Since 2020, Dr. Michael-Angelo James has excelled as the mayor of the City of Waycross, Georgia. Honored extensively for his tenure as mayor, he is particularly proud of being able to work with his community in making Waycross a safe, equitable place to live. Outside of his vocation as a local government leader, Dr. James has also served as a professor of sociology at Coastal Pines Technical College since 2018, a bishop at Emmanuel’s International Cathedral since 1990 and a chancellor at Emmanuel’s Bible College since 2009. He has also excelled as a pastor for over 30 years.
Earlier in his career, Dr. James was recognized as the vice president of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of the Georgia Youth Convention and lent his time to academia as a social studies teacher and assistant principal at Ware County High School and Waycross High School. Additionally, he has dedicated much of his time to his district Toastmaster’s Club, having served as a program quality trainer of District 14, coach of the Jonesboro Toastmasters and director of Area H82 from 2020 to 2021. He also thrived as the director of Area H83 and was a charter president, mentor and member of the President’s Distinguished Swamp Talk from 2019 to 2020.
To prepare for his career, Dr. James pursued formal education at Troy State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in education in 1988. Thereafter, he enrolled in Valdosta State University and earned a Master of Education in secondary education and teaching in 1993. Concluding his academic pursuits, he obtained a Doctor of Christian Education from the Truth Bible College in 1999. Outside of his primary efforts, Dr. James is a prolific writer, having penned such books as “Just Because God Said It: A Journal of Prophetic Predictions and Pronouncements” in 2010. Earlier, he authored “Leader, Can You Stand the Test” in 2004 and “Trusting God to Supply Your Need: Perspectives on Exercising Your Faith” in 2003.
To commemorate his achievements, Dr. James was named the Georgia Man of the Year and earned the Jack Williams Community Service Award from the Waycross Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, he received the Distinguished Toastmaster Award, and in 2019, he earned the Distinguished Kiwanian Award. Earlier, Dr. James received several Ted Harris Human and Spiritual Values Awards from the Kiwanis Club of Waycross between 2015 and 2017, and he was the recipient of the Partnership Courage Collaboration and Leadership Achievement Award in 2011. In the coming years, Dr. James intends to continue his work as mayor, as well as continue teaching young students the intricacies of job placement and performance.
