James T. Laney, the former president of Emory University who helped transform it from a regional teaching institution into a major research university, died Aug. 13, 2026, at 98, according to Emory News.
From 1969 to 1977, Laney served as dean of Candler School of Theology, Emory’s theology school. He grew the faculty by nearly 50% and enrollment by 37%. He also established a supervised-ministry program that gave clergy trainees hands-on experience and became a national model.
Laney became Emory’s president in 1977. He used a $105 million gift from Robert and George Woodruff to hire faculty, fund merit scholarships and student aid, create academic programs including public health, and support an ambitious building program. Emory’s endowment doubled after the gift. Laney advanced the university’s research mission by establishing endowed professorships, setting tenure standards that valued research and publication, and expanding graduate programs. In 1982, he recruited former President Jimmy Carter to Emory. Carter joined the faculty and helped develop an action-oriented policy research center that was dedicated in 1986 as The Carter Center. Its work on peace, public health, human rights and conflict resolution extended Emory’s public reach. Laney served as president until 1993.
Laney became U.S. ambassador to South Korea in 1993. During his tenure, the United States and North Korea signed the 1994 U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework on Oct. 21. The accord ended an 18-month nuclear crisis and called for North Korea to halt its nuclear activities at Yongbyon and eventually dismantle the facility in exchange for energy assistance, including two light-water reactors. Laney held the post until 1996.
