Mary Coleman

Dr. Mary D. Coleman is a scholar, educator, and nonprofit leader who has dedicated her career to expanding opportunities, strengthening communities, and improving lives. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University and her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, later returning to Jackson State as a professor and mentor to generations of students. 

Throughout her career, she has worked across higher education, international civic engagement, and nonprofit leadership, including serving as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Lesley University and Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President at Economic Mobility Pathways, where she helped create pathways out of poverty and homelessness. Her research and writing, including her Pulitzer Prize-nominated book Land, Promise and Peril, reflect her deep interest in people’s lives and the social and economic forces that shape their opportunities. A lifelong advocate for equity, inclusion, and human potential, Dr. Coleman believes in the power of support, connection, and opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. 

Mary is drawn to FriendshipWorks by her steadfast interest and skills in strengthening the strategic arteries of the Massachusetts nonprofit sector, especially the mission and capabilities of human development organizations. During her volunteer review of nonprofits funded in part by the Cummings Foundation, she discovered FriendshipWorks—an organization dedicated to and highly respectful of older adults, the largest demographic population in the nation. She is pleased to be part of the FriendshipWorks community and its mission to foster meaningful connections, reduce social isolation, and help older adults feel valued and connected.