Jim Catlin, Ph.D.

Founder

Jim has been active in public land issues for more than 25 years. His Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley focused on GIS and land use planning. His M.S. in regional land-use planning at the University of Utah analyzed Wasatch Front air quality.

In 1996 under the guidance of The Wildlands Project, Jim founded the Wild Utah Project to support the work of other Utah conservation groups. In addition to overseeing data collection and analysis necessary for reserve design projects in Utah, Jim provided GIS support and scientific analysis for fellow Utah environmental and conservation organizations.

His awards include the John Muir Award (the Sierra Club's highest conservation award), and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Conservation Award. Jim served for six years on the national board of directors of the Sierra Club.  Jim retired from the Wild Utah Project in early 2014, but he still works with us on many fronts, including in his current capacity on the Executive Committee of the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club.