About Me

John and sons

I've devoted a lot of time and effort to my education, and I'm pleased to share some of my accomplishments. I have a doctorate in education (adult & higher education). Additionally, I've had the great privilege of studying under some excellent professors at both Montana State University and the University of Montana.

Below is a nifty table of courses I've taken over the years that helps define the focus of my doctorate in education (with a support area in environmental history) and my masters in public administration (with an area of concentration in natural resource and environmental management). I think that my educational experiences (as well as miles trekked through grizzly country) have given me depth and appreciation of the flora and fauna of the beautiful Rocky Mountain Front.

Among the many professors I learned to cherish and respect, I would credit the late Dr. Margery Brown, University of Montana Law School, as one of the most inspiring. Years before I had taken her course in natural resource and public lands law, I was fascinated by a scholarly lecture she gave before a Montana legislative committee at the state capitol. She educated them (or, at least tried) on natural resource and Indian law. I was enthralled by her scholarship, pragmatism, and expertise. I've often wondered if they ever realized what an incredible resource they had standing there before them -- a woman of small stature, but a giant in knowledge. A truly great Montanan. I was privileged to have known her.

Someday you may want to peruse my doctoral dissertation titled: "Using Multiple Regression Analysis to Associate Education Levels and Financial Compensation with Livestock Producers' Tolerance for Grizzly Bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem." WARNING: Have you ever started to read a dissertation and have it put you to sleep in about four minutes. As proud as I am of conducting the research and writing my dissertation, mine is no different. It has that boring academic quality that only academicians find interesting (such is the nature of writing for an academic community). But, on the upside -- and if you have the patience to search -- there is some interesting research about ranchers and their tolerance (and lack of tolerance) for grizzly bears. It is available online at: http://www.montana.edu/etd/available/

Additionally, my masters (MSU, 1992) is about: "Political Activism and Sacred Land Issues Involving the Blackfeet Traditional Religion."

Year	Course Title	Instructor(s)	G/U	Coll/Inst

WILDLIFE

1987	Glacier’s Grizzlies	Dr. Chuck Jonkel	U	FVCC
1989	Reintroduction of the Wolf	John Weaver	NC	YI
1990	Bears: Biology and Folklore	Dr. Harold Picton, Jim Garry	U	MSU
1990	Wildlife Research Techniques	Dr. Daniel Pletscher	G	UM
1991	Issues in Endangered Species	Dr. Bob Ream	G	UM
1991	Endangered Species	Dr. Bob Ream	G	UM
2001	Bear: Bones, Signs & Stories	Dr. James Halfpenny, Dr. Elaine Anderson, Jim Garry	G	MSU
2001	Evolution, Ecology & Future of the Wolf Family	Dr. James Halfpenny, Dr. Elaine Anderson	G	MSU
2001	The Bison of Yellowstone	Dr. Harold Picton, Jim Garry	G	MSU
2001	Environmental History (1) – Grizzly Bears	Dr. Susan Neel	G	MSU
2001	Environmental History (2) – Grizzly Bears	Dr. Susan Neel	G	MSU

NATURAL RESOURCES / ENVIRONMENT / ECOLOGY / WILDERNESS

1990	Natural Resource Policy	Dr. Brian Sindelar	U	MSU
1990	Man’s Role in the Environment	Dr. Chris Field	G	UM
1990	Internship – Wilderness Assn.	Dr. Kaaren Jacobson	G	MSU
1991	Wilderness Issues	Jim Thormahlen	U	UM
1991	Environmental Impact Studies	Dr. Vicki Watson	G	UM
1991	Yellowstone Wildlife Ecology	Dr. Harold Picton	U	MSU
1992	High Elevation Systems	Dr. Katherine Hansen	G	MSU
1992	Conservation & Sustainable Development of High-Elevation Systems	Dr. Katherine Hansen	G	MSU
2000	U.S. Environmental History	Dr. Susan Neel	U	MSU
2001	Alpine Ecology	Carol Johnson	U	MSU

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW / NATURAL RESOURCE LAW / LEGISLATION

1991	Environmental Law	Dr. Carl Tobias	G	UM
1991	Public Lands and Natural Resource Law	Dr. Margery Brown	G	UM
1991	Environmental Legislation	Dr. Ron Erickson	G	UM

NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES / LANGUAGE / CULTURE

1990	Methods & Sources In Native American Studies	Dr. Rich Clow	G	MSU
1990	Tribal Colleges	Dr. Wayne Stein	G	MSU
2000	Community and Tribally Controlled Colleges	Dr. Marilyn Lockhart, Dr. Wayne Stein	G	MSU
2003	White Clay & Nakoda Language & Cultural Gathering	Fr. Belknap College – numerous presenters/speakers	U	FBCC
2004	White Clay & Nakoda Language & Cultural Gathering	Fr. Belknap College – numerous presenters/speakers	U	FBCC

LEWIS AND CLARK

2003	Confluence of Cultures	Dr. David Beck	G	UM
2004	Legacies of the Corps of Discovery - Blackfeet Cultural Tour	Billy Maxwell	G	MSU-N
2004	Legacies of the Corps of Discovery – Stepping Out on the Old North Trail	Dr. Brian Reeves	G	MSU-N