Jim is Professor Emeritus from the University of Nevada Reno, where he taught and conducted research for 18 years, following 16 years at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. While in Fairbanks, he served as Director of the Institute of Arctic Biology for three years. Jim is a past-president of the Nevada Chapter, twice served as an Associate Editor for The Journal of Wildlife Management, and spent four years as a Senior Editor for The Auk (now Ornithology).
During his time in Alaska, Jim focused on waterfowl ecology: he initiated the Tutakoke River Black Brant Project on the Bering Sea coast in 1984 and managed the project until 2018. He continues to remain involved in the project. Since moving to Nevada, Jim and his students have conducted two long-term studies of greater sage-grouse, one addressing the impacts of human infrastructure and the more recent study addressing the effects of grazing by livestock and feral horses on sage-grouse. During his career, he advised 32 graduate students (15 PhDs) and three postdoctoral scholars.
Jim and his wife, Connie, continue to reside in Reno. They have two grown children and they are enjoying their grandchildren. Jim remains active in research and since his retirement has added volunteer efforts with the Coalition for Healthy Nevada Lands and the Nevada Waterfowl Association
