Counselor Profile
James specializes in working with students interested in business, first-generation students, and students from underrepresented populations.
James is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Southern California, Associate Director of Admissions at USC’s Marshall School of Business, Admissions Counselor at the University of Illinois – Chicago, and Senior Assistant Director of Regional Recruitment at the University of Utah.
Born and raised in Chicago, James earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Illinois – Chicago and a master’s in communications and training from Governors State University. He joined the undergraduate admissions office at UIC, where he worked with pre-med students, transfer students, and students interested in business and engineering. James dedicated a lot of time to recruitment, yield, and retention amongst underrepresented students. He also served as a committee member for the early outreach scholars program, where he identified and connected high-achieving students with scholarship opportunities, and as a department liaison with the university’s CHANCE Program, where he led the Entrepreneur Leadership Program.
During his time at UIC, James also moved to Los Angeles, where he focused on out-of-state first-year and transfer applicants from the West Coast region. James then transitioned to The University of Utah as a Senior Assistant Director of Regional Recruitment, focusing primarily on first-year and transfer applicants from California.
James went on to work at the University of Southern California as a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions, where he focused on out-of-state applicants and applicants appealing their admission decisions. He then went on to work at USC’s Marshall School of Business as the Associate Director of Admissions, working with applicants from around the world who were interested in business. He oversaw the school’s scholarship program for incoming first-year and transfer students. It was here that he developed a passion for working with veterans and their families.
James is passionate about higher education and helping as many students as possible achieve their academic goals. As a first-generation student himself, James is committed to teaching younger generations how to navigate the world of higher education. He has also mentored younger admissions counselors as a faculty member of NACAC’s Emerging Admissions Professionals Program.
When working with James, students can expect to be nurtured throughout the process and pushed to achieve their full potentials. They will be challenged to think about situations and outcomes from different lenses while being taught skills that will help them achieve their college admissions and life goals.
In his spare time, James enjoys traveling, going to concerts, and going on walks with Dean Thomas (his dog) and his partner.