Priya James

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT PRIYA JAMES

Priya James is a nationally recognized advocate for eating disorder recovery and mental health, with a career that bridges creative leadership, strategic communications, and community-centered impact.She began her professional journey in the fashion industry in 2001, working with a prominent Houston-based modeling and talent agency and earning a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing from The Art Institute of Houston. She went on to serve as Marketing and PR Director for acclaimed fashion designer and Project Runway Season 2 winner Chloe Dao, where she led brand strategy, media relations, and public engagement.In 2016, Priya redirected her expertise toward mental health advocacy, with a focused commitment to eating disorders. She has held leadership and advisory roles with respected eating disorder organizations both nationally and locally in her home town of Houston, Texas. Her longstanding dedication culminated in receiving the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Inspire Award in New York City, recognizing her exceptional advocacy and service.Priya has spent more than a decade leading community-based initiatives, including serving as Chair of the NEDA Walk in Houston, before assuming her current role as Associate Director of Community Engagement at NEDA. In this role, she develops inclusive, volunteer-driven programs that foster connection, education, and meaningful participation nationwide.Drawing from lived experience, Priya is especially passionate about advancing awareness and access to eating disorder education in cultural communities where mental health is often overlooked or misunderstood. She has shared her story and expertise at the national level through television, radio, podcasts, and print media, using her voice to reduce stigma and elevate conversations around recovery, representation, and belonging.