Dr, Lyons attended the University of Connecticut, where he earned a bachelor's degree in
Spanish in 1965, a master's in student personnel in 1971, and a Ph.D. in professional higher
education administration in 1973. Three years later, he attended the Harvard University Institute
for Education Management, where he studied law, finance, affirmative action, accounting for
non-profit organizations, personnel management, marketing and labor relations.

In 1983, Dr. Lyons became president of Bowie State University in Maryland. He served there
until 1992, when he became president of Jackson State University in Mississippi. Then in 1999
he became president of California State University Dominquez Hills, where he served until
2007. From March 2007 until December 2010, he served as secretary of the Maryland Higher
Education Commission where he helped to establish policies for Maryland's public and private
colleges and universities. The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Board of Trustees
appointed Dr. James Earl Lyons, Sr. as the new Interim President effective March 20, 2013.

Dr. Lyons has served on numerous Boards and Committees including the American Council on
Education; the National Institutes of Health’s Task Force on At Risk Drinking; the National
Association of State College and Universities; the Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities; the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the U.S. Dream
Academy. Dr. Lyons and his wife, Jocelyn, have three sons.