James K. Fowlkes is the Director of Workforce Training, Professional Programs, and Career Advancement within UNLV Lifelong Learning and is a strategic leader focused on empowering the Southern Nevada workforce. He directs the team and programming dedicated to contract training and professional development offerings, ensuring that UNLV is responsive to regional industry needs. James develops the unit’s strategic plan to meet fiscal goals, coordinates key external and internal partnerships to expand offerings, and champions diversity, equity, and inclusion across all programs.
With over two decades of experience, James is an expert in strategic leadership within continuing and online education, curriculum development, and instructional design. His background includes significant leadership roles at institutions such as Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the University of New Mexico (UNM), where he successfully oversaw large continuing education units, managing staff and multi-million dollar budgets to achieve institutional objectives and maximize quality instruction.

James’s foundational strength lies in educational quality assurance. He has extensive experience implementing standards like Quality Matters (QM) and was responsible for developing and implementing a faculty program that certified over 225 instructors as eLearning Designers/Facilitators. James ensures that all professional programs are high-quality, market-driven, and designed to meet the immediate career advancement needs of our community.