Kay Coles James

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On December 19, 2017, The Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative Washington, D.C.–based public policy research institute, announced that Coles James would be its sixth president. [17] She had served as a member of the Board of Trustees since 2005. [18]

In 2018, she was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as one of two members of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission. [19]

In March 2019, she was appointed to the Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC), which was set up by Google to advise on the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence. [20] Her appointment proved controversial, with some employees of Google protesting. [21] On April 5, 2019, it was reported that Google had disbanded the ATEAC after more than 2,380 employees at Google signed a petition asking that Coles James be removed from it. The petition signers stated that "Coles James' positions on transgender and immigrant rights should have disqualified her from weighing in on AI ethics." [22]

Coles James resigned from the Heritage Foundation in 2021. [4]

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Coles James later served as co-chair of Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin's transition steering committee and was appointed by Youngkin as secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia in January 2022. [23] She resigned in August 2023 to assume a leadership position for Youngkin's "Spirit of Virginia" PAC. [24]

Personal life

Coles James is the mother of three adult children. [25] Her husband is Charles E. James Sr., who was the deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs from 2001 to 2009 during the George W. Bush administration. [26]

Honors and awards

In 2004, Coles James was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. [27]

Coles James was named one of the Library of Virginia's Virginia Women in History in 2018. [28] [29]

Coles James is the recipient of several honorary degrees, including a Doctor of Laws Degree from Pepperdine University. [30] Coles James is the recipient the University of Virginia's Publius Award for Public Service, and the Spirit of Democracy Award for Public Policy Leadership from the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. [31]

As a 1994 graduation speaker at Hampton University, Coles James said, "[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." [32]

Books

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References

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  2. McCaskill, Nolan (December 19, 2017). "Heritage Foundation taps Kay Coles James to be next president". Politico . Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  3. Scott, Eugene. "Powerful pro-Trump think tank names first black female president". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Kay James, prominent Black conservative voice, resigns from Heritage Foundation". reuters.com. Reuters. March 22, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  5. Fadulu, Lola (December 15, 2018). "The First Black Woman to Lead the Heritage Foundation". The Atlantic.
  6. "FCPS Resolution commending Kay Coles James (PDF)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  7. "Kay James". U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  8. "MENTOR promotes, advocates and is a resource for mentoring".
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  10. 1 2 3 Savage, Charlie (April 8, 2007). "Scandal puts spotlight on Christian law school". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
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  13. Lithwick, Dahlia (April 8, 2007). "Justice's Holy Hires". Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  14. Cohen, Andrew (April 9, 2007). "The Gutting Of The Justice Department". CBS News . Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  15. "Governor-Elect • Bob McDonnell Transition". Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  16. "Governor names five to VCU's board of visitors | Richmond Times-Dispatch". www2.timesdispatch.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
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  18. "Board of Trustees". The Heritage Foundation.
  19. www.whitehouse.gov
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  22. Birnbaum, Emily (April 4, 2019). "Google disbands AI ethics board following pushback". TheHill. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  23. "Youngkin appoints Kay Coles James as secretary of the commonwealth". The Roanoke Times. January 7, 2022.
  24. "Va. Lottery's Gee tapped as next secretary of commonwealth". Virginia Business. August 29, 2023.
  25. "U.S. Office of Government Ethics -". usoge.gov. Archived from the original on September 25, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
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  27. Incorporated, Prime. "National Academy of Public Administration". National Academy of Public Administration. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
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  31. "The Gloucester Institute". The Gloucester Institute. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
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Kay Coles James
Kay Coles James 2020 (cropped).jpg
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
In office
January 15, 2022 August 29, 2023
Acting: January 15, 2022 – March 2, 2022
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Kelly Gee
Acting