I am persistent, logical, and practical, which leads to productivity, but I am also warm, supportive, and inclusive, which leads to collaboration. My top five strengths are strategic, achiever, learner, self-assured, and focus. I can be hazy and am Mr. Information Overload. I have been married to my college sweetheart, Janice, for 46 years, and we have two sons, David and Jared, both successful realtors. David is married to Jennifer, and they gave us our first grandchild, Ellie Ryan, who is 13 months old. I love leading, teaching, consulting, training, attempting to play golf, and putting together expert Legos.

I am also the author of Designing Ethical Workplaces: The Moldable Model

What do you do now for a living? How did you end up in this career path?

For the past 14 years, I have taught 40 courses in leadership, management, and ethics, with over 8,000 students worldwide at six universities. I teach for four universities, including FHSU, in the Leadership Studies Department. I serve as the CEO and Academic Program Director for Veterans Ventures, a nonprofit training veterans to transition from military service to civilian golf careers as leaders and managers of golf courses. After I graduated from college in 1977 with a bachelor's in ministry, I felt a call to teach. So, after 33 years as a lead pastor in three churches, I started an educational career in 2009 by teaching at FHSU.

Why did you choose to attend FHSU?

After my career as a lead pastor for 33 years, I wanted to teach leadership and management. I heard that FHSU had a premier Leadership Studies Department where I could attain a master's degree. The faculty and staff exhibited genuine student concern and had the expertise and talent to help me gain the Master of Liberal Studies with core competencies in research, writing, and critical thinking, plus a concentration in Organizational Leadership.

What are your favorite memories from your time as a student?

My favorite memories as a student at FHSU are my relationships with my advisor and committee chair, Dr. Brent Goertzen, and all the faculty who taught my courses. I also, though entirely online, had strong relationships with classmates when we took multiple courses together. My learning at FHSU continued into my Ph.D. pursuit and still is memorable, as found in my teaching at all collegiate levels.

What advice do you have for current or prospective FHSU students?

Be sure you have the time to enter a master's program, which requires several hours per week of reading, study, and writing. Once you start, be persistent even when you want to quit. Keep the main goal in mind - graduation and a degree. Time will pass quickly, and you will be satisfied and glad you stayed with the program. Many more doors will open for you in life and work with an FHSU degree!

Tell us about someone at FHSU who has left a lasting impression:

My instructor during my MLS program Dr. Mike DeGrosky. In one discussion forum where I eloquently wrote about my 33 years of leadership experience, Mike wrote: "Don, while I am certain you have great experience, in this course, we are not so much interested in your opinion of leadership but what the research literature demonstrates." At first, I was a bit shocked and put off by his comment, but after reflection, this comment changed the course of my life. I became a researcher interested in the extant literature on leadership. I am sure my students today have felt the same as I relate that message to them.

In what ways are you proud to be a Tiger?

FHSU is a premier university of the regent universities in Kansas and draws students from all over the world. Its online programs and partnerships with China and, recently, FDC University in Brazil are to be envied by other universities. I am proud to be a Tiger and an adjunct faculty member for 14 years.

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