About Dr. Cheryl R. Coleman
Dr. Cheryl R. Coleman
Dr. Cheryl Coleman is a distinguished consultant and leader with a Ph.D. in Public Affairs from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and a relentless passion for guiding organizations toward excellence in workforce development, organizational leadership, and race-related diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). With a robust academic foundation and a career spanning several decades, Dr. Coleman is committed to driving transformative change and fostering thriving workplaces.
Her groundbreaking dissertation, “Volunteer Management in Faith-based Organizations,” pioneered an empirically based theory on volunteer management, which, incorporated diversity management. Her research was conducted with a diverse group of faith-based organizations, including homogenous, as well as multicultural organizations. Her research has been published in prestigious academic forums, including the Workforce Education Forum, (peer-reviewed and published through Penn State University) where her insights have enriched the discourse on modern labor markets.
In 1995, she realized her unique calling could not be accomplished without helping faith-based organizations achieve their potential of modeling agape love across racial lines. After years of being conflicted by racial divisions in the church, which, appeared to be cultural rather than Biblical; and processing her own issues around race through honest and ongoing self-examination. She embodied the calling with a commitment to integrity, compassion, and character before God. Dr. Coleman published a newspaper, Christ (Christian Resource and Information Station) Publications, and it was distributed across the United States and Canada. It was in this publication that the term “Identity in Christ” was coined to declare that at the base of one’s Identity in Christ, is to transcend all other identities, character and nature. Fundamental to one's Identity in Christ is the matter of race, (a social construct) identifying with Him, and therefore His Body, of every nation and tongue. Identity in Christ has become a global term now, however, often omitting this very fundamental truth.
The process of growth, clarity, and development before God on matters of race was among the most difficult things she experienced, having been taught, conditioned, and raised in the US, where race as a social construct dominates and negatively influences human relationships. These experiences are what lead to another term she coined, Eurotheism, which lends in part to the perception among mainstream Christianity that Non-whites hold second class citizenship to Whites in society and in the Christian church, while the Bible reveals in Romans 2:11, there is no respect of persons with God.
In 2023, Dr. Coleman retired early from academia to focus on addressing racial challenges in the church. While the challenge is pervasive and an embedded social norm, notably, these challenges appear to be uniquely prominent within White, American evangelicalism, which seemingly perpetuates racism and hinders unity in Christianity, as evidenced by historical trends, and through current, mainstream social and political factors. Her commitment to honesty, integrity, research, and truth, remains unwavering as she navigates the intersection of faith, race, and social complexities. Now, she wants to help all faith-based organizations explore and embrace their God-ordained responsibility by truly addressing the racial issues by taking the lead in race-related DEI.
Championing Race-Related DEI and Volunteer Management in Faith-Based Organizations
Driven by a mission to enhance DEI understanding within faith communities, Dr. Coleman founded Genesis Eleven, Inc., a pioneering organization dedicated to improving race relations in the U.S. mainstream faith community. She is the author of the well-known global terms, Identity in Christ, Eurotheism, and the Emerging Multicultural Church. These terms reflect meaning and understanding to impediments to race relations among Christians in the US, and abroad, theorized by racism in mainstream American churches.
With a visionary outlook and a wealth of knowledge, Dr. Coleman is poised to guide faith-based organizations on their race-related DEI journey. She offers tailored training, counseling, coaching, and workshops that inspire change, promote inclusivity, and foster harmonious communities.
Consultant in DEI, Organizational Development and Leadership
Dr. Coleman is a distinguished consultant and leader with a relentless passion for guiding organizations toward excellence in workforce development, organizational leadership, and Biblical, race-related diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) . With a robust academic foundation and a career spanning several decades, Dr. Coleman is committed to driving transformative change and fostering inclusive, thriving workplaces.
Academic Excellence
Dr. Coleman's academic journey led to a Ph.D. from the School of Public Policy and Leadership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where her groundbreaking dissertation, "Volunteer Management in Faith-Based Organizations," provided the original empirically based theory for volunteer management, and laid the foundation for her passion in bridging the gap between the faith community and race-related DEI. Dr. Coleman’s academic journey is marked by a deep dive into research, focusing on workforce development, organizational leadership, and the crucial role of DEI in today's organizations.
Research Enthusiast
Dr. Coleman’s passion for research is unwavering. She is keen to participate in cutting-edge research projects that delve into the intricacies of workforce development, organizational leadership, and DEI. Her multidisciplinary approach, combining elements of public affairs, business management, sociology, psychology, and educational leadership, offers a unique perspective in the research landscape.
