Title: Adjunct Professor
Company: Northwest Shoals Community College
Location: Sheffield, Alabama, United States
Joseph C. Cooney, PhD, BCE, adjunct professor at Northwest Shoals Community College, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in public health and education.
Dr. Cooney’s career in public health and education spans decades, making significant contributions to physiology, medical entomology, and human anatomy. He began as a commissioned officer with the U.S. Public Health Service, where he held key roles with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After retiring from the federal government in 1998, he transitioned into academia, teaching as an adjunct professor for 23 years, most recently at Northwest-Shoals Community College, until his full retirement in 2020. During his academic career, he also served as a guest lecturer at the University of North Alabama and consulted for the World Health Organization (WHO) on environmental management. Additionally, he has been a co-founder and board member of the Sheffield Education Foundation since 1998. Throughout his career, he has also contributed to the industry by authoring numerous research papers and scientific journal articles.
Reflecting on his path, Dr. Cooney’s career is marked by his extensive international and national work in vector-borne disease control. He served on a WHO expert panel, advising on environmental management techniques to combat diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks. His contributions included fieldwork in various locations such as the Caribbean, Kenya, and Australia, and he co-authored a textbook on vector control, now an international reference. His research extended to tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, and he helped develop Permanone, a widely used tick repellent. He also worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority on mosquito control, contributing to the development and testing of mosquito larvicides.
Dr. Cooney laid a solid educational foundation with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry in 1962, followed by a PhD in medical entomology from Auburn University in 1967. He also earned a Commissioned Officer Degree from Auburn and was awarded an NDEA Fellowship, later becoming a Board Certified Entomologist. He attributes his success to the valuable mentorship he received and the unwavering support of his wife throughout their years together. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he dedicated 16 years to coaching Little League baseball and remains active in his community as a choir member and a supporter of youth and student-focused civic initiatives. Additionally, he holds memberships with the Entomological Society of America, the American Mosquito Control Association, the Vector Control Society, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Tracyton Pee Wee Sports Association. In the coming years, he committed to staying involved in his church and community and supporting his grandchildren.
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