J E F F R E Y . K . C O L E M A N '01

The following feature story appeared in the campus publication MOSAIC in May, 2000.

An activist in faith and politics

Those familiar with Trinity College know that its small, closely knit community is ideal for nurturing old interests and discovering new ones. Jeffrey K. Coleman ’01 has done both during his three years at Trinity. He has fed – and shared -- his strong, abiding faith in God and his love of inspirational music by performing with Trinity’s Gospel Choir. And, having discovered his own political skills, he has been active in efforts to promote diversity at Trinity and has become a leader in student government. Whether he’s leading the choir or a Student Government Association (SGA) committee meeting, his goal, he says, is to ensure all voices are heard.

A love of music
Coleman came to Trinity from nearby Bloomfield High School, and he indulged his love of music by becoming a drummer in the Gospel Choir, a 15-member, co-ed group. "I began playing the drums and singing in the youth choir in church when I was 12," Coleman notes. "When I was in high school, I was involved in the concert choir, show choir, concert band, and the all-state northern regional music showcase."

This year Coleman was president of the Gospel Choir. He teamed with College Chaplain Nihal de Lanerolle in organizing Saturday worship services in the Chapel for the campus community. Operating in the best traditions of the College, Coleman reached out to the community beyond campus and invited pastors and choirs form the greater Hartford area to participate in the ceremonies. In recognition of his exemplary efforts, Coleman received a citation from the City of Hartford at a special event honoring those who have enriched the community.

In the spring, Coleman led the Gospel Choir as it joined the Chicago Mass Choir and six other Connecticut groups to perform at a widely attended celebration on campus. In addition to playing with the Gospel Choir, Coleman has also performed with the Jazz Ensemble and the College’s Latin-music band, Salsafication.

 

Supporting diversity
Coleman’s discovery of his keen interests in activist politics has led him to become deeply involved in efforts to enhance diversity at Trinity. Through his role as a P.R.I.D.E. (Promoting Respect for Inclusive Diversity in Education) leader working with the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Coleman leads incoming minority and international students in P.R.I.D.E.’s preorientation programs designed to help them adjust to the new college environment. Coleman also works with several of the College’s multicultural organizations -- the Asian-American Student Association (AASA), Imani (which focuses on Black awareness), and the Multicultural Affairs Council (MAC) -- to help members of the campus community better understand all the diverse cultural heritages represented here. "I like to teach people about my heritage and to learn about others’. We all try to celebrate each other’s background and culture at Trinity," he says.

Coleman believes the entire campus can benefit from the College’s recent creation of cultural houses for use by AASA and for La Voz Latina (Trinity’s Latino student organization) and from the new Hillel house (planned completion date is 2001). "I think the effort the College has made to increase and support diversity has already affected the campus in small ways," he observes. "For these efforts to be even more successful, the rest of the campus should become involved in them."

A go-getter with boundless energy
Coleman has worked as an office assistant in the Dean of Students office since he was a first-year student. Says Dean of Students Mary Thomas, "It was clear from the beginning that Jeffrey would throw himself into the life of the community. It has been wonderful to watch him grow into a leader at Trinity, whether it be through his involvement in SGA, as a P.R.I.D.E. mentor, or in his role as the head of the Gospel Choir.

"Jeffrey is a go-getter with boundless energy. All of us marvel at his uncanny ability to be almost everywhere and to know as much about Trinity as those of us who have been here for many years! Although he is a student leader, Jeffrey has never sacrificed his academic work for extracurricular activities. He has always been a serious student, and he is a good example of someone who has learned how to balance his time in order to meet the very high standards he sets for himself."

A focus on people and public policy
A public policy major, Coleman has found courses such as "Constitutional Law," "Blacks in American National Politics," and "Politics and Society in the 20^th-Century South" especially stimulating. "They presented deep, intriguing discussions that have challenged me to think critically," he says. And they have promoted the development of political skills he hones in his budding career in student government.

He served this year as chairman of SGA’s student resources committee and next eyar he will serve as vice president of SGA. He expects to gain additional insights about the political process when he serves an internship this summer in the office of State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier at the state capitol.

Associate Professor of American Studies Jerry Watts, with whom Coleman took the politics and society course, says, "Jeffrey is really a bundle of wonderful contradictions. On the one hand, he is a decent and warm fellow who possesses an incredibly silly sense of humor. On the other hand, I jokingly refer to him as ‘the Bishop’ because of his deep commitment to his Christian faith and his desire to see that faith play more of role in the student life of Trinity. Now that the students have elected him to a leadership position in the student government," Watts chuckles, "Jeff is personally attempting to bridge the church-state divide."

Coleman is contemplating several career options following graduation, including graduate school, law school, and a position in college administration. But he also seems to be quite interested in a career that would enable him to pursue his recent discovery of politics. "I haven’t ruled that out," he says with a smile.

-Simeon Ketchum ’00

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