James Lamar Gant

I want to take a moment to reflect on the warmth and kindness that Dr. Gant brought into my life and the lives of so many others. His compassion truly touched my heart, and his wisdom always felt like a guiding light during challenging times. While achievements and accolades are important, they don´t fully capture the essence of the impact he had on those around him. His spirit lives on in the love and remembrance shared by friends and family. I hope you find comfort in knowing that his influence continues to inspire acts of kindness and hope in all of us.

Jack hired me as an assistant professor at FSU, the first woman in my program and my department. That was important to him, and he understood as FSU's first Black dean what it meant to be the first. Not only did Jack launch my academic career, he was proud when I became the first woman dean of the College of Education. RIP, Jack.

I worked for Jack at the Board of Regents. A fantastic boss and friend. The last time I saw him was at Gloria´s funeral. Loved him to death. He will be missed