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JAMES M. CORVEN Division of Science and Mathematics University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands 00802 Tel 340-693-2383, jcorven@uvi.edu PROFILE: More than 20 years of successful program development and coordination, field research, and hands-on conservation project experience with local and international agencies and research institutions in the United States and Latin America/Caribbean. Emphasis on close collaboration with broad stakeholders and colleagues in developing successful environmental programs in diverse cultural and political situations. Specialist in integrated approaches tailored to partners’ needs, and interests. Problem-solver, balancing strategic priorities and tangible results. Academic Experience University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas, VI Associate Professor Aug 2004 - present • Professor of Environmental Sciences, Microbiology, Animal Physiology, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Science Seminar. Academic advisor and field research mentor. Established regional avian monitoring and outreach program. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, MA Visiting Professor 2003 - 2004 • Lecturer of Fundamentals of Biology, Biology of Organisms, Human Anatomy & Physiology, and Environmental Science. Principle lecturer, lab instructor, and academic advisor. ______________________________________________ Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences Manomet, MA Senior Scientist & Program Director 1995-2003 • Developed framework for Manomet Division of Wetlands Conservation and coordinated the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN), an international collaborative program of research, education, and public awareness. This is now a network of more than 240 partner organizations responsible for over 20 million acres of wetlands habitat at 55 high priority sites in 22 states and seven countries. • Secured $450,000 in grant funding for the first U.S. National Shorebird Conservation Plan for research and conservation, developed in collaboration with public and private organizations. • Organized and staffed the WHSRN Council and Scientific Advisory Board of leading scientists and decision makers across N. America; Set strategy for all WHSRN communications including electronic newsletter and web sites in Spanish and English. • Developed and implemented 16 regional training workshops for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), university students, and wildlife biologists across North America. • Identified need, secured funding and developed technical training in Spanish for over 200 Mexican wildlife biologists, introducing economic and ecological measures of wetlands value to help them advocate more effectively on environmental issues. Developed all related educational and public outreach materials in Spanish. • Established field research program that brought together Mexican, Canadian and U.S. biologists to work collaboratively, exchanging ideas and building contacts allowing study of full migratory path. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Castries, St. Lucia Chief of Party & Senior Technical Advisor 1993-1995 Coordinated wide-scale regional project ($11m) to oversee the USAID regional Environment and Coastal Resources Project in collaboration with two regional organizations (Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and Caribbean Environmental Health Institute) and the governments of Dominica and St. Lucia. Successfully planned and supported 30 regional and national environmental/coastal conservation and educational projects annually, coral reef monitoring, supervised team of technical advisors and 25 person- months of consultancies, including numerous regional and local training workshops and seminars. Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Coronado, Costa Rica Institutional Development Specialist 1989-1992 Designed and established a network of multi-sectoral national advisory groups to coordinate research, training, extension, trade, and government policy development in seven Central American countries. Conducted a regional training program for over 1,800 technicians with comprehensive curriculum and multimedia training materials in sustainable agroforestry technologies. Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) Belmopan, Belize Project Director 1984-1988 Selected to direct national agriculture & conservation project of organization development, training and extension program in collaboration with governmental ministries, NGOs, Hershey Foods Corporation, Peace Corps and the U.N. Adapted field research results to applied agroforestry and conservation practices. Authored training and field manuals in sustainable agroforestry. Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) Arlington, VA Natural Resources/Agriculture Technical Advisor 1980-1984 Provided field personnel (governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations) worldwide on needs assessments, technical analysis, resource programming, problem solving, and project evaluation in natural resource management and conservation. Conducted on-site technical assistance and evaluations. Peace Corps Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua & Barra Patuca, Honduras Rural Development Coordinator 1978-1979 Coordinated appropriate technology, environmentally sound agricultural projects, and post-hurricane reconstruction in indigenous communities of the Atlantic Coast in collaboration with health and nutrition programs and local organizations. Greenpeace USA E. Lansing, MI Co-founder/Director 1976 – 1978 Created and established the first Greenpeace chapter outside of Vancouver and San Francisco. Lead campaigns for marine mammal (whales & seals) and nuclear power in the Midwest. Education Doctorate (1978): Developmental Biology/Physiology, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI. Thesis: Reproductive physiology/fertilization in amphibians (Xenopus laevis). Graduate Teaching Assistant - Departmental Coordinator, Dept. of Zoology, 1974-78 Master of Science (1974) Biological Sciences, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI. Thesis: Teratogenicity of auxin herbicides on non-target aquatic species. Field Biology/Ecology Instructor, Beaver Island Biological Station, MI. Bachelor of Arts (1968): Natural Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Languages: English (native), Spanish (v. good), Miskito (fair), French (basic). Practical skills: Computer Applications [word processing, spreadsheets, data bases, communications website design], excellent writing and oral communications, certified SCUBA. Publications and Speaking Engagements Selected Publications: Over 45 publications authored and co-authored on environmental management, research, conservation, and training including the following: Corven, J.M. and G. Wallace 2003. “Conservation Strategies for Migratory Shorebirds of Northwestern Mexico: Private sector and university collaboration” in Bird Conservation, Spring 2003 . Harrington, B., S. Brown, J. Corven, & J. Bart 2002. “Collaborative Approaches to the Evolution of Migration and the Development of Science-Based Conservation in Shorebirds” in The Auk 119(4):914-921. Corven, J.M. 2001. “Aves Playeras: Biología y Conservación”. Chapter in Wetlands Ecology and Conservation training manual of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Mexican Wetlands Ecology and Conservation training program. 52 p. Corven, J.M. 1998. “Shorebird Conservation: Protecting Habitats for Hemispheric Migrants” in The George Wright FORUM 15(3):25-33. Corven, J.M. 1998. “WHSRN Training Program: meets the needs of wetland managers” in Waterfowl. Corven, J.M. 1998. “Shorebird Odysseys” in Natural History 107(4): 44-46. Corven, J.M. & V. Chase. 1995. A Rapid Environmental Assessment System for Agricultural Projects, World Wildlife Fund/ENCORE, Castries, St. Lucia, 65 p. Recent Invited Presentations: August 2005: “Regional Collaboration in the Caribbean for research, monitoring, habitat conservation, and public awareness”, Society for the Study & Conservation of Caribbean Birds, Annual Meeting, Guadaloupe, West Indies. (in preparation) March 2005: “Birds, Wetlands, & Ecosystems”, National Academy of Sciences/EPSCoR seminars, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas February 2004: “Tropical wetlands ecology and migratory birds”, Regional Workshop on Wetland Ecology and Conservation at University of Guadalajara, Mexico. August 2003: “International Migration and Local Conservation: strategies for collaborative research and conservation” at the annual Black Swamp Bird Observatory science seminar, Oak Harbor, OH. March 2003: “Tri-national Cooperative Conservation for Migratory Birds” at the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), Pacific Regional Wetlands Conference, Ceuta, Sinaloa, Mexico. November 2002: “New Roles for Education and Public Awareness in International Conservation” at the Argentine-American Forum, San Francisco, Cordoba, Argentina. “Hemispheric Strategies for Local Wildlife Habitat Conservation” at the University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina. October 2002: “Shorebird Ecology and Conservation in Mexican Wetlands” at the VI National Workshop on Wetland Ecology and Conservation, Chiapas, Mexico. June 2002: “Migratory Shorebird Conservation: It Takes a Whole Network”, at the American Birding Association annual meeting, Duluth, MN.