Dr. Cooney has been associate director of the Lewis Walker Institute for Race and Ethnic Relations since 2008. In 2011, he was awarded WMU’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest honor given by the University to recognize faculty members for their work. He has also been a Kalamazoo City Commissioner since 1997. He teaches courses on the history of social welfare, community practice, social change, and race and culture. Dr. Cooney is active in many social justice organizations, and has a committed interest in community practice, social justice, and confronting institutional prejudice and inequality.