Dr. Adrienne Coleman, a nationally recognized speaker/researcher, serves as the Director of Equity and Inclusion at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA).  In this role, she is responsible for assessing potential barriers and developing strategies focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse community as well as implementing IMSA’s equity and excellence plan.  Not only has she influenced diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices at IMSA, she has assisted educational institutions, social-service organizations, law enforcement, government and international organizations in moving this work forward for approximately 15 years.  Previously, she worked at Rutgers University as a Program Development Specialist, Research Assistant and Adjunct Faculty with the Bloustein School of Public Health as well as at Illinois State University as a Health Educator.  She served as an AmeriCorps member and was part of the United States delegation team that assisted Moldova (Eastern Europe) in addressing issues of human trafficking and inadequate health education. 

Resulting from her contributions to the diversity space and equity-focused research, Dr. Coleman was the recipient of the 2020 Illinois State University – Educational Administration and Foundation Alumni Award, the 2018 IMSA Presidential Leadership Award, the 2017 Top Ladies of Distinction Hidden Figures Award, the 2016 NAACP Trailblazer in Education Award, the Leon Lederman Scholar’s Award for year’s 2013 - 2017 and the IMSA 2012 E = MC2 award.  Her areas of interest include public health, social justice/DEI education and higher/gifted education. She has examined addressing the inequities that exist in the STEM education to career pipeline as well as the motivation of Black and Latino students to engage in this STEM pipeline.  Her research has informed STEM programs throughout the nation including the NAACP, James R. Jordan Foundation and the American Statistical Association; and recently shared in the global space at the Athens Institute for Education and Research STEAM Symposium. She hopes to contribute to the education and economic development of Black, Latinx and other under-served communities throughout the world by continuing and sharing her research on the motivation of culturally and linguistically diverse students engaged in STEM, ultimately strengthening and diversifying the STEM education to career pipeline.

 

Dr. Adrienne Coleman possesses a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University and a Master of Science in Health Education as well as a Master of Science in Higher Education, both from Illinois State University.