Board Spotlight
Meet Rosemary Coffman, Vice-Chair, Board of Directors, The Bridge Over Troubled Waters
With over 35 years of experience in student success and wellbeing, including mental health services and Title IX support, Rosemary Coffman has dedicated her career to empowering others. As the Executive Director of Student Success and Wellbeing at Lee College, she has been an advocate for education, prevention, and community collaboration. Now, as the Vice-Chair of The Bridge’s Board of Directors, Rosemary brings her passion and expertise to the forefront of our mission.
Rosemary’s journey with The Bridge began over 15 years ago through her role at Lee College, where she worked closely with the organization to bring critical information and services to students and the larger Baytown community. She quickly recognized the passion and dedication of The Bridge’s staff and felt compelled to become more involved. In 2019, she joined the Board of Directors, serving as Board Secretary from 2022 to 2025 before stepping into her current role as Vice-Chair. This year, she hopes to strengthen outreach efforts, ensuring that more individuals in need can access the vital resources The Bridge provides.
Believing that everyone deserves to feel safe in their relationships, Rosemary’s experience working with the community college population has given her firsthand knowledge of how domestic and intimate partner violence can disrupt lives. Through the partnership between Lee College and The Bridge, she has helped educate the community on prevention while providing direct support to those experiencing sexual violence. Whether it is offering space for an on-campus advocate, leading healthy relationship workshops, or sponsoring the annual Take Back the Night event, Rosemary has been instrumental in fostering the collaboration between The Bridge and Lee College to support survivors.
Rosemary understands that very few people remain untouched by sexual violence, whether directly or indirectly. She believes that supporting The Bridge financially and volunteering time are impactful ways to stand with survivors. While she acknowledges she may not be able to change every injustice or prevent all harm, she knows that she can be part of the solution by supporting organizations like The Bridge. Every effort counts, and she encourages others to take action, knowing that collective support can make a meaningful difference.
If given the opportunity to have dinner with any historical figure or celebrity, Rosemary would choose Mr. Fred Rogers, the beloved children’s television host. His mission to encourage self-love and love for others deeply resonates with her. One of her favorite quotes from him is, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’” He believed that those who see a need and take action are true heroes, and Rosemary strives to embody that philosophy in her work every day.
We are grateful for Rosemary’s leadership, passion, and commitment to serving survivors and advocating for a safer, more supportive community. Her dedication helps drive The Bridge’s mission forward, and we are honored to have her on our board.
