James L. Hill, a special assistant to the president of the University of Texas and the first African American to serve as a vice president of the university, died earlier this month. He was 84 years old and suffered from prostate cancer.
Dr. Hill joined the administration at the University of Texas at Austin in 1993 as the associate vice president for administration and public affairs. From 2000 to 2007, he served as vice president for community and school relations. Earlier in his career, he was the southwest regional director for the Educational Testing Service and was the deputy commissioner of the Texas State Department of Education.
In 2006, the Black Faculty and Staff Association at the University of Texas established the Dr. James L. Hill Education Scholarship in his honor.
Dr. Hill received his bachelor’s degree in education from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, and a master’s degree in educational psychology and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
My regards to Dr. Hill’s family and the highest appreciation for is contribution to institutions of higher education.