Janelle Coleman

Term Ended: 2023

Janelle N. Coleman is vice president, Corporate Philanthropy and Community Engagement; and president of the American Electric Power Foundation.

Coleman leads AEP’s philanthropic community outreach in its 11-state service territory and oversees the AEP Foundation, which in 2019 donated nearly $30 million to support STEM education programs, meet basic human needs including hunger and housing, and fund the arts and other initiatives.

She has more than 20 years of experience in community engagement and corporate philanthropy. Coleman was most recently executive vice president of External Affairs for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Prior to that, she held several positions at L Brands, Inc., including vice president of Community Relations, chief diversity officer and president of the L Brands Foundation.

Coleman is passionate about giving back to her community. She was appointed by the Governor of Ohio to the board of trustees for her alma mater, Ohio University, and currently chairs the board. Additionally, she is board chair-elect for both Experience Columbus and the YWCA Columbus. Coleman is also the board president for the KIPP Columbus Foundation and a member of the board of directors for the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

Coleman received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School. She earned a Certificate of Business Management from the Ohio State University, and a Certificate of Corporate Citizenship Management from Boston College. Coleman completed the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School Executive Education, and she is a certified Personal and Executive Coach. She is an active member of the Executive Leadership Council, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc.

Coleman’s honors include Columbus CEO Magazine – Executive Women Rising to the Top, Columbus Young Professional Club Woman of Inspiration Award, Columbus Business First Forty Under 40, The Network Journal’s 40 Under Forty Award, and Who’s Who in Black Columbus – Interesting Personality.

She is married to Michael B. Coleman, former Mayor of the City of Columbus, and they live in Columbus with their two beloved dogs, Atticus and Mr. Milo. Coleman is a fitness enthusiast, and she loves to travel.

American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s approximately 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 221,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states.