James joined the adjunct faculty of DePaul University in 2017 teaching in the Department of Public Policy. Since then, he has taught courses for the School of Public Service and the Department of Sociology. In January 2025, James joined the School of Public Service as a full-time non-tenure track faculty member. James graduated with honors from John Carroll University with a BA in Race and Identity Studies. He also holds his Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. James' research interests center around the construction and representation of race, the relationship between race and affordable housing policy, and the role of community in the creation of equitable policy.
In addition to teaching, James spent 16 years working for grassroots non-profit organizations, most recently as the Executive Director of the Northwest Side Housing Center in Chicago from 2012-2023. In 2024, he started his own consultancy practice and current works with several Chicago-based non-profit organizations including Chicago Vibrant Neighborhoods Collective, Chicago Community Leadership Program, and LISC-Chicago. He is also a proud member of City of Chicago’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice Equity Advisory Council.