Cahndice Matthews, PhD

Dr. Cahndice Matthews is a Professor in the Department of Education, in the College of Education, Arts, and Humanities at Pennsylvania Western University – Clarion campus. Formerly a PK – 12 teacher in both Texas and Kentucky, Dr. Matthews brings 22 years of both public and private school teaching experience to the higher education teacher preparation program at Penn West. “In order to teach someone to do something, you need to have done it yourself,” Matthews asserts.

She has previously served as an Adjunct Professor at HBCU Wiley University (formerly Wiley College); as a 2004 Frederick Douglass Dissertation Fellow at Penn West – Clarion (formerly Clarion University of Pennsylvania); and as a 2008 Frederick Douglass Postdoctoral Fellow at Penn West – Edinboro (formerly Edinboro University of Pennsylvania).

Since arriving at Penn West in 2008, Dr. Matthews has served the university, the community, and the profession in numerous capacities:  as a Faculty Senator; as a Senate Subcommittee Chair; as Co-Chair of the University-Wide Sabbatical Committee; as a member of the University-Wide Promotion Committee; and on the local and statewide leadership team of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty.

During her tenure at Penn West – Clarion, Dr. Matthews’ professional affiliations have included Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society in Education, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Pennsylvania Professors of Middle Level Education, The National Association of Multicultural Education, the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, and the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education.

In 2022, Dr. Matthews was awarded a year-long sabbatical, for the Fall 2023 semester and the Spring 2024 semester.