Erika James is an American businesswoman and an academic who is the current Dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
She is recognized as the first woman and African-American to lead the business school.
For six years, James was also the Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, Georgia, being the first African-American woman to be named the Dean in Emory’s history. James was also the first African-American woman to lead a top business school in the United States. She was included in the Ebony magazine Power 100 list of the “world’s most inspiring African Americans.”
She has made several media appearances, and following her nomination as Wharton’s new Dean, she gave an interview on Good Morning America.
Quick Facts About Erika James
| Full Name | Erika Hayes James |
| Birthplace | Bermuda |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Academic and businesswoman |
| Spouse | Jimmie James |
| Children | Two |
Who Is Erika James Wharton’s Husband, Jimmie James?
Erika James is married to Jimmie James, a former ExxonMobil executive.
The couple has been together for several years and is the parents of two children, Jordan and Alexandra. The family moved to northern Virginia in 2001. Soon, Erika was appointed to the faculty at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, where she was a teacher for the next 13 years.
Jimmie has spent most of his career at ExxonMobil, holding various positions since he joined the company in 1984. After 33 years with the multinational oil and gas corporation, he finally retired in 2017.
James was the Vice President and the Northern Operation Manager and later served as Global Operations Manager of Wholesale & Specialties at the company. In the last few years at ExxonMobil Refining & Supply, he was the Manager of Americas Fuels Operations before concluding his career in 2017.
More About Jimmie James
Jimmie James studied at Prairie View A&M University, where he graduated in 1984 with a degree in Civil Engineering.
Soon after graduating, he joined ExxonMobil and remained with the company for 33 years. He mostly handled the company’s Refining Operations, Supply, and Logistics.
James is an avid golfer. Just a year after his retirement, he accomplished his goal of playing at the top 100 golf courses in the U.S. His favorite courses included Pine Valley Golf Club in Pine Valley, N.J.; Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta.
Cypress Point Golf Club in Pebble Beach, Calif.; Fisher’s Island and Merion Golf Club in Haverford, Delaware.
Jimmie is recognized as the Top 100 Golf Nomad for his determination and accomplishment in golf. In addition, he is a Motivational Speaker, is on a mission to compete in Golf.com World Top 100, and is a Ship Sticks ambassador.
Who Is Erika James?
Erika James is an American businesswoman and an academic who is the current Dean of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is recognized as being the first woman and the first African-American to lead the business school.
James was named the Dean of the Wharton School in February 2020, and her term began on July 1 of the same year. She is known for her workspace diversity research and crisis leadership.
Furthermore, James worked for several institutes in her career as an academic. She was Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School for six years and was a visiting associate professor at Harvard Business School.
She is known for her crisis leadership and workplace diversity research. She is currently considered one of the most influential women in education for her roles in several institutes. She is known for addressing three challenges that global organizations face:
- Crisis Leadership – being prepared for, managing through, and learning from crisis
- Women in Leadership – equity at executive levels and women emerging in Leadership
- The Commute – professional couples in commuter marriages and how it relates to talent acquisition and retention
Who Are Erika James’ Parents?
Erika Hayes James was born to her parents in Bermuda and later moved to the United States as a child. Her parents were of African ethnicity.
However, James’ parents split when she was just a child. Her mother was an educator, but there is no information about her father. She grew up with her mother and stepfather in the United States.
Her stepfather, Marshall Rosenberg, was an American clinical psychologist, mediator, author, and teacher. In 1984, he founded the Center for Nonviolent Communication, an international nonprofit organization, and was the Director of Educational Services. In addition, he worked worldwide as a peacemaker and passed away at 80 in February 2015.
Erika lived in St. Louis, Missouri, and studied high school in Texas. Influenced by her stepfather, Marshall Rosenberg, she studied psychology at Pomona College in Claremont, California, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1991.
After getting her bachelor’s degree, James joined the University of Michigan and earned her MA and Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology in 1995.
Erika James’ Net Worth In 2022
As of 2022, Erika James’ net worth is approximately $5 million.
James is a businesswoman with a steady income source as an academic. She has been associated with several schools around the United States.
The American academic is the current Dean at Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been associated with Wharton for over two years and is considered one of the best academics related to the School.
Before being named the Dean of Wharton School, Erika was the Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, Georgia, for six years. She was the first African-American woman to be named the Dean in Emory’s history.
She was also the first African-American woman to lead a top business school in the United States. Under her, the Goizueta faculty grew by 25%, and she was included in the Ebony magazine Power 100 list of the “world’s most inspiring African Americans.”
James is also an author who co-wrote “The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before” with Simmons University President Lynn Perry Wooten. Wharton School Press published the book in 2022.
In 2019, James gained recognition by the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, which awarded her the Earl Hill Jr. Faculty Achievement and Diversity Leadership Award.
Erika James Career
James has had an extraordinary career. She has been associated with various top-tier educational institutes in the past. In addition, she was a professor at Darden School of Business, the University of Virginia, for 13 years, serving as a Senior Associate Dean for Executive Education.
She was also a visiting associate professor at Harvard Business School and a faculty member in the Organizational Behavior unit. She was also a board member at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Also, Erika was a consultant at Perkins Williamson Associates for 15 years, where she was associated until 2010. For over two years, she presided over the Institute for Crisis Management in Louisville, Kentucky. The institute reported on business crises and provided crisis management training courses for firms and organizations.
Additionally, for her work in related fields, Erika was named one of Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in Finance in 2022. She was also elected to the Board of Directors of Morgan Stanley in November 2021.
Some FAQs
What is Erika James’ net worth?
Erika James has an estimated net worth of $5 million.
Who is Erika James married to?
Erika James is married to Jimmie James, a retired ExxonMobil executive.
Is Erika James the Dean of Wharton School?
Yes, Erika James is the Dean of Wharton School.
Who was Erika James’ stepfather?
Erika James’ stepfather was clinical psychologist and nonviolent mediator Marshall Rosenberg.
How many children does Erika James have?
Erika James and husband Jimmie James are the parents of three children.