Thomas Yulsman received his undergraduate degree from Harpur College, State University of New York at Binghamton, with a specialization in environmental journalism in 1977. In 1980, he earned his graduate degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism with a concentration in environmental and science journalism. He is currently an Associate Professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder as well as Deputy Director for the Center for Environmental Journalism and School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He is also a faculty member of the Environmental Studies Program at CU. He has been a collaborator at the Center for Astrobiology since 1998.
Some of the many non-academic positions Professor Yulsman has held as a professional journalist include: contributing editor for Astronomy Magazine and for Earth Magazine; editor-in-chief for Earth Magazine; and desk editor for both the Medical Tribune Company and the New York Times Magazine.
He teaches news editing, science writing, electronic information strategies, precision journalism, and, as an overload, co-teaches a weekly seminar for the Scripps Fellows in Environmental Journalism. Along with teaching, he has developed many courses, including Science Writing, a redesigned graduate-level class in science journalism; Science Journalism, a new class cross-listed with Environmental Studies designed to introduce seniors to science and environmental journalism with the goal to spur critical thinking in areas like media coverage; and Carbon, Climate and Society, a class that integrates science, policy, economic, and journalistic perspectives.