College of DuPage

A biologist by training, Dr. James B. Ludden graduated from Moraine Valley Community College in 1990 with an Associate of Science degree. Shortly after earning his Baccalaureate Degree in Biology from the University of Illinois, Jim dedicated one year as a social-services volunteer in Anchorage, Alaska. Upon returning from Alaska, Jim continued his education by earning a Master’s degree in Biology, with an emphasis in Conservation Genetics, from the University of Illinois. During this time, his experience as a Graduate Teaching Assistant led him to his first full-time teaching position at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) in Pewaukee, WI.

In 2001, Jim accepted a tenure track position at College of DuPage (COD) in Glen Ellyn, IL., where he currently serves as a Professor of Biology. Jim’s primary teaching responsibilities include a variety of traditional Anatomy & Physiology and Biology courses, as well as several ecological field courses held at research stations in Canada and The Bahamas. In June 2009, Jim successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Adult Education from Northern Illinois University (NIU). In October 2009, Jim received the outstanding graduate research award at the Midwest Research to Practice Conference in Adult Education for his doctoral dissertation. In April 2010, Jim was chosen as the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year (2009/10) by the faculty of the Continuing, Adult, and Higher Education (CAHE) department at NIU.

During the summer months, Jim continues to teach field courses and participate in fisheries research at Queen’s University Biological Station in Elgin, Ontario. He, his wife Jana, and their four children reside in Ontario during the summer, and in LaGrange, IL during the academic year.