Jim Squires, Ph.D.
General Manager
Jim Squires moved to Saint Simons Island, GA from Charlotte, Vermont. He originally hails from Longmeadow, Massachusetts but has a “traveler’s soul” which brought him to college in Lake Forest, Illinois and Athens, Georgia before settling in Vermont for most of his adult life. He finds beauty in nature and is now discovering the natural gifts of Georgia’s marshes and coast.
Jim graduated from Lake Forest College (IL) with a BA in Psychology, University of Georgia (MS) in Child and Family Development, and Ph.D. from the Union Institute (OH) in Child Development and Public Policy. He has a varied professional background in education and non-profit program management, serving as the Early Childhood Education Coordinator for the Vermont Department of Education for the previous 18 years. Jim continues to serve on regional and national boards to improve educational quality.
Following a year of volunteering as an education docent at GSTC, Jim joined the Center in August 2009 as General Manager. He assists the Director and Program Coordinators in continued development of Center programs and resources. Jim was first attracted to GSTC because, as a scuba diving instructor for over 25 years, he developed a special affinity for the marine environment, especially sea turtles. Like others at GSTC, he is concerned about the plight of sea turtles and believes that key to sea turtles’ existence lies in educating the public.
Jim is also an accomplished underwater photographer who has received awards in several photography contests, having won Hawaii’s Kona Classic Underwater Photography Competition in 2006 and Grand Cayman’s Digital Madness Photography Contest in 2007 as well as Best in Show at the Coastal Photographers’ Guild (GA) in 2009. He finds turtles among his favorite subjects. Jim’s other passions include college hockey (Go Univ. of Vermont Catamounts!), travel, hiking, and watching Jeopardy.
Jim lives on St. Simons Island with his college sweetheart wife, Debbie, and faithful Australian Shepard, Obie.
