Ivan James Joins CMU Board

Filed under CMU News on Monday, February 11, 2013.

Ivan James III of St. Louis has joined the Central Methodist University Board of Trustees as of its February meeting. He will serve a four-year term.

A St. Louis native, he worked in management for Western Electric and AT&T for 29 years before taking early retirement to start St. Louis-area consulting and distributing businesses.

"I welcome the opportunity to serve on CMU's Board," James said. "CMU has a longstanding tradition of high quality education and recognizes the value of a Christian and liberal arts education, as well. I look forward, with excitement, to being a part of this respected organization."

The 38-member CMU Board is responsible for formulating bylaws and policies for the University. They select and evaluate the CMU President, approve long-range and strategic plans, oversee the maintenance of CMU's physical assets, and approve educational programming, among other duties.

Individual members serve on various Board committees - James' committee assignments have not yet been determined. The Board members are asked to be ambassadors for the University, and serve CMU in a variety of ways. They hold four regular meetings each year.

"Central Methodist University's Board of Trustees is second to none, and we are delighted that Mr. James will be serving in this important capacity," commented CMU President Marianne Inman.

James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from St. Benedict's (now Benedictine) College in Atchison, Kan., and a Master of Business Administration degree from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

He has completed the Minority Business Executive Program from Tuck's School of Business at Dartmouth College; the Kellogg Executive Program from Northwestern University; the Business of Construction Program at Washington University in St. Louis; and the Supply Change Management course from St. Louis University.

He has also served as an adjunct professor at Rockhurst College and the Community Colleges in Kansas City and St. Louis.

As a member of the St. Louis Minority Business Council, several of James' companies were recognized by that group as the Minority Company of the Year on a number of occasions. One of his companies, Ivan James & Associates, also received the St. Louis American and the Urban League Excellence in Business award as one of the top 20 minority businesses in the St. Louis area.

An active member of the United Methodist Church for 35 plus years, James is a certified lay speaker, has served on several local, district and conference-wide committees, and is a facilitator for the Conference Lay Leadership Development Program.

Currently he chairs the United Methodist Church's Missouri Annual Conference Trustee Board, and is serving as the lay pastor of Asbury UMC in St. Louis.

James is married to the former Grace Donaldson and is the father of five sons and grandfather to 10.

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