James “Jim” Pitts played an instrumental role in the rise of the College of Business and Florida State University – spending more than five decades as a dedicated and versatile business faculty member and university administrator, most notably as director of International Programs.

After joining the college as an assistant professor of finance in 1968, Pitts distinguished himself as a rigorous academic known for his expertise in quantitative methods and real estate finance, plus graduate-level statistics and economics. He earned the rank of full professor and emphasized foundational understanding over technological shortcuts, standing among the last faculty members to allow calculator use in the classroom.

He also taught review sessions for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam, providing invaluable professional development opportunities for students.

As a business faculty member, Pitts served three terms as president of the Faculty Senate and spent time on the FSU Athletics Board. He also served as associate dean for administration and development.

Recognizing his administrative talents, Bernie Sliger – FSU's president at the time -- appointed Pitts as assistant to the president for oversight in 1989 then vice president for advancement, overseeing the Seminole Boosters, the FSU Foundation and the FSU Alumni Association. He also was instrumental in developing the DeVoe L. Moore University Center surrounding Doak Campbell Stadium.

In 1991, Sliger asked Pitts to locate and purchase a campus for FSU’s London program, which he completed the following year. In 1995, Pitts assumed leadership of International Programs, dramatically expanding FSU's global footprint and making the university a national leader in study-abroad enrollment. Under his guidance, the university established study centers in Florence, Italy; Valencia, Spain; and the Republic of Panama, expanding FSU’s global footprint well beyond its center in London. He oversaw study-abroad opportunities that enabled more than 50,000 FSU students, including business majors, to gain international experience.

Pitts earned B.S., MBA and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Kentucky. Amid his other roles, he remained on the College of Business faculty until 2004 and retired from FSU in 2024.