DOTHAN, Ala. — Troy University has selected Dothan businessman Jeff Coleman to be its new chairperson for the Troy University Foundation Board of Directors.
Coleman, known as the former candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, has been a part of the Foundation Board since 2015. He also served as the chairman of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for two years.
“I am deeply humbled and greatly honored to serve as the Chairman of the Troy University Foundation,” he said. “I look forward to helping Troy University grow and prosper with a Trojan Warrior Spirit.”
As a businessman, Coleman runs the Coleman World Group, a family-owned moving, storage, relocation, and transportation company that has been active since 1914.
University officials said Coleman is a good fit due to his commitment to his community and the state of Alabama.
“Jeff Coleman is a proud Trojan with a proven record of service in the Wiregrass, throughout the State of Alabama and beyond,” Chancellor Jack Hawkins said. “We are grateful for his continued support of Troy University, and we know that our Foundation Board will benefit greatly from his strong leadership.”
Coleman has had a decades-long connection to the university, having graduated with a master of business administration from Troy Dothan. The campus named him as the Alumnus of the Year in 2003.
Troy University also officially dedicated the Coleman Center for Early Learning and Family Enrichment in honor of his father, James F. Coleman, in 2019. The Coleman donated $1 million for the building’s construction.
“Jeff Coleman is a great leader and an outstanding Trojan who has been a valued member of the board for several years,” said Maj. Gen. Walter Givhan, Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Economic Development. “He brings an energy and enthusiasm to the role of chairman that has us excited about the future.”
Since 1968, the Troy University Foundation has worked to support “broader educational opportunities,” serving the Trojan Nation by gathering private support for its charitable works. This adds to legislative support as well as revenue gained from student fees.
