Matthew Farina

Dr. Matthew Farina is the Director of College Counseling at the Collaborative College High School (CCHS), joining our community on a part-time basis in 2023. Matthew brings fifteen years of experience in higher education leadership, spanning roles as a head of admissions, a transfer admissions manager, and an international recruiter. At CCHS, Matthew will support students to create an enriching post-secondary plan and help them build toward their individual goals as they approach graduation.

Matthew holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Innovation (Ed.D.) from NYU’s Steinhardt School where his qualitative research focused on student climate and support within an art college setting. He earned an MFA from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and a BFA from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in Philadelphia.

Creatively inclined his whole life, Matthew’s paintings and collage works have been exhibited widely, including in numerous one-person exhibits. He has also curated shows, written reviews for art publications, and attended several residencies.

Matthew and his partner collaborate as an author-illustrator duo on picture books for children. Their 2019 book, Lawrence in the Fall, was an Ezra Jack Keats Honoree and a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.

I was drawn to Homestead CCHS because it is a learning community focused on service, curiosity, wellness, and innovation. Combining that with a Montessori basis and a unique connection with the SUNY system, you have a high school built for the future with a strong sense of local and global citizenship passed on to its graduates.