A graduate of San Diego State University, John Douglas Tolli, PhD, earned a bachelor of science in biology, followed by a doctorate in biological oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Subsequently, he engaged in post-doctoral research in marine and terrestrial biogeochemistry at the Darling Marine Center at the University of Maine. Dr. John Douglas Tolli has authored articles for publications such as Limnology and Oceanography, as well as Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Most recently, Dr. Tolli worked as an instructional laboratory technician in microbiology with the San Diego Community College District. This was preceded by 12 years as a biology professor with Southwestern Community College District, where he received the 2016 Homer Peabody Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Teaching. Ordained a minister with the Universal Life Church in 2017, Dr. Tolli is a former member of professional organizations such as the American Society for Microbiology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Southwestern College Educational Association.