Faye E. Coleman, PhD, is a highly distinguished leader and entrepreneur with a rich background in education, consulting, and executive coaching. In 2016, she launched, and today is principal and chief executive officer of, her self-initialed business, FEC Coaching Enterprises LLC in Washington, D.C., where she provides executive coaching to senior and C-suite executives. Her company has gained a strong reputation for delivering services in women’s empowerment and cultural competence as well as in diversity, equity and inclusion (also known as DEI). Prior to this, Dr. Coleman founded and also successfully led Westover Consultants Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland, from 1984 to 2015. In addition, she was a group leader at Creative Associates International Inc. and a program manager at the Center for Systems and Program Development.
In solid preparation for her career, Dr. Coleman earned a doctorate in education and human development from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in early childhood education and teaching from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts. Her career began as an independent consultant in education, focusing on early childhood education and human development, working with federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Education. One of Dr. Coleman’s most notable achievements occurred during Hurricane Katrina when the Federal Emergency Management Administration, better known as FEMA, sought assistance from HHS and the Mental Health Services Administration. She and her team successfully assembled and deployed a network of mental health professionals to the Gulf Coast within a short timeframe and addressed the psychological trauma of displaced individuals.
Dr. Coleman’s dedication to making a positive difference in the human condition is reflected in her company’s mission and the high employee retention rates she has achieved. Her company undertook significant projects, such as developing curricula for underserved youth and collaborating with the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Women’s Health, and the Office of Minority Health. Throughout her career, Dr. Coleman has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who of American Women. She has also been actively involved as co-chair of the Enterprising Women Foundation since 2017.
Dr. Coleman fondly recalls that her passion for early childhood education was influenced by her mother, a social worker and one of the architects of Head Start. This early exposure to the field inspired her lifelong commitment to equity and education. She ascribes her success to her core values of fairness, integrity, authenticity, and transparency. A significant moment in Dr. Coleman’s life was participating in the historic March on Washington with her father, a monumental event that profoundly influenced her commitment to cultural competence, equity, and inclusion throughout her career. In her personal time, Dr. Coleman enjoys bicycling, Zumba, Pilates, yoga, and traveling. She also enjoys writing and is working on a book about her life’s journey and experiences.