Channelle James

Biography

Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, Dr. James is a scholar and leader whose academic journey began at Western Carolina University, where she earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees. In 1996, she relocated to Greensboro to join the Bryan School of Business and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). There, she took on dual roles as a Lecturer and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Student Services. While at UNCG, Dr. James pursued her Ph.D., aligning her research with her lifelong passion: examining the entrepreneurial experiences of African American women and their efforts to drive social impact.

Currently, Dr. James serves as a faculty member in the Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Hospitality and Tourism, and her teaching and research focus on Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship. Her work is grounded in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within organizations and communities, leveraging the power of entrepreneurship to build resilient, socially responsible ecosystems. With justice at the core of her research, Dr. James engages with students and local communities while driving innovation through her nonprofit, Community Ventures, which develops sustainable, community-centric solutions. Additionally, she holds the Dean’s Fellow for School Climate position in the Bryan School, where she fosters inclusive and supportive environments within the institution.

Dr. James’s expertise spans feasibility studies, business planning, entrepreneurial strategy, and venture growth, all underpinned by a commitment to sustainable practices. Beyond academia, she is a certified Professional Registered Parliamentarian and volunteers with many community organizations. She contributes her leadership and governance expertise to numerous community boards, including the Piedmont/Triad Chapter of the Red Cross, Greensboro Opera, the Piedmont/Triad Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the Green Gavel Parliamentary Unit.

Recognized as a 2024 Triad Business Journal Leader in Diversity, Dr. James exemplifies the fusion of scholarship, community engagement, and professional service. Her work continues to inspire innovation and inclusive growth, demonstrating how entrepreneurship, when combined with purpose and equity, can transform communities and create lasting impact.

Education

• Ph.D. – The University of North Carolina Greensboro School of Education – Educational Studies with a concentration in Cultural Studies
  Post Baccalaureate Cert: Women’s and Gender Studies
• M.E. – Master in Entrepreneurship – Western Carolina University
• Graduate Certificate in Project Management – Western Carolina University
• M.P.A. Master in Public Affairs – Western Carolina University
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Concentration: Marketing – Western Carolina University

Research/Publications

Publications

• Smith, D. C., James, C. D., & Griffiths, M. A. (2021). Co‐brand partnerships making space for the next black girl: Backlash in social justice branding. Psychology & Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21566
• Alejandro, T. B., Barksdale, H. C., Bellenger, D. N., Boles, J. S., & James, C. D. (2019). Mentoring Characteristics and functions: Mentoring influence on salespeople. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing.
• Juma, N., James, C.D. and Kwesiga, E. (2017). Sustainable entrepreneurship in SubSaharan Africa: The collaborative multi-stakeholders network model. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
• Schmitz, C. L., Matyók, T., Sloan, L., & James, C. D. (July 2012). The relationship between social work and environmental sustainability: Implications for interdisciplinary practice. International Journal of Social Welfare.
• James, C. D. & Schmitz, C. L. (2011). Transforming Sustainability Education: Ethics, Leadership, Community Engagement, and Social Entrepreneurship. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2 (5).
• Schmitz, C.L., Stinson, C.H., & James, C. D. (2010). Community and Environmental Sustainability: Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Education. Critical Social Work, 11 (3), pp. 83-100.

Book

• Griffiths, M.A. & James, C.D. (2018) Mastering the Art: An Entrepreneurial Guide to a Profit Driven Marketing Plan., Kendall Hunt Publishers, Dubuque, IA.

Book Chapters

• Griffiths, M., LaPan C. James, C., (2024). Negative Externalities of Collaborative Consumption: The Cost of Exploitation. In Understanding Collaborative Consumption. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. Chapter 14
• Schmitz, C. L.; Matyók, T.; James, C.; & Sloan, L. (2012). Responding to the complexity of environmental transformation: Educating social workers to work in multidisciplinary response teams. In Mel Gray’s (et.al.) Environmental Social Work. Routledge.
• Jean-Marie, G., James, C., Bynum, S. (2005). Black Women Activists, Leaders, and Educators: Transforming Urban Educational Practice. In Kecia Hayes & Joe Kincheloe (Ed.) Urban Education Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. Pp. 59-70

CV/Resume