DECATUR — Donna C. Coleman, Calhoun Community College alumna and founder/CEO of Huntsville’s Aetos Systems, will speak at this year’s commencement exercises, the school announced.
More than 450 graduates are expected to attend the ceremony May 12 in the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
“Calhoun is so excited to have one of our alums speak at our very first graduation ceremony at the Von Braun Center,” said Dr. Jimmy Hodges, interim president. “Donna has had an impressive career, and we hope that her story will not only resonate with our students but that the motivation and wisdom she extends will give them the determination to continuously persevere throughout their lifetime.”
Prior to founding Aetos in 2007, Coleman spent more than 30 years with Intergraph, McDonnell Douglas, and SAIC. She earned her bachelor’s degree in applied science from Athens State University.
Coleman, a Hartselle native, is president of the Athens State University Foundation Board and serves on several nonprofit boards including the National Space Club North Alabama Chapter, Pregnancy Resource Center, Choose Life of North Alabama, and Energy Huntsville.
She is involved in the NASA community and an active member of the NASA Headquarters Industry Forum and NASA Small Business Executive Leadership Team.
Most recently, she was appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to serve on the Information Technology Career and Technical Education State Course of Study Committee and Task Force.
In her career, Coleman has received the 2022 Dr. Angeline Nazaretian Distinguished Service award from Athens State; the 2015 Small Business Administration’s Alabama Small Business Person of the Year Award; and the 2014 Women’s Economic Development Council’s Foundation Women Honoring Women honoree for Business and Industry.
She is also a graduate of Leadership Alabama Class XXIX, 2022 Leadership Greater Huntsville and served as the co-chair for the Leadership Huntsville Class 32 Flagship program.
According to the Calhoun Admissions department, 1,480 students will graduate from Calhoun next week.
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