Kay Coles James

Not to be confused with Kay James (basketball) .

Overview

Kay Coles James (born June 1, 1949) is a prominent American public official with a multifaceted career in both public service and conservative advocacy. She notably served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia from January 15, 2022, until August 29, 2023. Prior to this, she held significant positions including the Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management from 2001 to 2005 under President George W. Bush . Her extensive career also includes serving as the Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources and as the president of The Heritage Foundation .

Early Life and Education

Kay Coles James, born as Madeline Kay Coles, was raised in Richmond, Virginia as the only girl in a family of five boys. Her father worked various jobs, including maintenance and as a guard, but left when she was just four years old. This led her to be raised by her aunt and uncle, who were a schoolteacher and businessman. Her mother held jobs as a dental technician and a domestic worker while supporting six children.

She attended Chandler Junior High School and John Marshall High School in Richmond, which were predominantly white institutions. Coles James graduated from Hampton University with a degree in history and secondary education, laying the groundwork for her future endeavors in public service and education.

Career

Coles James began her career in public service by serving on the School Board for Fairfax County, Virginia and the Virginia Board of Education . She has also been involved with the conservative evangelical organization Focus on the Family and was the Senior Vice President of the Family Research Council , a significant player in the Christian right movement.

Her federal service includes an impressive tenure as the Associate Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and as the Assistant Secretary for public affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . Coles James was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Commission on Children and was reappointed by President George H. W. Bush , highlighting her influence on child welfare policies.

In the mid-1990s, she served as the dean of the Robertson School of Government at Regent University located in Virginia Beach, Virginia . Notably, she was involved in the 1996 Republican National Convention as Convention Secretary, where Bob Dole was nominated for president.

Office of Personnel Management

James was the Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management from 2001 to 2005 during the George W. Bush administration . Her appointment came at a time when the Bush administration was criticized for its hiring practices, particularly regarding alumni from Regent University . Journalists like Charlie Savage noted that her tenure marked a shift towards hiring individuals with conservative credentials, which led to a decline in the diversity of educational backgrounds among federal hires. Critics pointed to a move away from traditional civil service practices, which typically favored candidates from top-ranked schools.

In 2009, following the election of Governor Bob McDonnell , James was appointed as co-chair of his transition committee and later became a member of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Board of Visitors.

The Heritage Foundation

On December 19, 2017, The Heritage Foundation , a key conservative think tank in Washington, D.C., announced James as its sixth president, making her the first African American and the first woman to lead the organization. She had been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2005. During her presidency, she was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve on the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, illustrating her influence in conservative circles.

In March 2019, she was appointed to the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC) by Google to address ethical implications surrounding Artificial Intelligence . However, her appointment faced backlash from Google employees, leading to her removal from the council when over 2,380 employees signed a petition against her due to her controversial views on transgender and immigrant rights. She resigned from her position at The Heritage Foundation in 2021.

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia

James was appointed as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia by Governor Glenn Youngkin in January 2022, following her role as co-chair of his transition steering committee. Her tenure lasted until August 2023, when she resigned to take a leadership role in Youngkin’s “Spirit of Virginia” PAC .

Personal Life

Coles James is married to Charles E. James Sr. , who served as the deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs from 2001 to 2009 during the Bush administration. Together, they have three adult children.

Honors and Awards

In recognition of her contributions to public service, Coles James was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration in 2004. She was also named one of the Virginia Women in History by the [Library of Virginia] in 2018. Additionally, she holds several honorary degrees, including a Doctor of Laws degree from Pepperdine University , and has received the Publius Award for Public Service from the University of Virginia and the Spirit of Democracy Award for Public Policy Leadership from the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.

In a notable speech during her graduation address at Hampton University in 1994, she remarked, “The United States is experiencing cultural AIDS. We as a country have been the victims of an immune system that has broken down. It’s gone,” encapsulating her views on the state of American society.

Books

Coles James has authored several works, including:

• Never Forget (1993) co-authored with Jacquelline Cobb, published by Zondervan . ISBN: 978-0310482000.
• Kay James (1995) in the “Today’s Heroes” series, also published by Zondervan. ISBN: 0-310-49631-4.
• Transforming America: From the Inside Out (1995) co-authored with David Kuo , published by Zondervan. ISBN: 0-310-48440-5.
• What I Wish I’d Known Before I Got Married (2001), published by Multnomah Publishers. ISBN: 1-57673-781-0.