Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae of James A. Kushlan
Academic Degrees

Earned: University of Miami, PhD, 1974; MS, 1972; BS (Cum Laude), 1969.

Honorary: Thiel College, DSc. (hon), 1996; John Cabot University, DSc. (hon), 1999.

Professional Positions
  • Senior Science Advisor, U.S. Geological Survey, 2001-2002.
  • Research Associate, Smithsonian Institution, 2000-2005.
  • Center Director, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Biological Service / U.S. Geological Survey, 1995-2001.
  • Professor of Biology, University of Mississippi, 1988-1998, Department Chair 1988-1995.
  • Professor and Director, Water Resources Center, Texas A &M University-Commerce, 1985-1988.
  • Associate Professor, Texas A &M University-Commerce, 1984-1985.
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Miami, 1976-1980.
  • Senior Research Biologist, National Park Service, 1975-1984.
Societies, Boards, and Committees
  • Archbold Biological Station, Board of Directors, 2020-, Treasurer 2021 – 2023, Vice-Chair 2023-2024, Executive Committee 2024-2025.
  • BirdLife International, Global Advisory Group 2016-.
  • Everglades Foundation, Board of Directors 2011-.
  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Board of Trustees 2011-.
  • Miami-Dade County Zoo Oversight Board, Member 2015-2019.
  • Zoo Miami Foundation, Board of Directors, 2012-20, Chair of the Board 2016-2018, Emeritus 2019-
  • American Ornithological Society, Elected Fellow; Council Member 2002-2019; President 2004-2006, Past-president 2006 -.
  • Fellow, International Ornithological Union 2000 – .
  • North American Waterbird Conservation Initiative and Waterbird Conservation for the Americas, Founder and Chair 1998-2003. Board Member and Past Chair 1996- 2012.
  • HeronConservation – the IUCN Heron Specialist Group,  Co-Founder 1985, Chair or Co-Chair 1985-2020.
  • University of Miami School of Arts and Sciences Member, Advisory Committee 2008 -.
  • John Cabot University, Rome, Italy, Trustee, Vice-Chair Board of Trustees 1993-2006; Academic Affairs Chair, 2000-2006; Honorary Trustee 2006-.
  • Smithsonian Institution Research Associate 2000-2005.
  • BirdLife International/ National Audubon Society, Stewardship Council 2014-2016.
  • HistoryMiami Museum Member Board of Trustees 2011-2016.
  • Journal of Heron Research and Conservation, Editor 2011-2015.
  • University of Miami Co-Chair Momentum Capital Campaign College of Arts and Sciences, 2012-2015.
  • Bahamas Environment Fund, Founder, 2009; President and Trustee 2009-2012.
  • Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center, Member of Board 2008-2012, President 2010-2012.
  • Friends of the Everglades, Board Member 2004-2012.
  • North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Committee Member, U.S. Committee 2000-2011.
  • Tropical Audubon Society Board Member 2005-2010.
  • Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, Board Member 2000-2007.
  • International Ornithological Committee, Committee Member 2006-2010.
  • Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat, France, Member Scientific Advisory Board 1992-2006.
  • Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Board Member 2001-2004.
  • Ornithological Council, Council Member 1996–1999, 2004-2006.
  • American Bird Conservancy, Member Board of Directors 2000-2006.
  • Wetlands International, Wetlands International Foundation, Netherlands, Founding Member Board of Directors 1995-2004.
  • Bird Conservation Alliance, Founder 2002, Chair 2002-2005.
  •  Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Member Shorebird and Waterbird Working Group 2000-2003.
  • Federal Committee Partners in Flight, Committee Member 1996-2002.
  • Colonial Waterbird Society, President 1996-1998, Past-president 1999-.
  • Associate Editor, Wetlands, 1993-1995.
  • Mississippi Public Education Forum, Chair Science Task Force 1993-1995.
  • Mississippi Universities Research Consortium Member Environmental Committee 1992-1993.
  • Association of Mississippi Colleges Biology Chairs, Member 1988-1995; Chair 1991,
  • Mississippi Universities Environmental Education Consortium, Committee Member 1992-1993.
  • Mississippi Nature Conservancy, Board Member 1991-1995.
  • United Way Planning Council, Oxford, Mississippi, Board Member 1991-1992.
  • Rotary Clubs of Oxford (Mississippi) and Commerce (Texas), Member 1985-1996, President 1988, Paul Harris Award, 1987, Regional Conservation Chair.
  • Malloy Community Improvement Association, Commerce, Texas, Board Member 1987.
  • International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, UK, Board Member 1985-1995.
  • Editor Colonial Waterbirds 1985-1988.
  • Editor, Heron Conservation Newsletter 1985-1998.
  • Society of Sigma Xi, Texas A &M – Commerce Elected Member, President 1983-1984.
  • Member Editorial Board, Wetlands, 1982.
  • IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group, Member 1981-1998.
  • Editorial Board, Colonial Waterbirds, Member 1981-1984.
  • Editor, Florida Field Naturalist 1981-1986.
  • Nordic Institute of Ecology, Sweden, Lecturer 1980.
  • Cape Sable Sparrow Recovery Team, Member and Chair 1979-1983.
  • Darwin Research Station, Galapagos, Visiting Scientist 1978.
  • American Crocodile Recovery Team Member 1975-1983.
  • Florida Panther Recovery Team, Member 1975-1982.
Books
  • Big Cypress National Preserve, 2025, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston SC, USA.
  • Recovering Caribbean Nature, 2024, Bloomsbury, CRC Press, Boca Raton FL, USA.
  • Everglades National Park, 2021, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston SC, USA.
  • Seeking the American Tropics, South Florida’s Early Naturalists. 2020. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.   
  • Dry Tortugas National Park (w K. Hines). 2019. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina.
  • Biscayne National Park (w K. Hines). 2017. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina.
  • Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens (w K. Hines). 2014. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
  • Birds of Fairchild (photography by K. Hines). 2014. Acclaim Press, Morley, Missouri.
  • Key Biscayne (w K. Hines). 2014. Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina.
  • Fairchild Tropical Gardens Bird Trail Guide (photography by K. Hines). 2014. Acclaim Press, Morley, Missouri.
  • Conserving Herons. 2008. Heron Specialist Group and Station Biologique de la Tour du Valat, Arles, France.
  • The Herons (w J. Hancock). 2005. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  • Heron Conservation (w Heinz Hafner). 2000. Academic Press, San Diego, California.
  • Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World (w J.A. Hancock, M.P. Kahl). 1988. Academic Press, San Diego, California.
  • The Herons Handbook (w J. Hancock). 1984. Harper & Row, New York. British edition, 1984. Croom Helm, London. French edition, 1989. Guide des Hérons du Monde. Delachaux & Niestlé. S.A. Neuchâtel. Suisse.
  • Fresh Water Fishes of Southern Florida (w W. Loftus). 1983. Florida State Museum, Gainesville, Florida.
Other Publications

