Background
West, James Edward was born on February 10, 1931 in Prince Edward County, Virginia, United States. Son of Samuel Edward and Matilda W.
West, James Edward was born on February 10, 1931 in Prince Edward County, Virginia, United States. Son of Samuel Edward and Matilda W.
Attended, Hampton University, Virginia. Bachelor of Science in Physics, Temple University, 1957. Doctor of Science (honorary), New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1995.
Along with Gerhard Sessler, West developed the foil electric microphone in 1962 while developing instruments for human hearing research. Nearly 90 percent of more than two billion microphones produced annually are based on the principles of the foil-electric and are used in everyday items such as telephones, camcorders, and audio recording devices among others West received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Temple University in 1957.
He holds over 250 foreign and United States. patents for the production and design of microphones and techniques for creating polymer foil electrets.
In 2001, West retired from Lucent Technologies after a distinguished 40-year career at Bell Laboratories where he received the organization"s highest honor, being named a Bell Laboratories Fellow. West then joined the faculty of the Whiting School at Johns Hopkins University where he is currently a research professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
In addition to his many contributions to acoustical science, throughout his career West has been a fervent advocate for greater diversity in the fields of science and technology. While at Bell Laboratories, West co-founded the Association of Black Laboratory Employees (ABLE), an organization formed to "address placement and promotional concerns of Black Bell Laboratories employees." He was also instrumental in the creation and development of both the Corporate Research Fellowship Program (CRFP) for graduate students pursuing terminal degrees in the sciences, as well as the Summer Research Program, which together provided opportunities for over 500 non-white graduate students.
He is also the recipient of numerous other honors and awards.
Board directors National Inventors Hall of Fame. Fellow Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Acoustical Society of America (member executive council 1989-1992, president-elect 1997-1998, president 1998-1999, member executive council 1998-2001, Silver medal in Engineering Acoustics, 1995). Member National Academy of Engineering (member committee on diversity in the engineering workforce).
Married Marlene West. 4 children.