John Coleman joined the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as Provost in July 2023. In his role as Provost, he oversees the campus’ academic programs, policies, and priorities, which are designed to ensure the quality of the educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students, support faculty development and recognition, and sustain an environment that encourages and supports academic excellence. He also serves as the chief budget officer for the campus. Provost Coleman earned a Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. in government and history from Clark University where he was a first-generation college student.