Chaired Professor, Texas Tech University

Russell James, JD, Ph.D., CFP® is a chaired professor at Texas Tech University where he directs the on-campus and online graduate program in Charitable Financial Planning (planned giving). Prior to his career as an academic researcher, Dr. James worked as an estate planning attorney in private practice, as a director of planned giving for Central Christian College in Moberly, Missouri and later as college president. He is a member of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners "Hall of Fame." Dr. James has published research in more than 75 peer-reviewed scientific journal and law review articles and has authored seven books on philanthropy. He has been quoted on charitable and financial issues in a variety of news sources including The Economist, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, the Associated Press, Bloomberg News, The Washington Post, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy and his financial neuroimaging research was profiled in The Wall Street Journal's Smart Money Magazine.