Charity James, PhD, CCLS
Chair and Assistant Professor, Department of Child Life
Charity James, PhD, CCLS, was born in Burma (Myanmar) as part of the Karen ethnic group and became a Southern Californian at age 12. Her passion for health care and supporting children led her to pursue a career as a child life specialist. Charity has worked in the child life field since 1998 and has been a certified child life specialist (CCLS) since 2000.
Throughout her career, Charity has provided child life services to infants, children, youth, and their families in both health care and community settings. She has held a variety of leadership roles within the child life profession and in academia. Before joining Azusa Pacific University (APU) to develop and direct the Master of Science in Child Life program, she served as director of Child Life at UC Irvine Medical Center, where she oversaw a clinical child life program.
Charity remains actively engaged in advancing the field, representing the child life profession in health care and academic contexts. She has served on multiple committees with the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), is a board member of the California Association of Child Life Professionals (CACLP), and is a member of the Founders Council of the Child Life Academic Society (CLAS).
She is deeply passionate about advancing child life practice through education and is committed to preparing future child life specialists to make an impact locally, regionally, and globally.
Education
- PhD, Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University
- MS, Child Development, University of La Verne
- BS, Child Life, University of La Verne
Credentials/Certifications
- Child Life Certification (Certified Child Life Specialist)
Academic Area
- School of Health Sciences
Expertise
- Child Life Education and Practice
- Children and Youth - Growth and Development
- Psychosocial care and Coping