Dr. Jim Vickrey holds two doctorates, but he’s also a regular guy—an accomplished academic with humble roots, educated in public K–12 schools. He studied and/or worked at Auburn University (two degrees), the University of Alabama, Florida State University (Ph.D.), the Harvard Business School’s IEM program (certificate), and the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law (J.D.).

Over the course of his five decades-long career, he has served as an administrator and/or a professor of speech communication, rhetoric, and public address at several universities in two states. His efforts in education, advocacy, and leadership have earned him honors, including three awards from the Alabama Library Association, recognition from the Southern Communication Association, and accolades from various administrative organizations—most notably CASE’s Time Magazine award for a speech he gave on “the value of a college degree.” He also served as the founding president of NAAL, the nation’s first electronic network uniting all graduate libraries in the state.

A prolific author, Dr. Vickrey has written extensively for publications across Alabama, the South, and beyond. Since retiring in 2014, he has written five books—three published, two in press. His résumé includes dozens of scholarly and professional articles, and since 1979, he has authored more than 1,500 columns and commentaries for newspapers, radio, and television. He has delivered more than 400 speeches since 1977 and taught public speaking at four major public universities.

“Hey, what do you think about…?” That question captures the spirit of his approach to communication—engaging, curious, and accessible. With a natural rapport with the media (including marrying one of its members), Dr. Vickrey has been interviewed countless times by journalists across radio, television, and print, media, as well as by individuals in organizations both large and small.