James Cole, Jr. is the American financier, attorney, and advocate who founded the multidimensional investment management firm, The Jasco Group, served as the Obama administration’s deputy secretary and general counsel to the U.S. Department of Education, and currently serves as a director and chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee of AIG. With a trailblazing streak that began on the south side of Chicago where he grew up, Cole’s career culminates in a portfolio of roles and enterprises steadily in support of advancing Civil Rights through education initiatives and entertainment for social impact. The longstanding community leader and mentor is also the proud father of a young son.