Derrick Coley serves as the Special Assistant to the President for Government Relations at Bowie State University. He is the legislative liaison for local, state and federal government issues. He also serves on the University System of Maryland State Relations Council. Mr. Coley spearheads legislative initiatives and monitors federal and state budgets.
Derrick Coley was appointed as the Public Affairs Liaison in the Office of Prince George’s County Council Member Obie Patterson’s in 2011. He coordinated press information, wrote official statements and planned public events. Derrick also briefed Council Member Patterson on community issues and government operational procedures. Additionally, he drafted correspondence to answer requests from individuals, civic organizations, and businesses.
Since 2004, Derrick has worked in Prince George’s County government. Prior to joining the Office of Council Member Patterson he served in the Office of the County Executive. Derrick was promoted from Special Assistant to Deputy Chief of Staff to finally serving as the Chief of Staff. He oversaw countywide projects with agencies and departments. Derrick managed appointments to boards and commissions, issued proclamations and letters of support, directed community nonprofit grant requests and managed federal, state and county council legislative priorities. His work also included external relations with local governments, community groups and businesses.
Derrick was a Staff Associate at the United States Conference of Mayors for six years in the Environmental Programs Division. His responsibilities included tracking city, state and federal programs and policies for the Brownfields Redevelopment Program. Brownfields are real estate properties whose reuse or redevelopment may be hampered by environmental contamination. Derrick managed the annual survey entitled “Recycling America’s Land: A National Report on Brownfield Redevelopment”, which was funded by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, he worked with the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Housing and Urban Development and Transportation, in an effort to address sustainable development in American cities.
Furthermore, Derrick worked as the staff contact for the Municipal Waste Management Association’s Operations Committee, an organization comprised of city solid waste and public works directors and environmental commissioners. He began working at the Conference as a Program Assistant on the Buy Recycled Training Initiative, Recycling at Work and Urban Water Council. All of these initiatives had the broad goal of enhancing the urban environment and city livability.
Derrick is a Suitland High School graduate and was involved in the Rites of Passage, Black Pursuits, Environmental Club and other activities. In 1998, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Science and minored in Botany from North Carolina State University. In 2003, he obtained his Master of Arts degree in International Environmental Policy focusing on Environment and Development at American University. His research treatise was entitled “A Comparative Analysis of Cuba’s Tourism: Past and Future Implications for Sustainable Development”.
Derrick resides in Glenn Dale with his wife Okeysha and four children Julia, Marshall, Henry and Claira.