Background
Powell, James Lawrence was born on July 17, 1936 in Berea, Kentucky, United States. Son of Robert Lain and Lizena (Davis) Powell.
director geologist association administrator
Powell, James Lawrence was born on July 17, 1936 in Berea, Kentucky, United States. Son of Robert Lain and Lizena (Davis) Powell.
AB, Berea College, 1958. Doctor of Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1962. Doctor of Science (honorary), Oberlin College, 1983.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Tohoku Gakuin University, 1986. Doctor of Science (honorary), Beaver College, 1992.
Assistant professor, associate professor, professor Oberlin College, Ohio, 1962-1983, chairman geological department, 1965—1973, vice president, provost, 1975—1981, associate dean, 1973—1975, acting president, 1981—1983. President Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1983-1988, Reed College, Portland, Oregon, 1988-1991. President, chief executive officer The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, 1991-1994.
President, director Los Angeles County Museum Natural History, Los Angeles, 1994—2001. Executive director National Physical Science Consortium, since 2001. Member National Science Board, 1986-1998.
Adjunct professor University Southern California, 1995-2001.
Fellow: Geological Society of America. Member: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi.
Married Joan Hartmann. Children: Marla, Dirk, Joanna.