Dr. Sylvia M. James

Dr. Sylvia M. James is the Deputy Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR), where she oversees aspects of directorate program development, staffing, performance management, and internal and external communications. Prior to her role as Deputy Assistant Director, James served as the Director of the Division of Human Resource Development (HRD). As Division Director, she managed a $148 million budget and a talented team of scientific and administrative staff. During her 17-year tenure at NSF, James has served in numerous capacities, including as the Acting EHR Deputy Assistant Director, Acting Director of the Division of Human Resource Development, Acting Director and Acting Deputy Division Director of the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings, Lifelong Learning Cluster Coordinator, and Lead Program Director/Program Director for several EHR programs including ISE, ITEST, ATE, ASCEND, and AYS.

James currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Federal Coordination in STEM (FC-STEM) Interagency Working Group on Inclusion in STEM (IWGIS) and was a member of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Student Science Enrichment Program (SSEP) Advisory Committee from 2012-2016. She has served as an education consultant for science education radio, youth publications, and museums and an adjunct science faculty member. Dr. James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Loyola University, a Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate in Science Education from Morgan State University, all located in Baltimore, Maryland.