Janelle Coleman is currently the executive director for assessment and evaluation at UT. In this role, she acts as a consultant to senior administrators and department leaders to support diversity, inclusion and engagement efforts in their areas. She assists in the development and implementation of goals and objectives for the Division of Access and Engagement in alignment with institutional goals, and partners with the Office of Institutional Research to prepare analysis of data and other evidence related to the progress of the institution in diversity, engagement, and inclusion.

Coleman has a PhD in Hispanic language and literature, an MS in teacher education, and BA in creative writing and Spanish, all from UT. Her research interests include Hispanophone Caribbean history and cultures, Luso-Brazilian history and cultures, US Latinx and African Diaspora studies, culturally responsive pedagogy, inclusive teaching, and assessment in higher education. She previously served as the faculty consultant for assessment and inclusive teaching in UT’s Teaching and Learning Innovation department. In this role, she led the department’s inclusive teaching initiatives and coordinated Diversi-Tea, a program that facilitates ongoing dialogue related to issues in diversity and inclusion in pedagogy. She also served as chair and founder of UT’s Inclusive Teaching Task Force and a member of university’s Assessment Steering Committee.

Coleman is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in the Evaluation, Statistics, and Measurement program here at UT. When she is not studying or working, she enjoys traveling around the world, learning about other cultures, reading fiction, and participating in activities with the UT Graduate Student–Faculty Chapter of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.

She can be reached at jcolema1@utk.edu or (865) 974-3714.