Matt Cookson
President
Since 2005, Matt has served as Associate Vice Chancellor for External Relations at the University System of New Hampshire (USNH), directing their communications and outreach efforts. He joined CC Stephens and was named President July 2010.
During his career, he held senior positions at New England College, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, PC Connection, High Point Communications, and the University of Connecticut. He has also provided consulting services to many local, regional and national organizations.
Cookson received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Connecticut and is a Leadership New Hampshire Associate. He currently serves on the boards of Network New Hampshire and the New Hampshire High Technology Council, and chairs the Council’s Education Committee. In 2009, he was named as one of the “25 Leaders of the Future” by “Business NH Magazine.” He is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Hampshire, where he has taught public relations courses.
Matt Cookson brings with him significant strategic public relations experience in terms of product and service launches, integration of PR tools and messaging, and an understanding of corporate communications through his roles as director of public affairs at PC Connection and as the spokesperson for the University System of New Hampshire.
He also served as the director of government affairs for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and was a member of the senior staff.
He brings with him high-level contacts in business, government, education, media, and the non-profit sector from across the state and has a history of strategic and creative problem solving and coalition building.
Most recently, he helped create an organization called Stay Work Play NH to advance the 55% Initiative, an effort to encourage more young people to launch their careers in NH. He has served as an editor of a college magazine, has drafted and overseen the production of the last five annual reports for USNH,and has led efforts to redesign several web sites.