Gooden’s research interests include the principalship, anti-racist leadership, urban educational leadership and legal issues in education. His research has appeared in Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal, Education and Urban Society, The Journal of Negro Education, Educational Administration Quarterly, The Sage Handbook of African-American Education and The Principal’s Legal Handbook, Handbook of Research on Educational Leadership for Equity Diversity and others. He serves on the Executive Committee for University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) and is currently President-Elect of that of organization. Gooden has also served on various committees for the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Before entering higher education, Gooden served as a secondary mathematics teacher and department chairperson who facilitated professional development workshops for and with teachers and educational leaders in Columbus Public Schools. He has spent 17 years in higher education developing and teaching courses in leadership, diversity, law, and research methods. During that time he has developed, designed, and facilitated professional development courses in diversity, leadership, and law. Gooden co-developed a module for UCEA that helps leaders understand how examining their beliefs, attitudes, and awareness can improve their ability to support diverse learners. Recently, Gooden designed and co-facilitated professional development sessions on diversity and leadership that resulted in over 500 central office administrators and support staff being trained in a large urban school district. Mark earned his PhD in Policy and Leadership from The Ohio State University in 2001.