Women of Color Luncheon Set for April 15

The Fairmont State University Women of Color Luncheon on Tuesday, April 15, will honor an outstanding Harrison County resident Jo Ann James.

The event, sponsored by the Fairmont State Office of Student Affairs, will take place at noon in the Falcon Center Third Floor Conference Rooms. Those attending are asked to RSVP by Friday, April 4, by calling (304) 367-4215. The cost for attending is $10.

"The Women of Color Luncheon is an opportunity to honor women who have shown a commitment to treating everyone equally, regardless of color," said Persis Bates, Director of Multicultural Affairs. "Their passion for the uplifting of their community is also recognized. Women from the campus of Fairmont State are also recognized for their celebration of diversity."

Originally from southwestern Pennsylvania, JoAnn James currently resides in Bridgeport. She attended Hempfield Area Public Schools, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Howard University in Washington, D.C. She earned a B.S. degree in Social Science and Home Economics from Seton Hill College, Greensburg, Pa., and an M.P.M. (Masters of Public Management) from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. She is a certified trainer in Performance Management through Development Dimensions International, Pittsburgh, and a graduate of Dale Carnegie.

James is also a graduate of Moody Bible School, Pittsburgh Branch, and previously served as Sunday school superintendent, church clerk, presenter of the weekly Children's Message and corresponding secretary for the Youghiogheny Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education.

She retired from the position of Manager of Customer Service at Hope Gas/Dominion Resources in 1999 with 25 years service and from the Credit Manager position at Allegheny Power in 2003.

James has always had a passion for sewing and working with fabrics and now enjoys creating various craft items, designer quilts, specialty clothing, monogramming and doing all types of alterations from a small home based business she calls J's Stitchery. J's Stitchery specializes in a variety of unique gift items and special order items. In addition to being a small business owner, she is also employed as a substitute teacher for Harrison County Schools and the Industrial School for Youth, Salem, and holds a part-time seamstress position at Buttons & Bows in the Meadowbrook Mall.

She is an active member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Clarksburg, where she currently serves as new members coordinator and teacher/facilitator, and as corresponding/recording secretary for the AGAPE Missionary Society.

Her current community involvement includes the following: Pierpont Community & Technical College Advisory Board, President of the Bridgeport Originals CEO Homemakers, Black Heritage Festival of WV Ways and Means Committee and Board member, Kelly Miller Association and volunteer for Hope, Inc.

She is the mother of one daughter, Kristi James, who is a teacher at Morgantown High School and is an adjunct professor at FSU.