Magda Cooney

Director

Magda Cooney, an alumna and seasoned higher education professional, now leads the Center for Transformative Action (CTA) as its Director. With a rich background in HR, marketing, and communications, she is dedicated to advancing CTA’s mission and fostering impactful partnerships within Oakland and the greater East Bay community. Her previous role at Northeastern University’s HR Department saw her playing a crucial part in supporting faculty during the Mills College merger, providing essential guidance on system integration and change management.

Magda’s commitment to social justice is evident through her work on the Black Reparations Project (BRP), where her marketing and communication efforts significantly increased the visibility and impact of the project’s inaugural conference. She also brings valuable industry experience from the sports sector, having served as a Project Manager and Team Lead at Galanis Sports Data, and led marketing and PR for one of Greece’s biggest football clubs, elevating the club’s brand visibility and fan engagement. Additionally, she showcased her leadership in the non-profit sector at the Montclair Community Play Center, where she served as Vice President and Fundraising Chair, fostering growth while leading the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, and implementing new belonging initiatives.

Magda is also actively involved with the City of Emeryville’s Economic Development Department, specializing in policy and events related to public art, grants, and community development.

Recognized with the Graduate Student Outstanding Leadership Award for her exceptional change management efforts during the Mills-Northeastern merger, Magda holds a Master of Science in Management with a focus on Marketing from Northeastern University, a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Utah State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Studies – Shipping Management from the University of Piraeus, Greece. Her diverse background and robust skill set position her to lead CTA forward.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.