James A. Donaldson earned his B.A. degree (cum laude) in mathematics from Lincoln University (PA) in 1961, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1963 and 1965, respectively. While a student at Illinois, he was elected to membership in Sigma Xi, and was sponsored for membership in the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America. Later in his career he was elected to a national office in each of the latter two organizations.

Donaldson's career in higher education includes teaching, research, service, and administration. In addition to his tenure at Howard University, he was a faculty member of the mathematics department at Southern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of New Mexico. He was a visiting professor at the University of Ferrarra (Italy) and Duke University, and held a Visiting Membership at the Courant Institute of the Mathematical Sciences of New York University.

From 1972 until 1990, he was chairman of the Department of Mathematics at Howard University. During part of the 1998--1999 academic year, he served first as Acting President and then as Interim President of Lincoln University, his alma mater.

Donaldson is a member of the Board of Directors of TransAfrica (DC Chapter) and the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund. He serves on several committees of mathematical and scientific organizations.

Donaldson has had a record of active participation in civic and community organizations throughout his tenure in higher education. He has been a steadfast advocate for unhampered full participation in society by members of all groups, especially underprivileged minorities and women.