Faculty & Staff Directory

  Christopher Dignam

  Assistant Professor
  708-235-7563ext. 7563
  Office Location: G208
  Office Hours: Monday 12 - 2 p.m. and by appointment
  College: CEHD

  
 
Programs:
Interdisciplinary Leadership, Ed.D.
Educational Administration
Education
Division of Education
-CEHD-

  
  

FACULTY PROFILE

Dr. Christopher Dignam served as a K12 educator for nearly three decades as a teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools. Dr. Dignam began his career as a high school biology instructor and taught a variety of high school science content areas, including chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, and advanced placement (AP) biology. Dr. Dignam also served as a district area science instructional coach and provided supports to a portfolio of 24 diverse schools. Dr. Dignam later gained school leadership experience as an assistant principal, and eventually, middle school and high school Principal. Dr. Dignam soon after achieved community-wide leadership experiences as both an acting superintendent, and finally, superintendent of schools.

In addition, Dr. Dignam has served as a university professor for graduate and adult studies for over fifteen years for educators pursuing Masters degree diploma and licensure as principals and Doctoral degree diploma and licensure as superintendents. Dr. Dignam joined Governors State University in January 2022 and instructs and supervises future leaders in the Principal Leadership Program and current leaders in the Interdisciplinary Leadership Program. Dr. Dignam is an accomplished guitarist and writes and records music in his home studio. He and his wife spend as much time as possible enjoying the outdoors and adjusting to their new life as empty nesters, as their twin daughters have moved away to attend college.

Dr. Dignam possesses a Bachelors of Biological Science degree with a double major in education, a Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a Masters of Arts degree in School Leadership and Principal Licensure, a Doctor of Education degree in Teacher Leadership, and a Doctor of Education Licensure in the Superintendency. Dr. Dignam was awarded the Illinois Principal of the Year by the McCormick Foundation in 2014, the Principal Achievement Award for the outstanding academic growth of students and for efforts as an exceptional educational leader in 2013 and again in 2015, and received the Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon as Principal at Lane Tech College Prep High School, which was awarded the distinction in 2012.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

  • Dignam, C. (2023). Canvases of professional erudition in STEAM education. International Journal of Academic Studies in Science and Education, 1(1), 1-21.
    https://doi.org/10.55549/ijasse.3
  • Dignam, C. (2023). Portraits of scientific inquiry and scientific literacy skills development in students. International Journal of Academic Studies in Technology and Education, 1(2), 94–112.
    https://doi.org/10.55549/ijaste.28
  • Dignam, C. (2023). Utilizing digital autoethnography for STEAM education and leadership nurturing. In Dignam, C. & Hebebci, M. T. (Eds.), Current Academic Studies in Technology and Education 2023 (pp. 1-26). ISRES Publishing
  • Baughman, B., Dignam, C., & Ramadan, J. (2023). Nanotechnology: Nano measures with giga implications for education. In Dignam, C. & Hebebci, M. T. (Eds.), Current Academic Studies in Technology and Education 2023 (pp. 73-103). ISRES Publishing
  • Dignam, C. (2023). The aesthetics of experimentation: Conceptualizing and actualizing a STEAM program. In Dignam, C. & Hebebci, M. T. (Eds.), Current Academic Studies in Technology and Education 2023 (pp. 124-154). ISRES Publishing

BOOK EDITOR

  • Dignam, C., & Hebebci, M. T. (Eds.). (2023). Current Academic Studies in Technology and Education 2023. ISRES Publishing. ISBN: 978-625-6959-35-4
  • Dignam, C. (Ed.). (2023). Proceedings of International Conference on Academic Studies in Science and Education 2023. ARSTE Organization. ISBN: 978-625-98670-0-7
  • Dignam, C. (Ed.). (2023). Proceedings of International Conference on Academic Studies in Science, Engineering, and Technology 2023. ARSTE Organization. ISBN: 978-625-98670-1-4

BOOK AUTHORSHIP

  • Dignam, C. (2022). Digital graffiti: Instructional leadership from vision to fruition. CANE Dubh Publishing. ISBN 979-8-9050515-1-3
  • Dignam, C. (2022). Recording greenlit: Reflections on the art of sound. CANE Dubh Publishing. ISBN 979-8-9850515-0-6

PEER-REVIEWED CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

  • Pennington, L. & Dignam, C. (2024, February 7-9). Personalized learning: Connecting students to content through choice and autonomy. 16th Annual International Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, Blacksburg, VA, United States.
  • Dignam, C. (2023, December 21-24). Digital autoethnography: Employing innovative educational practices for pervasive learning and leadership nurturing. International Conference on Academic Studies in Science and Education.
  • Dignam, C. (2023, December 21-24). Portraits of scientific inquiry skills development: Creating conditions for engaging parents and supporting all learners. International Conference on Academic Studies in Science and Education.
  • Conrad, D., Dignam, C., & Smith, C. (2023, July 26-28). Leveraging leadership preparation to engage school district partnerships. International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership, HyFlex Conference, Orlando, FL, United States.
  • Dignam, C. (2023, May 17-20). Portraiture education: Utilization of personal artifacts in teaching leadership. International Teaching Learning Cooperative Lilly Conference, Austin, TX, United States.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS