I went to UC Davis out of high school, before working for Villa Armando and Robert Mondavi wineries. I went into the Peace Corps and was placed in Tonga where I worked at a vocational agriculture school where I was the deputy Vice Principal and farm Manager for the largest exporter of bananas and watermelon in the Kingdom. I worked for the Pieroth Wine Company, before I worked I worked for the largest retail nursery in the country.

I then moved on to Home Depot, and was a manager of every department. While there, I got my MBA in my 40s at UOP, and my PhD in my 50s. I have worked in agriculture internationally, and I am a PCA for the State of California with every category. I used to help with registering organic gardeners, and yet I am a hydroponics expert. I am also a Six Sigma Black Belt. I have been a full-time professor, MBA Chair, DBA chair, and Director of Curriculum. I have also taught over 50 different courses in several schools.

After I got my doctorate, I started working part time as a college professor. I transitioned full-time teaching about two years after starting teaching.

I have been in retail since selling Gopherwood to Noah to help build the ark and I have worked in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

My expertise academically is in attitudinal loyalty, and my dissertation was a mixed method study about the fandom of Apple.

Other areas of expertise are as a Pest Control Advisor (PCA), which is like being a doctor for plants in that I can prescribe pesticides that only a PCA can prescribe).

My passion is translating the Bible. I learned Greek while in Tonga, and I have a passion for Biblical language.

I also enjoy my pro bono work with smaller companies trying to improve their statuses.

I have been to my wife for over 40 years, have three children, four+ grandchildren (One is due in July). I met her in Tonga and married WAY up.

My message to my students is that I do know what it is like being in a foreign country using a foreign language with family on the other side of the planet. That being said, I do not want “good” for them – I want “GREAT.” I want to have to go through their secretary’s secretary to make an appointment with the secretary, who can book me to see them after they have become imminently successful.

School has NEVER been about how smart is a person, but it is about work and grinding it out. That has not changed for many, many decades. If you put in the work, you will be rewarded not just with a degree, but with a skillset that will make you successful.

I was homeless during a period of my life with no family, and I was broke, so I understand the isolation that many students may have. I can empathize.

IAU is a university with a CEO, Ryan Doan, who actually TRULY gives a damn about his people, which includes the faculty, staff, AND THE STUDENTS. He is a true servant leader. Lord knows the faculty are not here for the pay, but we are here because we want to see our students succeed. We reflect our CEO and our CAO Dr. Gayer.