Over 270 other publications on ornithology, wetland science, conservation and southern Florida history and natural history.

Professional Recognitions
  • Florida Publishers and Writers Association, Gold Medal for Best Florida Adult Non-fiction Book, 2015, Key Biscayne.
  • Florida Publishers and Writers Association, Gold Medal for Best Florida Coffee Table Book, 2015, Birds of Fairchild.
  • Florida Publishers and Writers Association, Gold Medal for Best Florida Gardening Book 2015, Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens.
  • Archbishop Curley /Notre Dame High School Hall of Fame, Inducted 2014.
  • Fellow, International Ornithological Union 2000-pres.
  • Who’s Who in the World, Starting 2009.
  • Who’s Who in America, Starting 1997.
  • Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, Starting 1998.
  • Who’s Who in American Education, Starting 1998.
  • Who’s Who in the South and South East, Starting 1998.
  • Finalist, Indianapolis Prize for Wildlife Conservation, 2012.
  •  Merrick Society, University of Miami, Starting 2011.
  • Society of University Founders, University of Miami, Starting 2009.
  • Distinguished Service Award, U.S. Geological Survey, 2004.
  • Service Award, IUCN Species Survival Commission, 2004.
  • Kai Curry Lindahl Award for Lifetime Achievement in Waterbird Conservation, 2004.
  • Service Award, Waterbird Conservation for the Americas, 2002.
  • Distinguished Service Award, Waterbird Society, 2002.
  • Presidential Citation, John Cabot University, 2000.
  • Scientific Achievement Award, U.S.G.S. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 2000.
  • Men of Achievement, Starting 1996.
  • Presidential Award, Society of Wetland Scientists, 1996.
  • International Writers and Authors Who’ Who, Starting 1996.
  • Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 1989.
  • Fellow, American Ornithologists’ Union, 1988-pres.
  • Distinguished Faculty Award, East Texas State University, 1987.
Named Recognitions
  • University of Miami, James A. Kushlan Chair for Waterbird Biology and Conservation.
  • University of Miami, Biology Department, James A. Kushlan Graduate Student Research Grants.
  • John Cabot University, Kushlan Wing of the Guarini Campus.
  • John Cabot University, James A. Kushlan Lecture Series in Environmental Conservation.
  • Waterbird Society, Kushlan Research Award.
  • BirdsCaribbean, James A. Kushlan Research and Conservation Grants.
  • Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, James A. Kushlan Awards .
  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, James A. Kushlan Bird Conservation Program and Kushlan Bird Trail.
  • Zoo Miami, James A. Kushlan Everglades Waterbird Exhibit.
  • Zoo Miami Foundation. James A. Kushlan Wading Bird Research and Conservation Grants.