James R. Tucker

With over thirty-eight years’ experience in facilities, real estate, and development in higher education, James R. Tucker has overseen a total of nearly $2 billion in construction and development at the University of Cincinnati and Drexel University in Philadelphia, including third-party development deals for student housing, retail, dining, and hospitality valued at over $600 million in assets and ground rents for Drexel. He has previously served as a consultant for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Procter & Gamble and the city of Cincinnati’s Facilities Task Force, among others. His areas of expertise include: third-party/public-private development partnerships and negotiations, strategic acquisitions, facilities planning and management. Tucker received the Distinguished Business Officer Award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) in 2012 and the Ohio Governor’s Award for Excellence (Ohio Malcolm Baldrige Award) in 2003. He was also named Energy Executive of the Year (1999) by the Association of Energy Engineers.

Tucker was appointed senior vice president of administrative and business services at Drexel University in March 2007. As senior vice president, he oversees the largest non-academic administrative division at Drexel, which includes the combined operations of 27 departments with over 1,600 university, student, contract,and union employees. He oversees the planning and maintenance of over 7.4 million square feet located on more than 100 acres on three campuses in Philadelphia. Tucker also serves as vice chairman and president/chief operating officer of Academic Properties, Inc. (API), vice chair for the University City District, vice chair for the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, principal of Drexel University City Development, LLC, and a member of the March of Dimes Transportation, Building, & Construction Awards luncheon executive board.