Dr. James E. Coleman, Jr. graduated from James Madison University receiving a B.S. with a double major in public administration and political science. He then graduated with honors receiving his Master of Divinity degree from the esteemed Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. Coleman later graduated from the prestigious Duke University Divinity School receiving a Master of Theology degree. He received his earned doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio as a Wyatt Tee Walker and W. Franklyn Richardson Fellow. Coleman’s dissertation is the basis of his first published book Return of The Men. He has done further study at Harvard University Divinity School/Kennedy School of Government as a graduate of the 2001 Summer Leadership Institute with a focus on Community and Economic Development. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the Virginia University of Lynchburg. Dr. Coleman is a member of the first cohort to complete the University of Lynchburg’s Institute of Community Engagement.
James has been a member of the Lynchburg City School Board since 2014, serving three years as the board’s vice chair. James has served as the VSBA Southern Region Chair and chairman of the Legislative Positions/Federal Relations Committee. James has also served as the VSBA Representative on the VHSL Executive Committee and the Virginia Department of Education’s State Teacher of The Year Selection Panel.
Coleman is also the co-founder and pastor of Providence Transformation Church International. Dr. Coleman is the Director of the Doctoral Program and Faculty Chair at Virginia University of Lynchburg.