Dr. James L. Sumich earned his M.S. in Biological Oceanography at Oregon State University, joined the biology faculty at Grossmont College, and then returned to Oregon State for a Ph.D. For his Ph.D. thesis, Dr. Sumich studied the interactions between newborn gray whale calves and their mothers and the way each budgets its energy expenditures during the period of calf nursing.

James has taught marine mammal biology classes for undergraduates and graduates at the University of San Diego, San Diego State University, and Oregon State University, where he continues to teach, as the requirements of retirement permit. His retirement activities include continued research and writing on gray whale behavior and energetics.