Michael Coleman named associate vice president for facilities

Michael Coleman, executive director of operations at the University of Pennsylvania, has been appointed associate vice president for facilities at Virginia Tech. His appointment is effective Monday, Feb. 18.

In making the announcement, Sherwood G. Wilson, vice president for administrative services, said, “Mike Coleman has a proven record of achievement in facilities management at a major university that will be invaluable to Virginia Tech. He has exceptional experience in leading initiatives with a focus on operational excellence and strong customer service.”

Coleman will be responsible for providing creative vision, leadership, and management for the university’s facilities operations, which include planning, design, and construction, physical plant and utilities, transportation services and parking, facilities information management, and energy and sustainability.

As executive director of operations at the University of Pennsylvania, Coleman is responsible for daily operations and management within facilities and real estate services. He brings over 20 years of facilities, management, and construction experience in both higher education and private sectors.

Coleman received a bachelor’s degree from Neumann College.

In previous roles, Coleman was project engineer at Trigen Energy Corporation in Philadelphia, and then general manager of Trigen in Trenton, N.J. He was director of facilities services at Trammel Crow Company in Philadelphia from 1998 to 2000, and then joined the University of Pennsylvania as director of central services. He was promoted to executive director of operations in 2003.

In his current position, Coleman oversees a $152 million budget and 830 employees.

Among his accomplishments, Coleman initiated a new wind energy purchase to increase the wind position to almost 30 percent of its electric consumption, a significant impact to the carbon footprint at University of Pennsylvania. He developed an energy management program that resulting in an annual $4 million savings. Coleman also implemented a total re-organization of service delivery for increased performance and customer satisfaction.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech is the most comprehensive university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is among the top research universities in the nation. Today, Virginia Tech’s eight colleges are dedicated to quality, innovation, and results through teaching, research, and outreach activities. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, Southside, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 180 academic degree programs.