James joined the adjunct faculty of DePaul University in 2017 teaching in the Department of Public Policy. Since then James has taught courses for the Department of Sociology and the School of Public Service. James' research interests center around the construction and representation of race, the relationship between race and housing, and the government's response to integrated affordable housing.
In addition to teaching at DePaul James is the Executive Director of the Northwest Side Housing Center, a local Chicago non-profit community based organization that responds to the needs of the Latinx community. James graduated with honors from John Carroll University with a BA in Race and Identity Studies. He also holds his Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. He is an inaugural fellow in the University of Chicago’s Civic Leadership Academy.