Born in Berea, Kentucky, James Lawrence Powell received his A.B. in geology from Berea College (1958) and earned a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1962). He was appointed President of Reed College in 1988, and stayed in office until 1991 whereupon he became the President of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Before coming to Reed College, Powell actively participated in a number of educational organizations. He served as President of of Franklin and Marshall College from 1983-1988, and previously worked at Oberlin College from 1962-1983 as the professor and chairman of the geology department, dean, provost, and acting president. His career also included appointments as a visiting administrator at Stanford University and a visiting scientist at Oxford University. He served on several boards of educational organizations and committees, including the National Science Board, the board of governors of the Institute for European Studies, and EDUCOM.

Powell was the recipient of several awards and honors including an L.H.D. (doctor of humane letters) degree from Tohoku Gakuin University (1986) and a Sc.D. (doctor of science) degree from Oberlin College (1983). He was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Xi.

Powell was married to Joan Hartmann, a professor of political science and consultant for the United States Department of the Interior, and was the father of three children. He enjoyed the music of Mozart, reading biographies and mysteries, running, backpacking, and fly-fishing.

[Paraphrased mostly from "Memorandum for the Reed Community" by Richard P. Wollenberg, March 28, 1988.]