Betty James is the office manager for the John Glenn Institute at The Ohio State University and Associate to the Director, Deborah Merritt. In this capacity, Betty oversees the business operation of the office; handles reception duties; trouble-shoots office equipment and services; communicates with students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the Institute; supervises a student staff; and assists the Director in her many programs and projects. She also serves as Building Coordinator for Page Hall.

Betty has been with The Ohio State University for 21 years, including seven years as an Administrative Secretary at the Office of Business and Finance; one year as Administrative Secretary at the Office of Human Resources; eight years as Office Manager at the Office of Information Technology; and 5 years at the John Glenn Institute.

At The Ohio State University, Betty has participated on various committees including the OASPDP Advisory Committee for the Organization and Human Resource Development, which worked to develop a system for employees whereby they could plan their professional development and seek promotional opportunities. She served on the advisory committee to plan and produce the first-ever Administrative Support Conference for administrative support staff at The Ohio State University.

Prior to coming to OSU, Betty was the Office Manager for nine years at the Ohio Wildlife Federation an organization of sportsmen and conservation clubs throughout Ohio and the Ohio affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation.

Betty has been a member of the Boy Scouts of America for 35 years. She started as a Den Leader back in 1970 when her oldest son became a Cub Scout. Betty continued on as her other 3 sons became Scouts. She has held the positions of Den Leader Coach, Certified Coach-Counselor, Chairman of the Cub Scout Adult Leadership Development Committee, Chairman of the Great Southwest District Cub Scout Roundtable, Central Ohio Council Chairman for Adult Leadership Development, Chief Advisor for Boy Scout Leadership Development (Blackfoot), and currently as a member of the Committee for Boy Scout Troop 33 of the Scioto Valley District, of which her oldest son and oldest grandson are assistant Scoutmasters and another grandson is an Assistant Patrol Leader.

She is the recipient of the Scouter of the Year Award and the District Award of Merit. She was awarded the Silver Beaver from the National Boy Scouts of America for her service to youth and adults in the Central Ohio Council. This is the highest award a local volunteer can earn.

Betty is an avid outdoorsman who loves to camp, canoe, hike, hunt, and fish. She especially loves to be out-of-doors in her herb gardens. She often takes to the fields and forests of Ohio with a camera in order to photograph wildlife. She is currently studying to be more effective in identifying wild native plants and loves teaching her 14 grandchildren to love and appreciate these gifts.

She has been married for 42 years to her husband Vic. She has 4 married sons and 12 grandchildren