show less

Rockford, IL

• Led the shared-governance committee, facilitating collaborative decision-making among faculty, staff, and administration to align institutional priorities with strategic goals.
• Advocated for faculty and staff needs while balancing the institution's overarching objectives, resulting in stronger stakeholder buy-in and actionable outcomes.
• Directed the multi-phase search process for Rock Valley College’s Provost, ensuring alignment with institutional values of equity, inclusion, and… Show more
• Directed the multi-phase search process for Rock Valley College’s Provost, ensuring alignment with institutional values of equity, inclusion, and academic excellence. Show less

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Rhetoric And Composition

Dissertation Title: Ethical Rhetorical Practice: Theorizing Lévinasian Ethics in “Students' Right to Their Own Language”

Master Of Arts (Ma), English Language And Literature

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), English And Canadian Studies, Honours