A Career Caring for Others

Learn more about the dedicated staff and faculty members serving and supporting our students. This month’s faculty spotlight is on instructor Dr. Kenneth Gossett. 

Dr. Gossett has devoted his entire career to the health and well being of others, first working for over 40 years in the health and human services field and now as a faculty member serving our students at CSU Global.

Dr. Gossett is a true Midwestern family man. He was born and raised in Kansas, but now calls Minnesota home. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, watching movies, golfing, fishing, watching the history channel, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

From Child Care Worker to Superintendent

Dr. Gossett started working as a Child Care Worker in January of 1969 at a large state institution in Illinois. Over the following nine years, he worked his way up to become a Superintendent of a state operated residential developmental center in Ohio. After completing his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota, he became a Superintendent of a county board program serving developmentally disabled children and adults.

In 1995, he formed a managed care organization that provided medical case management services and served as CEO for six years. He spent the last ten years of his career working with managed care companies as a URAC Accreditation consultant and providing quality management and risk and security assessments for healthcare companies.

“Retiring” to higher education

After “retiring” in 2009, he began teaching history of education, business, and healthcare administration classes at various universities. In 2011 he started teaching public administration classes at CSU Global and has really enjoyed working with adult learners in the online environment.

“I love teaching online and helping my students achieve success in completing their degrees. Watching them learn to focus on broadening their perspectives through relevant feedback on issues that affect their lives in very rewarding.”

Dr. Gossett’s dedication to his students and the human services industry have not gone unnoticed; in 2015, he received the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award from the Colorado State University System Board of Governors. He has also been honored with a Distinguished Faculty Award for working with a student whose research on Medicaid fraud and abuse was chosen as doctoral study of the year.

Throughout his teaching career, he has strived to be a mentor for his students and encourages them to find a career path that they are passionate about and where they can give back.

“You can accomplish whatever you want to if you apply yourself, take advantage of the resources available to you, and have your priorities in order. Never lose sight of your goals; be thankful for your experiences in life, and give back whenever you have the opportunity to help others.”