Finnie Coleman, director of Africana Studies and associate professor of English, has been appointed acting dean for University College on Jan. 2, while the university prepares a national search.
After a distinguished tenure as the dean for University College, Peter White went on sabbatical from the University of New Mexico at the end of the Fall 2007 semester. When White returns to UNM he will join the faculty to focus on his passion for educating and mentoring students. Coleman will then become interim dean.
“Dr. Coleman has a comprehensive knowledge base of higher education affairs, especially in undergraduate academic programs,” said Viola Florez, interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “(He) will continue to build upon the excellent programs and initiatives implemented by Dean White, faculty and professional staff working in University College.”
As director of Africana Studies at UNM, Coleman has been responsible for coordinating an African Field History Project, organizing Black History Month activities for the UNM community and working with UNM faculty to provide courses on the African-American experience, as well as language courses in Arabic and Swahili. He also runs a mentoring program in local schools and takes responsibility for local community outreach.
Coleman came to UNM from Texas A&M University, where he was an assistant professor in the Department of English, teaching courses in African American literature and Africana Studies while working tirelessly to expand the university’s course offerings in those areas. He was also associate director for Honors, leading Honors to deliver more academic enrichment programs for high achieving students.
Prior to teaching, Coleman served in the U.S. Army with over a decade of service in Military Intelligence. He began his service as a private, spending four years on active duty as an enlisted soldier prior to attending Virginia Military Institute, where he was a dean’s list student, distinguished military graduate and the vice-president of the class of 1990. After his education at Virginia Military Institute, Coleman served as an officer, leaving the military after the Persian Gulf War.
Coleman’s academic focus includes African American literature, culture and history, 19th century American literature, the history of race and racism and ethnic identity development.
While Coleman works as acting dean for University Studies, UNM will begin a national search for a new permanent dean of the college in the fall of 2008.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; e-mail: bhendrix@unm.edu