Dobrowolski joins Agency as the National Program Leader Jim Dobrowolski has joined CSREES as the national program leader for the new Rangelands and Grasslands Resources Program.  This is a joint position with the Natural Resources and Environment unit and the Plant and Animal Systems unit.  Dobrowolski will develop and implement a national rangelands and grasslands strategy.  Through networking and collaboration with partners and stakeholders, he will identify mission-relevant rangelands and grasslands problems and opportunities for action.  Potential issues include invasive species, the interface of endangered species regulations with small forest and rangeland owners, and drought and watershed-level management.  Jim received his B.S. in Range and Wildlands Science from the University of California, Davis; his M.S. in Rangeland Ecology from Washington State University, Pullman; and his Ph.D. in Hydrology and Watershed Management from Texas A&M University, College Station.

His professional experience includes 16 years as a research/teaching professor at Utah State University in both the Rangeland Resources Department and the Watershed Science Unit (four years as director).  He spent six years at Washington State University as the statewide extension specialist in the Natural Resource Sciences Department and as program director for the State of Washington Water Research Center.

For nearly two years, Jim assisted NRE in IPA and Shared Faculty positions through Washington State University.  During this time, he helped launch a new national department-wide programming effort in agricultural water security.  Jim can be reached at jdobrowolski@csrees.usda.gov.