M. Diane Cox

Project: IIN Conference FY26: Powering Illinois’ Future Together

Research Interests:

• Economic development, workforce development and sustainability with smaller underserved communities
• Establishing strong collaborative relationships between and among communities and community groups
• Developing effective research administration onbo

Dr. Diane Cox is a seasoned educational leader and research development professional with more than 25 years of experience spanning K–12 and higher education systems. Her career reflects a deep commitment to continuous improvement, student achievement, and the strategic alignment of programs, funding, and policy to drive meaningful outcomes across diverse settings.

Currently serving as Director of Grant Development at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Dr. Cox leads institutional efforts to identify funding opportunities, build collaborative research teams, and strengthen proposal development processes. She works closely with faculty and administrators to advance externally funded initiatives and has cultivated strong partnerships across federal agencies, foundations, communities and academic institutions.

Dr. Cox’s extensive leadership background includes senior roles such as Education Officer (aka Assistant Superintendent) in a large urban district, General Director of Teaching and Learning, Executive Director of School Improvement, and Director of Federal Programs across multiple school districts. In these positions, she oversaw multimillion-dollar budgets, led large interdisciplinary teams, and designed comprehensive systems for curriculum alignment, professional development, and program evaluation. Her work consistently resulted in measurable gains in student achievement and organizational effectiveness, particularly in high-need and urban districts.

A recognized expert in grant development and program evaluation, Dr. Cox has served as a peer reviewer for multiple federal agencies contributing to the advancement of national funding priorities. She has also played a key role in shaping state-level standards and policies in Missouri, Kansas, and Florida, particularly in areas such as teacher preparation, literacy, and professional development.

Dr. Cox is widely respected for her collaborative leadership style, systems thinking, and ability to translate data into actionable strategies. She has presented at numerous state, national, and international conferences on topics including research administration, capacity building, instructional improvement, and funding strategy. Her work emphasizes building sustainable infrastructures that support innovation, accountability, and equity.

She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, with an emphasis on organizational change and professional development, along with advanced degrees in educational leadership and elementary education.

Throughout her career, Dr. Cox has remained dedicated to fostering partnerships among schools, universities, and communities to expand opportunities for learners and educators alike.