Elizabeth James, PHD, SES (ret)

Dr. James is a distinguished leader in public health, toxicology, and environmental toxin detection, with a career spanning academia, federal service, and groundbreaking research. As a Senior Executive Service (SES) – retired member, she served as Deputy and Acting Chief Learning Officer of the Veterans Health Administration, overseeing the training of the largest integrated healthcare network in the United States. Her leadership focused on aligning clinical training with research and policy to improve healthcare delivery, with particular emphasis on women’s health and equity.  James’s dedication to leadership and education is further demonstrated by her advanced training, including certificates in Strategic Leadership from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, Executive Leadership from Cornell University, Instructional Design from the Association for Talent Development, and Servant Leadership Certification Training.

Before her role at the VA, James was an Executive Director of Admissions and Distance Learning Programs and an Assistant Professor at Tulane University, teaching toxicology and mentoring students. Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Johns Hopkins University, where she worked under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Dr. Christian Anfinsen. Her groundbreaking doctoral research developed activity electrophoresis gels to identify active enzymes, as well as further elucidating the structure function relationship in nucleases of pathogens, sparking her passion for environmental toxin detection using biochemistry and biophysical technologies.

James further advanced her research on environmental toxin detection and characterization at the Naval Research Laboratory as an Engineering Fellow with the American Association of Engineering Education, earning an Invention Registration for a fiber optic biosensor capable of real-time detection of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins. Her innovations in environmental detection protocols and instruments earned her numerous awards and recognition.

James brings her extensive expertise to the classroom, fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that inspires students to pursue impactful careers in public health and toxicology. She leverages 21st-century platforms and employs storytelling as an immersive teaching method to convey rigorous scientific principles in an engaging and accessible manner. She is committed to meeting students at their individual stages of learning, ensuring that education is both inclusive and transformative.