HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP & PERFORMANCE COACH
Robin R. Means Coleman, PhD
About Robin
Scholar | Author | Leader | Strategist
Robin R. Means Coleman, PhD is a Professor of Media Studies and of African American and African Studies at the University of Virginia. She has held several senior leadership positions. Before joining the University of Virginia, Dr. Coleman was the Vice President & Associate Provost for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer, and the Ida B. Wells and Ferdinand Barnett Professor of Communication Studies at Northwestern University. There, she implemented diversity accountability processes by working collaboratively with Northwestern’s 12 schools and colleges on three campuses.
Credentials & Training
Leadership and Performance Coaching Certificate
(ICF certified program), ACT/Brown University
Foundations of Organizational Ombuds Practice,
International Ombuds Association
Academic Leadership Institution, New School/Univ. of Michigan
Institute for Educational Management, Harvard University
Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion, Cornell University
American Council on Education Leadership Academy
Executive Leadership Academy, University of California-Berkeley
National Intergroup Dialogue Institute
NADOHE Standards of Professional Practice Institute
National Forum on Higher Ed. for the
Public Good Leadership Institute
Inclusive Hiring Certification
Bystander Intervention: Anti-Asian/Xenophobic Harassment
Americans with Disabilities Act Certification
Women Leaders Making a Difference
And more...!
Coaching Methodology
A 25+ year higher education professional, Dr. Coleman’s practice is informed by cutting-edge social science and humanities scholarship, including her co-authored book, Intercultural Communication for Everyday Life. Her approach to coaching is theoretically-informed and evidence-based. She draws on the tenets of positive psychology-, strengths-, self-determination-, and motivation- theories. From this empowering, ‘positive’ framework, she focuses on cultivating opportunities, fostering growth potential, and setting clients up for lasting success.
Her clients report that they prefer her affirmative, “encouraging” approach to coaching. They reveal coming away from their interactions feeling affirmed,“lighter,” and prepared to further advance their professional growth, productivity goals, and leadership strategies.
Dr. Coleman ascribes to “providence”: timely preparation for future potentialities.
Photo by Christina Wocintechchat
Clients
Dr. Coleman specializes in professional development coaching and consulting in higher education for senior leaders, administrators, faculty (TT/Instr.), staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and post-docs.
Most recently, she has provided bespoke coaching, mentoring, and consulting services to clients from Northwestern University, Texas A&M University, the University of Michigan, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Rochester, the University of Cincinnati, Chatham University, DePaul University, Iowa State University, the University of Virginia, Wayne State University, Baldwin Wallace University, and an executive search and strategist firm.
She supports the following clients through long-term engagement: Faculty (tenure ladder; instructional), Directors, Chairs, Deans (assistant; associate), Vice Presidents, Provosts (assistant; associate), Managers, Supervisors, Diversity Officers, and Lab Directors.