Since November 1987, Jim Oliver has been the statewide Extension administrator of urban and nontraditional outreach programs in Illinois. In addition, he manages Extension activities in Cook and the seven outlying metropolitan counties in northeastern Illinois, with a total population of more than nine million. The primary programming focus includes environmental education, youth and community leadership, and family and consumer education.

From 1981 to 1987, he was the director of Region 7 in southwestern Illinois. His responsibilities included program development and management of CES programs in 15 counties. Before coming to Illinois, he was state youth specialist and assistant professor of Extension education with the Missouri Cooperative Extension. From 1972 to 1974, he was the coordinator for urban programs in Denver, Colorado.

He has taught courses including Leadership in a Competitive Environment and the Art of Being a Manager, and workshops on performance appraisal, creative thinking, futuring, and negotiations.

He received his PhD in educational administration from the University of Missouri, his MEd in adult and continuing education from Colorado State University, and his BS in sociology from Colorado State University. He received the first National Extension System Diversity Award.

He has written many publications and papers on subjects including urban issues, trend watching, and outreach strategies for the new millenium.

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