About Me
“My interest has always been with groups that don’t have a voice, and I work to try to give them voices.”
Professor Matthew Mims, who has been at UNK since 2007, teaches Organization and Practice in School Counseling and Career Counseling. He also supervises student internships.
Mims, who grew up in an inner city suburb of Detroit, Mich., received his bachelor’s degree in history and education from Alma College in Michigan. He earned his master’s degree in counseling and college student personnel from Western Illinois University.
After earning his master’s degree, Mims worked as a hall director at Ball State University for six years, and then worked as assistant director of residential life at the University of South Dakota.
He earned his educational doctorate from USD in counselor education. Mims then worked as a high school counselor and an adjunct professor at USD.
“I always liked helping people – interacting with them on a personal basis, and being able to see their growth as well as growth in myself.”
Mims has a special interest and has been active in the GLBT community. At UNK, he is the advisor for the student organization Queer Straight Alliance, and he leads Safe Zone Trainings, which aim to create safe environments for the GLBT community.
He’s also conducted research in global education and has an interest in international education, international student refugees and global curriculum.
“I like to see students grow. Sometimes you have to push them past the resistance, but when they get that ‘aha’ moment it’s very fun. At times with counseling it’s a struggle until the end when all of a sudden all of the pieces click together.”
“I’ve seen some of the impact our students can have on making the communities throughout Nebraska stronger.”
PASSIONS:
- Supporting son, Griffin's, hobbies – orchestra, theater, speech and soccer. He’s 16 years old and a junior at Kearney High School.
- Professional organizations. Mims is involved with the Nebraska Counseling Association and is the Midwest Chair of American Counseling Association.
- His spouse. Mims is married to Grace Mims, a professor and chair of the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at UNK. The couple met at Western Illinois University, where they both worked as hall directors and took graduate classes together. They have been married for 23 years.
- Traveling. Mims was the orientation and activities coordinator for Middlesex University in London for three summers. One of these summers served as his honeymoon, on which he and Grace celebrated their marriage with 80 college students. He has also traveled to Japan, Korea, and China.
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