Jim grew up in the Lima, Ohio area and began his college career as a non-traditional student on the Lima Campus of The Ohio State University. After two years of coursework in Lima, he changed to the Columbus Campus and completed both a B.S. degree in Education and a M. A. degree with emphasis in History and Visual Sociology. He taught high school in and around the Columbus area, yet never separated from the University.

Jim continued graduate studies in a doctoral program until 1989. Guidance and Counseling, Curriculum Development, Educational Supervision, and Educational Administration were areas added to continued study in history and sociology.

Throughout Jim’s graduate studies in Columbus, he served as an evaluator for the North Central Evaluating Team, evaluating the Columbus Public Schools and a Twelfth Congressional District and State Judge for the High School National Bicentennial Competitions on the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Jim taught undergraduate education courses in the OSU College of Education as a lecturer and served as a Seventh Congressional District High School History Competition Judge at Capital University.

Jim began his Academic Advising Career as a graduate student working in University College at OSU. After serving as a GAA he was hired as a full-time professional advisor. In 1990, Jim returned to the Lima Campus as an Academic Advisor. His first year he advised students and taught American History.

Jim became Advising Coordinator in 1991. In 1995 he was promoted to Assistant Director of Enrollment Services and in 2001 he became Special Assistant to the Dean. Finally, in 2003, Jim was promoted to Assistant Dean and Administrative Director. Throughout his academic career, Jim has continued to coordinate the Academic Advising area.