James H. Ammons

Infobox University President
name = Dr. James Ammons

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university = Florida A & M University
term_start = 2007
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predecessor = Castell V. Bryant
successor = incumbent
alma_mater = Florida State
FAMU
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footnotes =|Dr. James H. Ammons, chancellor of Florida A&M University (FAMU), is a native Floridian who grew up in the heart of Florida's citrus belt. He graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1970 and entered Florida A&M University (FAMU) on the Thirteen College Curriculum Program during the fall semester of 1970. In 1974, he graduated cum laude with a B.S. degree in Political Science. After being awarded the Minority Graduate Fellowship from the American Political Science Association, he earned the M.S. in Public Administration in 1975, and the Ph.D. in government in 1977, both from Florida State University.

Ammons, who became the ninth chief administrator of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) on June 1, 2001, began his teaching career in public policy and administration in 1977 as an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida. He returned to FAMU in 1983 as an associate professor of political science, and in 1984, he was promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. In 1989, he was promoted to Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and also served as Director of Title III Programs. He was promoted to the rank of a full professor in 1993, and FAMU President Frederick S. Humphries appointed him to the position of Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on October 1, 1995. At Florida A&M University, he developed more than 22 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degree programs; and worked to reestablish the FAMU School of Law.

At NCCU, enrollment has reached an all-time high during his tenure, climbing from 5,473 in fall 2001 to 7,191 in fall 2003 — a 10.3 percent increase. Since his tenure, NCCU has attracted its first National Achievement Scholars with three finalists and three semifinalists in its fall 2002 freshman class. Chancellor Ammons also has managed the $121 million 2000 Bond Program, which includes a $36 million science complex. Recently the proposed complex was approved for an additional $15 million wing that would house a new Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise. This institute would produce bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D.’s degree holders for the biomanufacturing industry. He is working to expand program offerings by planning Ph.D. programs in communications disorders, information sciences, bioprocessing and biomedical sciences. Currently, NCCU offers academic programs in the Schools of Law, Education, Library and Information Sciences, Business; and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Ammons is a scholar, teacher and researcher who has published and made presentations primarily in the areas of accountability, higher education in Florida, and political processes in Florida and the nation. He is a member of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has chaired several evaluation and reaffirmation committees for this accrediting agency. He has chaired accreditation teams for North Carolina Central University, Norfolk State University, South Carolina State University, Jackson State University and Clemson University. He was a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Task Force on Professional Development Programs for Teachers.

He serves as a member of the Central Carolina Bank Durham Advisory Board and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and Leadership North Carolina. In September 2002, he was elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. He also served as a member of the Joint Commission on Accountability Reporting of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. In December 2003, he was appointed to the Advisory Committee for Habitat for Humanity of Durham.

Ammons has received many honors and awards, and is actively involved in the community. In November 2002, he received the “Citizen of the Year Award” from the Beta Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He was selected in 2001 as the honorary chair of Light Up Durham, a community holiday festival, and honorary co-chair of the Durham Public Education Network. The News & Observer named Ammons one of the “10 to Watch in 2002.” He was honored in August 2002 as one of the first recipients of the “Guardian of Our Legacy Award” presented during the Harlem Week National Historic Black College Fair Reception and Reunion in New York. He received the award for serving as an “outstanding role model and leader” in higher education.

He was an American Council on Education Fellow, and in 1987-88, he served as Political Science Faculty Program Consultant for the Florida Board of Regents; and Alpha Kappa Mu Scholar, 1970-74. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award by the College of Arts and Sciences of Florida A&M University, 1987; in 1995, he was given the Distinguished Alumni Award by the College of Social Sciences of Florida State University; in 1999, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Florida A&M University and in 2000, was the recipient of the Millennium Award by Florida A&M University.

He is married to the former Judy (Ruffin) and they have one son, James, III.

References

* [http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1189730/ WRAL News: N.C. Central's Ammons Chosen As Florida A&M's New President]
* [http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=headlines&p=display&news=107 FAMU press release: Ammons ratified by Board of Governors as Florida A&M University’s next president]
* [http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm?a=President Official FAMU site]