• Ph.D. in German, Princeton University 1993. Dissertation: History with a Mission. Ricarda Huch's Historiography during the Weimar Republic. Supervisor: T.J. Ziolkowski
• M.A. in German, Princeton University 1990
• M.A. in German, University of Saskatchewan 1988. Thesis: The Relationship between Men and Women in the Works of C.M. Wieland. Supervisor: A.E. Ratz
• B.A. High Honours in French and German, University of Saskatchewan 1984

• University of Waterloo, 2008- : Associate Professor of German Studies; Chair of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies
• University of Waterloo, 2005-2008 : Associate Professor of German Studies; Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies
• University of Waterloo, 2000-2005: Assistant Professor of German Studies
• Wilfrid Laurier University, 1995-2000: Assistant Professor of German; Chair, Department of Languages and Literatures
• University of New Brunswick, 1994-1995: Dean of Residence
• University of New Brunswick, 1993-1994: Assistant Professor of German

James M. Skidmore is the last and favourite of Leona and "Skid" Skidmore's five children (all of whom are currently not incarcerated). He grew up on the bald Saskatchewan prairie near Saskatoon, and left school at the age of 11 to join a traveling wheat harvesting rig. This job allowed him to see the world, and he became interested in German literature and culture - he found that the German love of discipline, punctuality, and dourness matched his own personality. After completing his studies in Saskatchewan and New Jersey he worked at the University of New Brunswick and Wilfrid Laurier University. Since coming to the University of Waterloo in 2000 he has enjoyed spending time in his oversized and luxuriously appointed office.

• Book Review Editor for Seminar: A Journal of Germanic Studies (2002- )
• Member of Senate, University of Waterloo (2003- )
• Member of the Board of Governors, University of Waterloo (2005- )