Dr. Gary Massey ’85 is a Management instructor at Columbia College who teaches classes in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business through the Online Program.
Massey has been a member of the CC faculty for more than 32 years, including 11 years in-seat and 21 years online. He is highly regarded for his ability to motivate and mentor students as he brings both enthusiasm and expertise to his courses.
Get to know Massey in a Q&A with CC Connected:
What are the highlights of your professional career outside of Columbia College?
“I was proud to have served 27 years on active duty with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), which I am very proud of. It was a fulfilling career and gave me an opportunity to see and do things I will always remember and cherish.”
What is the story of how you first started teaching at Columbia College?
“I was an undergrad student at the St. Louis location while on active duty with the USCG. I received my Bachelor of Arts from CC and completed two master’s degrees at Webster University. In 1993, I was asked by the director if I would be interested in teaching a variety of Management courses in-seat. In 1995, I retired from the USCG and became the director of the St. Louis location. I held a variety of positions with CC, retiring in 2016 as dean for Adult Higher Education (now Columbia College Global). I started teaching online in approximately 2004, when I was associate dean for the Online Program.”
How does your career experience influence the way you teach your students?
“Like most of my CC students, I went to college for many years as an adult student with many personal and profession obligations competing for my time and attention. ‘I’ve been there,’ so I am extremely sensitive to the demands placed on my students, beyond school. I have had many management positions in my working career, so I try to incorporate personal examples and experiences when I teach my management classes. I try to take theoretical concepts and give them practical meaning. I think this promotes a sense of understanding that goes beyond memorizing concepts and theories. I’ve had many students comment on how my approach has helped them understand and remember things we’ve studied in class.”
What do you take the most pride in with your teaching at Columbia College?
“I am extremely proud of playing a role in students achieving their educational goals. I try to reinforce my belief that ‘we are all in this together,’ so their success is my success. I encourage students to ask questions, big or small, and never hesitate to reach out if they are struggling with specific concepts, or they are having issues outside of class that may require a little special attention on my part.”
Why is teaching important to you?
“Teaching gives me purpose in life beyond my professional careers. I never grow tired of helping students achieve their goals. I’ve been told many times that I ‘need a hobby,’ which I respond to by saying, ‘Teaching is my hobby.’”
Columbia College’s Adjunct Faculty Spotlight series celebrates our talented adjunct faculty members around the country who teach in the Online Program or at one of the college’s nationwide locations. If you would like to recommend an adjunct faculty member for a future spotlight, email Strategic Communications at pr@ccis.edu.
