James Taylor, Ph.D.

Field: Sociology
Areas of Focus: Environmental Sociology, Leadership Development, Mountain Communities

Expertise

• Environmental sociology
• Sustainable mountain communities
• Refuge alpine communities
• Experiential education
• Leadership development
• Organizational behavior
• Student mentoring
• Faculty mentoring

Bio

Dr. James Taylor is an Associate Vice President for Utah State University and leads the Uintah Basin Regional Campuses. He is also an associate professor in USU's Department of Sociology and Anthropology with an emphasis in environmental sociology, sustainable mountain communities as refuge for people and place, experiential education, and leadership development. Prior to his work at Utah State, he was the Vice President and Dean of Colorado Mountain College in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. He also served as the President of AmeriTech College.

Dr. Taylor has worked for almost three decades as an international climbing guide while also studying and doing service work within alpine mountain communities and marginal mountain populations. His academic and service interest is focused on identifying, understanding, and protecting cultural uniqueness of alpine communities while also improving and expanding educational access and supporting environmental and educational leadership development. Dr. Taylor's background in ecosystems and natural resources developed while completing his master’s degree in Earth Science at Montana State University and his work as a backcountry ranger and naturalist in Yellowstone National Park for many years.

In addition to his academic, service, and travel interests, Dr. Taylor has also been on three highly specialized search and rescue teams and has conducted more than 300 technical and alpine rescues. In his spare time, he enjoys running marathons and ultra-marathons, and spending time alone on mountain trails.