Through this award, professor Coleman will compose and perform a play about managing life with diabetes based on her and others' personal experiences to inspire and encourage people with diabetes to live well with the condition.

Coleman, who has a family history of the disease, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2005. At that point, Coleman took a closer look at her family's experience and decided to bring together in a play the inspirational stories of those around her as a way to highlight the importance of managing the condition. In the play, Coleman draws from her own self-denial upon being diagnosed with diabetes to create a female lead character that gains a deeper understanding of her family's struggle and, thus, obtains the strength and determination to turn her life around.

"For a long time I suffered in silence, unwilling to accept my diagnosis or the life changes that accompany it," Coleman said. "The courage and the struggle of my family and others I've met along this journey have inspired me to use my theatrical talents to help educate people about the importance of diabetes self-management."