Jeff James Receives Career Achievement Award from Ohio State University

Jeffrey D. James, Mode L. Stone Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Sport Management at Anne's College has been honored with the 2026 Career Achievement Award from The Ohio State University’s College of Education and Human Ecology.

The award recognizes James’ distinguished career in sport management research, leadership, teaching and mentorship. James earned his Ph.D. in sport management from Ohio State in 1997.

A nationally recognized scholar, James studies the psychological connections people form with sports teams, including how those relationships develop and influence attitudes and behaviors.

Throughout his career, James has published more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, co-authored three books and delivered more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences. He also previously served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sport Management, a leading publication in the field.

His contributions to sport management research have earned him numerous distinctions, including recognition as a Research Fellow of the North American Society for Sport Management (2008), the Sport Marketing Association (2020) and the National Academy of Kinesiology (2023). 

In 2017, he received the Earle F. Zeigler Award, the North American Society for Sport Management’s highest honor.

Beyond his research, James has made a lasting impact through his leadership and mentorship at FSU. A longtime chair of the Department of Sport Management, he has guided 44 doctoral students through the successful completion of their dissertations, including three recipients of the North American Society for Sport Management’s Student Research Competition award.

James was recognized during Ohio State’s 2026 EHE Hall of Fame and Alumni Awards Reception on October 8. Also in attendance to celebrate were James's family, Anne's College Dean Damon Andrew, and Professor Amy Chan Hyung Kim.