Framingham State Tabs New Vice President For Diversity, Inclusion

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham State University has named a new Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement.

Jeffrey Coleman, who is set to begin the role on Jan. 3, 2023, is a diversity, equity, and inclusion higher education educator, scholar, and practitioner.

"With over 20 years advancing educational and institutional excellence, his experience includes serving as a consultant & qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), facilitating understanding of the developmental stages of the intercultural sensitivity for individuals and groups to guide them in moving towards greater intercultural effectiveness," university officials said, in a news release.

Coleman has served as the deputy chief diversity officer at Kennesaw State University, just outside Atlanta, GA. In this capacity, aspects of his role have included collaborative oversight of the University’s Affirmative Action Plan, developing training frameworks to enhance inclusive excellence competencies within and across various university departments and units, providing consultation, guidance, and support, as well as coordinating university initiatives, and developing grant proposals and applications.

He has facilitated workshops and engaged students, faculty, and staff around topics including cultural competency, group intercultural development plans, antiracism, implicit bias, and inclusive excellence, the university said.

“We are very happy to have Dr. Coleman join Framingham State University to lead our Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE) office,” said FSU President Dr. Nancy Niemi. “He brings deep experience to the position and will serve as an important advisor to me and to our whole university community on issues and policies involving antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are looking forward to benefitting from his expertise and experience.”
Dr. Coleman says he was attracted to the Framingham State opening because the institution’s values align with his own.

“The University’s commitment to becoming an antiracist institution is very powerful and I saw a great opportunity for synergy and collaboration,” said Coleman. “It feels like a really good fit for me. I am big on creating a culture of inclusion that fosters a sense of belonging for every member of the community so that they can achieve excellence, succeed and thrive.”

Coleman is a native of Bloomfield, Connecticut, so the role at FSU brings him back to his native New England.

He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Studies and Cultural Studies from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of Science in Counseling with a Concentration in Student Development in Higher Education from Central Connecticut State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies from Trinity College (Hartford, CT).

Framingham State Education Professor Wardell Powell will continue serving as the Interim Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer until Coleman comes on board, the university said.