Out with the old and in with the new. FAMU has been cleaning up shop and making room for new and driven administrative and faculty members willing to take that extra initiative toward moving forward.
Angela Alvarado Coleman has been named the associate vice president for Student Affairs. Coleman oversees the student support departments such as the counseling center, health services and the TRIO and CeDAR programs.
The New York native is a graduate of both the University of Florida and Florida State University, where she received her doctoral degree in higher education. Coleman said it’s nice to be back in Tallahassee and working for FAMU.
“At an early stage of my college career, I had an affinity toward the institution when I started working with the TRIO programs,” Coleman said. “I always had a close affiliation to Florida A&M.”
Coleman’s determination and drive is also what led her to become a part of the university’s administrative staff.
Her passion for serving students and wanting to bring about a change and transformation for the institution as a whole is what most appealed to her. Despite suggestions by friends and critics against her working for the college, she feels that FAMU is a good fit.
“I have to go with my gut,” Coleman said. “I kind of looked at it more as an opportunity to come in and make some change because I have a lot of good and fresh ideas that can contribute to the growth of the division here.”
Some of her colleagues agree that she is a great addition to the student body.
“She has a strong work ethic, heart and passion to serve students and she will be a great asset to Florida A&M University,” said Sonya Knight, counselor and adviser of the TRIO program. “The university is very privileged to have her come and serve as the associate vice president of Student Affairs.”
In all of her efforts, Coleman’s main focus is to cater to the students with a big emphasis in mentoring. She believes it can play a very intricate role in the success of minority students.
“I have been fortunate to get to where I am today because of mentorship, so it’s really important for me to give back,” Coleman said. “Particularly for students of color, it’s good to have that confidence in someone telling you that you can do it.”
Coleman has great plans for FAMU, one of which doesn’t involve her leaving the university any time soon.