Adler University Selects Lisa Coleman as President

Lisa Coleman has been appointed the second president of Adler University. She will assume her presidency on September 1. Adler University, originally founded as the Institute of Adlerian Psychology, enrolls about 1,900 students across its campuses in Chicago, Vancouver, and online.

Dr. Coleman currently serves as the inaugural senior vice president for global inclusion and strategic innovation at New York University. Prior to her current role, she was Harvard University’s first special assistant to the president and first chief diversity officer. Earlier in her career, she served as director of the Africana program and the senior inclusion officer at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

“As I prepare to step into the role of president in September, I am eager to embark on a journey of discovery and collaboration with Adler University’s vibrant and globally diverse community. I am committed to actively listening to the insights of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners and fostering a culture of collaboration and engagement,” said Dr. Coleman. “I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this remarkable globally engaged community and excited to witness the collective growth that lies ahead as we re-imagine possibilities and expand our reach.”

Dr. Coleman is a graduate of Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where she double-majored in sociology and anthropology with a focus on women’s studies and computer science. She holds three master’s degrees from Ohio State University in African and African American studies; women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; and communication studies. She received a Ph.D. in social and cultural analysis and American studies from New York University.