Dr. James Elias, lecturer emeritus who taught in the Department of Sociology at California State University Northridge for over four decades, passed away on January 25, 2022. He was 89.
James earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1962 and Master's degree in Sociology in 1965 from Southern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Studies, San Francisco, in 1978. He joined CSUN's Department of Sociology in 1972.
Throughout his 43-year career at CSUN, he contributed to the teaching and study of gender and sexuality and published numerous books and articles, leaving a lasting impact on students and colleagues. James' service to CSUN was immeasurable; he served as the Director of the Center for Sex Research, Human Sexuality Coordinator of Undergraduate Multidisciplinary Course, President and Board of Directors of the University Club, and as a member of the CSUN Faculty Senate.
James was honored with countless awards. The Distinguished Teaching Award, Excellence and High Distinction in Teaching, Department of Sociology, Meritorious Performance and Professional PROMISE Award at CSUN, Distinguished Public Service, The Sociology for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and The Freedom Isn't Free Award - The Free Speech Coalition, to name a few.
James was preceded in death by his wife, Veronica "Ronnie" Elias, professor emerita, Department of Sociology at CSUN.
Statements from Faculty
It is with a heavy heart and sadness in my life that I write this farewell to Jim. I started my career as a full-time lecturer at CSUN in 1972, the year that William Watkins ran for and was subsequently elected CSUN Student body President. That year, I met Veronica Elias, as a recently hired tenure-track professor from the University of Indiana. As part of a couple’s team, James Elias began his part-time teaching at CSUN shortly thereafter. I remember Ronnie introducing Jim to me at a faculty social that year. We became fast friends. In every definition of the word, he was a good friend.
While most will remember Jim as the big “teddy-bear” of a person, larger than life, who garnered awards while teaching in a subject matter that was largely ignored in academia before his and Ronnie’s ground-breaking efforts, I will remember him as a friend, colleague, loving husband, and a pioneering academician, whose heart was as big as his passion for teaching and mentoring students. Jerald Schutte, Ph.D., Lecturer, Department of Sociology
Since I came to the Department in 1994, I found James and Veronica Elias were extremely kind colleagues who were willing to help. I visited James’s class one time and was impressed by the way he organized his class, and how much he was loved by his students. James and Veronica, you will be missed. Wen C. Wang Ph.D.. Professor, Department of Sociology
Jim and Ronnie were two of the first people I met when I arrived to start my job at CSUN in 1997. On the first day, when I went to my faculty mailbox for the first time, I found a card from them warmly welcoming me to the department. That was just the kind of people they were from my first encounter with them to the very last conversation I had with Jim. It is sometimes hard to talk about Jim separate from Ronnie because they were a strong, wonderful team and a major influence on many of us who were younger in the department.
He was gentle and mild-mannered, and at the same time he was a wealth of professional information and experience with a passion for his students, family, friends, colleagues, and doing the right thing. I remember the events the Center for Sex Research held to bring researchers and practitioners in the field of sexualities together--including prostitutes and sex workers one year and those working in the pornography industry the next. It seemed so incongruent with the stereotype of a very sweet couple from Indiana, but Jim and Ronnie were passionate about the study of sex and sexualities with the goal of a greater, multi-faceted, and more human understanding to benefit both academia and practice.
He was supportive of all our students at CSUN, especially those in Sociology, EOP, and Criminology and Justice Studies. I took Jim's class in sexual dysfunctions and was treated to a class that handled a sometimes delicate subject with complete professionalism, a true wealth of knowledge and experience, and the student-centered and compassionate approach that made every student feel valued and encouraged to do well.
They say that people won't remember what we gave them or what we told them, but they will remember how we made them feel. I do remember Jim's generosity and advice, but it is true that what I remember most is the way he made me feel valuable, welcome, and loved. In the end, that may be the best words I can offer about him. I will miss him dearly and will always wish I had more time to spend with him. Vickie Jensen, Ph.D., Chair and Professor Department of Criminology and Justice Studies
I met Jim Elias in 2007 and remember wondering what this older man was going to teach about human sexuality. I already was in the minor program but hadn't met him until taking SOC230. I was immediately enthralled. His compassion, interest, and openness about human sexuality and his students was evident. He is the reason I chose to be an academic and researcher and activist in the field of human sexuality. Jim was always supportive of his students and colleagues; he was generous to a fault. He is loved and will be missed. Emily E. Prior, MA, Lecturer, Department of Sociology
I first met Dr. Elias back in 2009 when I registered for his online human sexuality class. He was my first sociology class, and I was just accepted into the master's program. Towards the end of the semester, I approached Dr. Elias and asked if I could be his TA so I could learn from him on how to become a college professor. Dr. Elias took me under his wing and mentored me for 13 years. His mentorship developed into a deep friendship, and he became like family to me. He taught me everything I know about how to teach my students with panache, creativity, compassion, and joy. When I first started teaching, I was constantly calling him for guidance and support. I miss him and our chats very much. Karen Sabbah, Office Manager, Family and Consumer Sciences Department