Vincentian born Dr. Jacqueline Patricia James graduated as the first black female engineering graduate from the United States Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. She also made her mark as a scholar athlete and two-time all-American. She currently holds four school records in track and field. She received the Master of Science in Architectural Engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy in Civil and Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami. As a student with a graduate assistantship, she was awarded two fellowships from the International Peace Scholarship (IPS) and one from the Organization of American States (OAS) in. She was also the chief contributor in a student group that was awarded an EPA grant for work in energy efficiency design.
Dr. James received her first faculty appointment as a post-doctoral fellow from the Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. to join the faculty at the United States Coast Guard Academy. There, she taught Civil Engineering courses and volunteered as the sprint coach of the Coast Guard Academy’s men’s and women’s track team, and as an advisor to the international students’ club and the genesis (multicultural) club. Later, she was hired by the Civil Architectural Environmental Engineering department at the University of Miami. She taught courses in Architectural Engineering and was director of the Building Systems Laboratory.
As an academic, Dr. James was awarded funding to conduct research on numerous topics, including a sustainability study of the proposed Argyle International airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a feasibility study on the use of crushed cathode ray tubes as aggregate replacement in concrete and the development of a novel mold and mildew resistant construction material. She has been the advisor to many graduate students and mentor to over 100 undergraduates. She is the first author of several papers and conference presentations.
In 2007, Dr. James founded IMARA Engineering Consulting, and practiced in South Florida. In 2020, IMARA merged with the Architecture company owned by her mentor, and former professor, Gerald F. DeMarco and the Interior Design firm, Dorota Inc, owned by long-time friend, Dorota Lopez. Later that year, Dr. James lost Professor DeMarco, the icon. With James and Lopez at the helm, the legacy company, GFD Group Miami, serves the US and the Caribbean providing services in Architecture, Engineering, Interior Design and Construction Management. GFD Group Miami is South Florida’s premiere provider of the unique combination of services. The legacy company is also the donor of a scholarship given yearly to an Architecture and an Engineering student at the University of Miami in Professor DeMarco’s name.
Additionally, in 2007, Dr. James Co-founded Tarakon Records with International Billboard Platinum Artist and cultural ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Kevin Lyttle. The record label along with its multi-room studio and music distribution and publishing companies are located in Miami Florida. In 2008, the duo co-founded the Janice Lyttle Foundation. The foundation was created to help win the battle for heart disease. The Foundation donated over half million US dollars worth of supplies and equipment to the Milton Cato hospital in St, Vincent and the Grenadines following the December 2013 disaster and have recently in 2018 facilitated a mission by the Starkey Foundation to outfit residents of major cities in need of a hearing aid. During the 2021 eruption of the volcano in St. Vincent, the foundation joined forces with Global Empowerment Mission and Caribbean Strong and partnered with local philanthropists to help provided help to the people of St. Vincent by collecting, packing, and sending 15 containers to the island.
Among the many honors and awards Dr. James has received throughout her career, a few stand out. She has been honored as a Trailblazer by the Miami Commission on the Status of Women. She was chosen as one of the Women who have made outstanding contributions to the University of Miami community and was named one of Miami Dade County’s 25 most influential and prominent Black women in business and leadership. Dr. James was also honored by DDEA organization as a Humanitarian for work done with the Janice Lyttle Foundation and Galleon Foundation and recently in October 2020, she was inducted into the Coast Guard Academy’s Hall Of Fame for Track and Field and was recruited during the same year as a featured member of the Worldwide Association of Professional Females.