Sylvia A. James

Vice President, Kentwood Public Schools BOE

Sylvia A. James serves as a Director for the Kentwood Public Schools Education Foundation, acting as the primary liaison from the Kentwood Public Schools Board of Education, where she serves as Vice President.

An accomplished, results-driven HR leader with over 30 years of experience, Sylvia retired in 2023 following a distinguished career that included senior leadership roles at Pridgeon & Clay, Corewell Health (Spectrum Health), Robert Bosch, and Steelcase, Inc.

Today, she continues to share her expertise as an Adjunct Professor at Cornerstone University’s School of Business & Innovation and as the Owner and CEO of Sylvia James HR Consulting Group, LLC.

A 25-year resident of the community, Sylvia holds both a Master of Science in Management and an MBA from Cornerstone University. Her commitment to the Foundation is rooted in her personal mission to elevate the educational experiences of both students and staff. She sees the Foundation’s work as a natural extension of her service on the Board of Education, focusing on community welfare and long-term academic success.

Sylvia and her husband, Lamar, are the parents of two KPS graduates and the proud grandparents of six, three of whom are current KPS students.

Outside of her professional and board commitments, Sylvia is active in her church and is an avid golfer.