James H. Richey

Dr. James H. Richey is President of Eastern Florida State College.

Since becoming president in 2012, Richey has expanded the College’s academic mission to include Bachelor Degrees in the fields of business, health care and computer technology.

The move transformed what had been Brevard Community College into Eastern Florida State College in 2013.

The College now offers more than 20 highly popular Bachelor’s Degree tracks. In all, the College has launched more than 60 new academic programs the past seven years with input from business and industry leaders in Brevard County and East-Central Florida.

The goal has been to design programs that will provide students with in-demand job opportunities after graduation, and provide businesses with the workforce they need in today’s global economy.

The College has also made major strides in online learning, with more than 250 courses and 40 Bachelor’s Degrees, Associate’s Degree and College Certificates offered completely online.

Those and other efforts earned the College a prestigious Gold Rating from the Florida Board of Education in 2017 for its performance in student success.

The College also received a 2017 Chancellor’s Best Practice Award from the Florida College System for “innovation and excellence in launching exciting careers in aviation.”

In another area, Richey has undertaken a major building plan to make the College a center of higher education and workforce development well into the 21st century.

Richey’s association with the College began when he was appointed to the Board of Trustees by Gov. Charlie Crist in July 2007. He left the board to accept the position of college Internal Counsel on April 2008.

He was named Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel in October 2008 before he assumed the Executive Vice President and General Counsel‘s post.

Prior to coming to the College, Richey owned his own law practice in Melbourne, Fla., from 1994 to 2008. His work included advising businesses on contract negotiations, employment policies, employee benefits, corporate governance and charitable giving programs.

In 1995, he successfully argued a case before the Florida Supreme Court.

Richey earned a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting from Michigan State University in 1985 and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Ohio State University in 1988.