Angela A. Coleman, Ed.D., vice chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), has been named the recipient of the UNC System Association of Student Governments William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Coleman was formally recognized during the Association of Student Governments Awards Luncheon held on April 18, 2026, at Appalachian State University.
The William C. Friday Lifetime Achievement Award is among the highest honors presented by the University of North Carolina System (UNC) Association of Student Governments and recognizes one individual whose career reflects a lifetime of exemplary service to students across the system.
Coleman brings more than 28 years of distinguished experience in higher education administration, with a career defined by strategic leadership, student advocacy and institutional transformation. Prior to her appointment at NCCU in 2018, she served as associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), where she provided oversight for student development and student life units, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, expanded mental health services and led large-scale initiatives to enhance the student experience and academic success.
Her leadership portfolio also includes senior roles at CUNY Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she directed student support programs and advanced initiatives focused on access, retention and student success, as well as leadership positions with Georgia State University and Florida State University, where she led federally funded TRIO programs designed to expand college access and persistence among underrepresented student populations.
Since joining NCCU, Coleman has provided visionary leadership to a comprehensive Division of Student Affairs that spans residential life, student health and counseling services, student engagement, career services, accessibility services and more. She oversees a division of approximately 100 full-time staff and manages a budget of roughly $20 million, while advancing initiatives that support student wellbeing, retention, and holistic development.
Her tenure has been marked by significant accomplishments, including the expansion of mental health resources, the implementation of innovative student success and resiliency initiatives, the strengthening of campus safety and emergency response systems and the completion of major capital projects that have transformed the student experience, including new residence halls and the student center. She has also been instrumental in fostering cross-campus collaboration and securing external funding to enhance student services and accessibility.
Nationally recognized for her leadership, Coleman has been honored as a NASPA Region III Outstanding HBCU/Minority-Serving Institution Professional and continues to contribute to the field through professional service, research, and mentorship.
This recognition is especially meaningful as it reflects the voices of students across the UNC System, affirming the profound and lasting impact of Coleman's leadership, service and unwavering commitment to student success.
Please join us in congratulating Vice Chancellor Coleman on this well-deserved honor and celebrating her extraordinary legacy of leadership in higher education.