James Francis
Director, Development
James Francis joined the University of Arizona College of Science as Director of Development in September 2025. In this role, he supports philanthropic efforts on behalf of the college’s 14 academic departments, each on the cutting edge of research discovery and preparing the next generation of scientists.
Before joining the College of Science, James spent more than 28 years in the University of Arizona Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, serving as a senior associate athletics director in both external operations and development.
Before joining the College of Science, James spent more than 28 years in the University of Arizona Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, serving as a senior associate athletics director in both external operations and development.
Originally from La Cañada, California, James earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Arizona. He and his wife, Tammi, are proud parents of two daughters, Emery and Avery.