Dec. 9, 2014

Kay Coles James to deliver VCU commencement address

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By Mike Porter

Kay Coles James, former director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, will deliver the featured address during Virginia Commonwealth University’s 2014 December commencement ceremony.

James is also the founder and president of the Gloucester Institute, a nonprofit organization that trains and nurtures African-American leaders.

In 2001, James became director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management after being nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. She chaired the Principals of the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council and served as a member of the President’s Management Council. Most notably, she played an instrumental role in designing the agency merger process for the Department of Homeland Security — one of the largest personnel mergers in U.S. history.

James has also served as Virginia secretary of health and human resources, dean of the School of Government at Regent University and assistant secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

She currently sits on the boards of PNC Financial Services Group, Magellan Health Services, Cancer Treatment Centers of America and numerous others. James previously served on the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors, where she chaired the Academic and Student Affairs Committee.

During the commencement ceremony, James will be awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, VCU’s highest form of recognition, which is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions to society through scholarship, public service, humanitarianism, science and art.

A graduate of Hampton University, James has also received numerous other awards and honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Pepperdine University, and she is the author of three books.

Commencement exercises will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Siegel Center. Watch the ceremony online at www.vcu.edu. For more information about the ceremony, visit www.commencement.vcu.edu.