JAMES ODOM
2837 Braemar Drive
Waco, Texas 76710
(254) 749-8946
EDUCATION
Baylor University, Waco, Texas: Ph.D Candidate in Political Science, 2010-present (3.94 GPA)
Georgetown University, Washington, DC: Master of Science in Foreign Service, May 1996 (3.81
GPA).
 Landegger Honors Program in International Business Diplomacy.
 Wiental Scholarship (given to only four students at the end of the first year of study; based on
academic performance and personal promise as a practitioner and writer in world affairs).
 University Scholarship (full tuition scholarship based on academic performance during
the first year of study).
 Admissions Committee Member (1996); Citation for Academic Excellence; Dean’s
Citation for Service.
Baylor University, Waco, Texas: Bachelor of Arts with majors in Economics and Religion, summa cum
laude, May 1994 (3.98 GPA).
 Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board.
 Baylor Chamber of Commerce (Chaplain).
 Christian Emphases Task Force (1993-1994): Selected by the President of Baylor to serve on a
student-faculty committee responsible for re-structuring the orientation process and assessing
Baylor’s goals as a Christian and academic institution.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
President, Wilberforce and Lincoln Center, Incorporated (2008-present): Founder of this registered
501(c)(3) organization dedicated to informing churches and religious organizations about trends in
government policy that may be of interest or concern. Policy areas include sanctity of life, family law,
and national indebtedness. (After initial restructuring in 2008, this organization has been dormant, as I
have not had time or resources to develop its programs.)
*Although not professional experience, much of my time since 2008 has been taken with managing a
small business.
Director of Public Affairs, Baylor University (2002 – 2007): Managed local, state, and federal
governmental relations for the oldest university in Texas and the largest Baptist university in the world.
 Monitored and influenced state and federal legislation and regulation regarding all aspects of
university life and administration.
 Orchestrated Baylor’s advocacy efforts on behalf of roughly $92 million in state and federal
financial aid.
 Administered programs on campus to heighten awareness of government affairs and public
service.
 Helped administer on the university’s behalf President Bush’s Economic Forum in August 2002
at Baylor, attended by a majority of cabinet members and several hundred business leaders from
around the country (the university is 30 miles from Crawford and has hosted several presidential
events on campus).
The Leadership Foundation (Active in the 2000-01 academic year; renamed the Wilberforce and
Lincoln Center listed above): Founder and President of this nonprofit organization dedicated to
encouraging principled leadership in the political arena for the preservation of a culture that respects life
and cherishes liberty.
 Student Leader Program (SLP): provided scholarships and leadership training to undergraduate
students with a demonstrated interest in public affairs. Students from almost 50 universities in
Oklahoma and Texas participated in the first year of the SLP, and the Foundation hosted
leadership seminars on or near most of these campuses during the 2000-01 academic year.
Candidate for United States Congress, 4th District of Oklahoma (February 2000 - August 2000)
Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senator John Ashcroft (February 1997 - November 1999):
 Advised the Senator on foreign policy, national security, and veterans issues.
 Professional Representative of the Senator to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC):
responsible for reviewing all Committee business, including international treaties and diplomatic
nominations.
 African Affairs (1997-98): managed the Senator’s work as Chairman of the Africa Subcommittee
of the SFRC; reviewed all ambassadorial nominees to Africa; organized all policy hearings for
the Subcommittee.