For almost thirty years, James I. Plummer, as an administrator, director, counselor,and friend was known for his commitment to Rutgers and deep personal connections with students, faculty, and staff. In 1999, he retired early from Rutgers, and expanded his outreach with the sole purpose of working with expelled and incarcerated youth. Further as a resident of Plainfield for 35 years, he has been immersed in community affairs at the local, county, and state levels, with special emphasis on issue confronting urban families.
After graduating from Neptune High School, James I. Plummer entered Rutgers College in the late 1960’s, a turbulent time in America. He was a member of the first large class of black students (121) at Rutgers College. While a junior, he was fortunate to have been given a work-study assignment with Dean Fred Clark, at the Rutgers College Dean of Students Office. Dean Clark permitted him to develop a job description around the support of “minority” student populations. This became the genesis of lifelong compassionate support of students and those in urban communities.
Following graduation from Rutgers College and the Rutgers Graduate School of SocialWork (Administration, Policy, and Planning) and over the next twenty-five years came a rapid succession of Rutgers jobs including, Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Rutgers College, EOF Counselor Rutgers College, Coordinator of Counselor-Rutgers College EOF, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs-Rutgers College, Director of National Student Exchange, Associate University Director (Office of Asst. V.P. of Academic Affairs), Director of EOF Livingston College, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs-Newark, and Dean of Students-University College-Newark.
During the period and afterwards, James Plummer was honored or recognized by more than forty collegiate or community organizations. Amongst the highlights are his very first plaque, “Tribute to the Black Man in America” awarded by the black students at Rutgers in 1976, the President’s Award in Administration, awarded to the top administrator at Rutgers, Induction into the Loyal Sons and Daughters of Rutgers, awarded by the Rutgers Alumni Association for extraordinary service to Rutgers, the Black Voice/Carta Borica Administrator of Year Award, and numerous EOF, fraternal/sorority, and student organization commendations.
Upon leaving Rutgers, he focused his attention on young men and women who were having difficulty succeeding in society. Thus, he began teaching at an alternative school and four years later joined the faculty of a juvenile detention center. He immensely enjoyed working with this population and developed teaching strategies that seemed to reach students who previously performed poorly in school. This lead to a Teacher of the Year award at the alternative school, NJ Teacher of the Year award from the Governor’s Office for work at the detention center, and a 6 foot surprise Farewell Quilt, made by the residents of a Detention Center upon his final retirement.
As a community activist James Plummer held leadership positions with numerous civic groups including Plainfield Housing Authority, several Plainfield AdvisoryCommittees, Union County Vocational-Technical Board of Education, soccer and football programs. He also has served as Elder and Deacon at both the Bethel Presbyterian and the United Presbyterian Church of Plainfield.
He has been married to Barbara Faison (DC ’76), a veteran teacher in the Plainfield Public Schools since 1971. They have two sons with advanced degrees, James, an international drug company executive, Joel, a Social Studies teacher at Plainfield High School, an adjunct professor in the Africana Studies department at Rutgers and professional sports photographer, and a daughter, Loni who attended Union County College.