Dr. James Hill, senior vice president and special assistant to the president of The University of Texas at Austin, has been selected by the National Forum of Black Public Administrators Central Texas Chapter (NFBPA-CTC) to receive the NFBPA-Marks of Excellence Award.
The award recognizes outstanding individuals engaged in public administration who have exhibited exemplary leadership qualities inspiring others to strive for excellence in performance and service. It will be presented at the NFBPA Symposium Excellence Awards Luncheon on Oct. 22 at the Omni Austin at Southpark.
Cora D. Wright, chair of the NFBPA CTC Excellence Awards Committee, said the Marks of Excellence Award is the chapter’s highest honor.
“It is bestowed upon an African American public administrator who has achieved extraordinary success in the field of public management while demonstrating an unselfish commitment to the community,” Wright said in a letter informing Hill he had been selected for the honor.
Hill, a native of Austin, received his bachelor’s degree in education from Huston-Tillotson College (University) in 1953 and in 1959 he enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin, where he received his master’s degree in educational psychology and doctorate in educational administration.
He began his career as an educator in 1953 as a high school teacher and band director in Abilene, Texas, and by 1964 he was an assistant superintendent in Port Arthur, Texas. His background has included positions as an evaluation specialist with CTB/McGraw Hill Inc., deputy commissioner with the Texas Education Agency and director of the Educational Testing Service’s Southwest field office. He joined The University of Texas at Austin in 1993 as associate vice president for administration and public affairs. He has been senior vice president and special assistant to the president since 2007.
Hill is a founding member of the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators. His numerous awards include receiving a 1998 Texas Conference of Black Mayor’s Chairman Award and National Forum for Black Public Administration Award for Outstanding Public Service.
