james edward cheek (december 4, 1932 – january 8, 2010) was president emeritus of howard university. he was born in roanoke rapids, north carolina. despite suffering from severe cataracts, cheek was an honor student at washington street grammar school. he graduated from immanuel lutheran college with a secondary diploma in 1950 and served as a member of the united states air force in korea in 1951, eventually earning a bachelor of arts in sociology and history from shaw university. in 1955, cheek received a master of divinity from colgate rochester university in 1958 and a phd from drew university in 1962. during this period, cheek was honored with a colgate rochester fellowship, a rockefeller doctoral fellowship and a lily foundation fellowship. he was member of alpha phi alpha fraternity.