Biography
Victor Colman earned a B.A. from Michigan State University and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco. He worked initially in public health policy in California both for non-profits and county governments. There, his primary issue of focus was behavioral health policy via multiple vantage points (researcher, a legal/policy analyst, community-based project director, and lobbyist). He moved to Washington State in 1997 and he served in various legislative and policy roles at the Washington State Department of Health from 1999 - 2007. He is currently Co-Principal of Uncommon Solutions, Inc., a consultant firm based in Olympia, WA. For five years he was an adjunct professor at Evergreen State College where he taught health policy in their Masters in Public Administration program.
Professor Colman taught "The Legislature and the Legislative Process" in 2022 and 2023 and will teach this course again in Spring 2026. He also taught the "Health Policy Advocacy Clinic" in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
Among many policy efforts over his career, he served as director of a Washington State public health advocacy group, the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, for 14 years, steering this group to multiple policy successes, including the establishment of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program in state statute as well as increased SRTS funding, strengthening regulations in licensed child care, developing food and beverage standards for state agencies (Executive Order 13-06), and the passage of a sweeteened beverage tax in Seattle, WA.
Publications
Articles
Grow HM, Johnson D, Lund AE, Lutz A, Lutz R, Colman V. (2012) School Wellness Policy Development and Impact: A Case Study Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Washington State Journal of Public Health Practice, 5(1). http://www.cwu.edu/wspha/sites/cts.cwu.edu.wspha/files/documents/Grow_v5n1final.pdf
Dilley JA, Reuer JR, Colman V, Norman RK. (2009) From making pamphlets to making policies: results from a collaborative training to increase knowledge, motivation and self-efficacy for achieving public health policy and systems change. Health Promotion Practice. 10(2S):138-145S. DOI: 10.1177/1524839909332601
Colman, V. )Fall/Winter 2008). Viewpoint. Expanding the Public Health Role in Mitigating Climate Change. Seattle, WA, Northwest Public Health, Climate Change: Challenging Public Health..
Colman V, Suiter, B. (2002) Tobacco Prevention and Control in Washington State: A Comprehensive Approach. Northwest Public Health.
http://www.northwestpublichealth.org/docs/nph/f2002/tobacco_f2002.pdf
Colman V., et al., (Spring 1985) Preventing Alcohol-Related Injuries: Dram Shop Liability in a Public Health Perspective, Western State University Law Review (12).
Handbooks and Book Chapters
Colman V, Sparks M. (2010) Medical Marijuana Dispensaries: An Overview of Regulatory Approaches for Localities. Community Prevention Institute.
http://www.ca-cpi.org/docs/Publications/Other/MedicalMarijuanaDispensaries.pdf
Colman V, Sparks M (2006) Public Convenience or Necessity? Regulating Retail Alcohol Outlets in California: Challenges and Opportunities. Community Prevention Institute. http://www.ca-cpi.org/publication/public-convenience-or-necessity-regulating-retail-alcohol-outlets-in-california-challenges-and-opportunities/
Colman V. (1997) Understanding Retail Alcohol Availability: A Community Action Handbook. Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital Systems, Department of Alcohol & Drug Services, Prevention Division. San Jose, CA.
Colman V. (1993) Defining Alcohol's Role in Your Community: An Organizing Handbook. San Jose, CA: Santa Clara County Health Department. Also published in Spanish and Vietnamese editions.
Colman V, Mosher JF. (1988) Alcoholic Beverage Control in a Public Health Perspective: A Handbook for Action. State of California, Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, Sacramento, CA.
Colman V. (1987) Liquor Liability Law. Ed. James F. Mosher. New York, NY: Matthew Bender & Co., Inc. Print. Contributor to five chapters and several appendices for this legal treatise.
