James Credle (February 7, 1945 – April 15, 2023) was an American academic administrator, counselor, and Veterans and LGBT rights activist.

He was assistant dean of student affairs at Rutgers University–Newark and was a founding member of several Veterans and LGBTQ associations.

Credle was born on February 7, 1945, in Mesic, North Carolina during the time of Jim Crow laws.

[2] He moved that year to Newark, New Jersey to work at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lyons with his aunt and uncle.

When asked about his experience of coming out, he said that it is a lifelong process, and that he doesn't try to hide his gay identity.

[4][3] In Tây Ninh Province, Credle was wounded but continued to help other soldiers evacuate while under enemy fire.

Credle was a member of the Black Organization of Students (BOS) and Tau Kappa Epsilon.

Along with other BOS members, Credle participated in a 72-hour occupation at Rutgers Conklin Hall protesting for increased opportunities and access for minority students, staff, and faculty at Rutgers–Newark.

[2] He spent one semester at Rutgers Law School before obtaining the position of director of the office of veterans affairs at Rutgers–Newark.

[1] The group also hosted balls for the queer community, which led to judgement from media and the government.

[2] At one point in the 1970's, after leaving a nightclub and having an altercation, someone shot a bullet at Credle's car while he and his partner were driving away.

[1] Having survived the Vietnam war and the AIDS crisis, Credle felt great sadness for the lives that were lost.

[citation needed] On the morning of October 21, 2013, the first day New Jersey allowed same-sex marriage, Credle married Pierre Dufresne.

Credle has experienced posttraumatic stress disorder from his military service, and was not offered treatment from the army, which inspired him to work with veterans later in life.

He liked music and dancing, stating that he liked the artist Adele, and his favorite song is "Rolling in the Deep."

[4] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States government.