- "S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy. Not overnight â we won't open it for a year or two â but we need you to build it from the ground up. In his name. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s second chance."
- âAlphonso Mackenzie to Marcus Benson[src]
The Coulson Academy is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new academy, established following the organisation's defeat of the Chronicoms. The Academy would be named after Phil Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s former director and one of its most influential agents.
History[]
Rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D.[]
- "You know, we... lost someone, too. A leader, a teacher. We don't want to forget. We've tried to fill the hole he left behind, to... to rebuild. But we need brains."
"You're talking plural. I only have the one."
"We want you to find more." - âAlphonso Mackenzie and Marcus Benson[src]
After S.H.I.E.L.D. resurfaced in 2018 under Alphonso Mackenzie's leadership, he proceeded to rebuild the organization, hoping to restore it to its former splendor, as a second chance.[1] While Melinda May was retired to be with Phil Coulson in his final days, she told him about her idea to rebuild the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy in his name.[2] When May returned to S.H.I.E.L.D. after Coulson's death, she proposed her idea to Mackenzie. One year later, for the anniversary of Coulson's death, Mackenzie decided to put May's idea into motion.
Needing a department head for the Academy, May contacted Marcus Benson, an old friend and colleague of Andrew Garner, who was slowly being pushed towards retirement at Culver University. May set up a meeting at Mackenzie's usual bar, and introduced him to Benson. Mackenzie explained how they didn't want to forget the impact that Coulson had on S.H.I.E.L.D., so he was trying to rebuild it, but required more brains. This led Mackenzie to reveal the plans to create a new S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy in Coulson's name, which he wanted Benson's help to do, and he accepted the offer.[1]
Finally Opened[]
![Professor May](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvelcinematicuniverse/images/f/f7/Professor_May.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20200814161951)
Flint and Melinda May at Coulson Academy
- "You done finally? We're five minutes late to class."
"You're late. I'm giving the lecture. That's not late. That's dramatic." - âFlint and Melinda May[src]
Eventually, the academy would be completed and was opened up, under the name "Coulson Academy," with Melinda May becoming a professor and Flint enrolling as a student. Some time during 2020, after May concluded a meeting with her former teammates, Flint told her she was late to class. May responded that since she was the one giving the lecture, Flint was the late one; she was just being "dramatic".[3]
Personnel[]
Faculty[]
- Marcus Benson - Department Head
- Melinda May - Professor