James L. Applegate
Senior Vice President for Program Development
LUMINA Foundation
Dr. James L. Applegate serves as Senior Vice President for Program Development at the Lumina Foundation. As Senior Vice President, Dr. Applegate leads the development of grant programs focused on supporting the achievement of Lumina's "Big Goal" to dramatically increase educational attainment in the United States. Prior to coming to Lumina in 2008, he served as Senior Fellow and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education from 1999 through 2008.
As chief academic officer in Kentucky, he coordinated statewide research and teaching initiatives supporting institutional engagement in a public agenda for higher education and growth in Kentucky's knowledge-based economy. He has played a leading role in state policy efforts to dramatically increase college participation, especially for low income, minority, and first generation students. He currently serves on the American Council on Education's Advisory Committee for its Center for Policy Research, the ACT's Education Advisory Board and has served on Secretary of Education Margaret Spelling's steering committee advising on the implementation for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Higher Education.
From 1984 until 1999, Dr. Applegate served as Chair and Professor of the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. During that period he also served as University Senate Chair.
Dr. Applegate has also served as President of the National Communication Association, the world's largest association of communication scholars, and the Southern Communication Association. As a disciplinary leader he focused on creating research and teaching that was more engaged with public needs. He has authored numerous articles book chapters, and research reports on communication processes recognized by various organizations for their contributions to the discipline. As a consultant, Applegate has conducted over 250 lectures, seminars, and workshops for private, academic and government organizations designed to improve organizational policies and communication practices.
Dr. Applegate earned his B.A. from Georgetown College (KY) as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.