Mary Sue Coleman

Mary Sue Wilson Coleman (born October 2, 1943) is an American chemist and academic administrator who served as the 13th president of the University of Michigan from 2002 to 2014, interim president of the University of Michigan in 2022, and the 18th president of the University of Iowa from 1995 to 2002.

Mary Sue Coleman
President of the University of Michigan
In office January 15, 2022 – October 13, 2022 Acting
Preceded by	Mark Schlissel
Succeeded by	Santa Ono
In office August 1, 2002 – July 1, 2014
Preceded by	Lee Bollinger
Succeeded by	Mark Schlissel
7th President of the Association of American Universities
In office June 1, 2016 – May 31, 2020
Preceded by	Hunter R. Rawlings III
Succeeded by	Barbara Snyder
18th President of the University of Iowa
In office 1995–2002
Preceded by	Hunter R. Rawlings III
Succeeded by	David J. Skorton
Personal details
Born	Mary Sue Wilson (1943-10-02) October 2, 1943 (age 81) Madison County, Kentucky, U.S.
Spouse	Ken Coleman
Education	Grinnell College (BS) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (MS, PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Biochemistry
Institutions	University of Kentucky University of North Carolina University of New Mexico University of Iowa University of Michigan
Thesis	Incorporation of radioactive precursors into polysomes and RNA of mammalian brain during short term behavioral experiences (1969)
Doctoral advisor	John Eric Wilson

She formerly served as Professor of Biological Chemistry in the University of Michigan Medical School and Professor of Chemistry in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.

Early life and education

Mary Sue Wilson was born on October 2, 1943, in Madison County, Kentucky.^[1][2][3] She graduated from a high school in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Coleman received a Bachelor of Science with a major in chemistry from Grinnell College in 1965 and a Doctor of Philosophy in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1969.^[1][4][5]

Career

Coleman was on the biochemistry faculty at the University of Kentucky for nineteen years.^[6] She served as the 18th President of the University of Iowa from 1995 to 2002.^[7] Coleman joined the board of directors of the Meredith Corporation in 1997.^[8]

Coleman was appointed 13th president of the University of Michigan in August 2002.^[9][6] She joined the Board of Directors of Johnson & Johnson in 2003.^[10] Coleman began leading "The Michigan Difference" fundraising campaign for the University of Michigan in 2004; the campaign raised $3.2 billion, setting a record for a public university.^[11] Time magazine ranked Coleman as one of the ten best American university presidents in 2009, citing her success in fundraising and her emphasis on research.^[12] In July 2010, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke appointed her as the co-chair of National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship.^[13] Coleman announced her retirement as President of the University of Michigan, effective July 1, 2014.^[14]

Coleman was appointed to the University of Denver Board of Trustees in June 2015. She is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and co-chaired the Academy's Lincoln Project on Excellence and Access in Public Higher Education Project with former University of California, Berkeley chancellor Robert Birgeneau.^[15] Coleman served as president of the Association of American Universities from 2016 to 2020.^[16]

Coleman was honored by the University of Michigan with the March 2021 dedication of the building that houses the Life Sciences Institute as the Mary Sue Coleman Hall, the first academic building on the Ann Arbor campus to be named for a woman.^[17] Coleman was appointed interim president of the University of Michigan on January 15, 2022, upon the termination of Mark Schlissel by the Board of Regents.^[18] She remained in the post until Santa Ono took the office on October 14, 2022.^[19][20]

Honors and awards

Coleman received honorary doctorate from a number of higher education institutions:^[21]

• Doctor of Science, University of Kentucky (2003)^[22]
• Doctor of Science, Grinnell College (2004)^[1]
• Honorary Doctorate, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China (2004)^[23]
• Doctor of Science, Dartmouth College (2005)^[24]
• Doctor of Science, University of Notre Dame (2007)^[25]
• Doctor of Laws, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2011)^[26]
• Doctor of Science, Eastern Kentucky University (2012)^[27]
• Doctor of Humane Letters, Indiana University (2013)^[28]
• Doctor of Law, Michigan State University (2013)^[29]
• Doctor of Science, Brandeis University (2018)^[30]
• Doctor of Science, University of Iowa (2019)^[31]
• Doctor of Humane Letters, University of Michigan (2023)

Personal life

She married Kenneth Coleman and they have one son.^[32]