Before joining the Sociology faculty, Jim established the UMSL Student Veterans Center and founded UMSL’s innovative Veterans Studies Program, helping UMSL garner national recognition as both “Best for Vets” and “Military Friendly. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Veterans Studies and the executive board of the Veterans Studies Association. His 2015 paper, “Bounding Veterans Studies” has been widely recognized as a foundational document used to establish Veterans Studies Programs at many colleges around the country. Prior to his academic career, Jim served for 25 years as a soldier, as a cadet, and as an officer in the U.S. Army. He left the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Education
Master of Military Arts and Sciences (History), U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2006 Master of Public Administration (Security Policy), Harvard University, 2003 Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering), United States Military Academy, 1993
Research Interests:
The history and evolution of veteran support programs in America Military culture and professionalism Veteran literature from the post 9/11 wars
Courses regularly taught:
SOC 1010 - Introduction to Sociology
SOC 2801 – Veterans in American Society (also MVS 2100)
SOC 2802 – Gender and the Military (also MVS 2130)
SOC 3230 - Sociology Research Methods
SOC 3801 – Military Sociology (also MVS 3801)
SOC 3802 – Veteran Social Policy (Also MVS 3802)
MVS 4100 – Veteran Studies Capstone Course
Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Department Chair of Sociology, Teaching Professor of Veterans Studies and Sociology
