UWindsor graduate John Coleman (BA 1973) has begun a one-year term as director of Public Affairs and Communications, president Alan Wildeman announced Tuesday.

Coleman retired as editor of the Windsor Star’s editorial page and arts and lifestyles sections in May 2014. He was appointed senior editor and manager at the Star in 1990 after more than a decade of reporting on issues including post-secondary education, health and the environment, as well as the three levels of government—municipal, provincial and federal.

He headed the Windsor Star’s Queen’s Park bureau in Toronto from 1980-84, served as president of the Queen’s Park Press Gallery and worked briefly at the Star’s Chatham bureau and the Chatham Daily News.

“I am delighted to welcome John to the University of Windsor,” says Dr. Wildeman. “I know that we will benefit from his experience and his enthusiasm for the University of Windsor, and he will provide great leadership for our Public Affairs and Communications team in its efforts to share the successes, opportunities, and important events happening at our University.”

Coleman is the recipient of more than a dozen Western Ontario and Ontario Newspaper Awards for opinion and column writing, two Southam national writing awards, and headed Star projects that led to a National Newspaper Award nomination and two Michener Citations for Meritorious Public Service Journalism in Canada.

In addition to his BA in communications studies from the University of Windsor, he holds a journalism diploma from the University of Western Ontario.

The position of chief communications officer, which previously had responsibility for Public Affairs and Communications as well as Alumni and Donor Communications, will remain vacant, with Alumni and Donor Communications reporting directly to the President’s office.