Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Shaw.
Hi Scott, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After high school, I did not know what I wanted to do and struggled to find my purpose. I ended up briefly in the construction industry and after soul-searching realized that I wanted to serve others at a higher level and get more formalized higher education. I ended up eventually getting my degrees in counseling, social work, psychology and educational leadership (including four master’s degrees and three doctorates). I now serve as the Associate Provost at Grace Christian University overseeing academics alongside our Provost and administration, in support of helping students be successful in pursuing their calling in higher education. I have conducted research on student success factors and worked with community stakeholders and alumni to ensure that our degree programs are relevant to the community and job market.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My own academic struggle happened when I lacked motivation and clarity around what I wanted to pursue as was dis-invited from continuing college. Later, when I found my purpose and clarified my goals, I was able to enroll in another college on academic support. This has given me a greater sensitivity for first generation college students and students who might be otherwise disadvantaged in higher education. My encouragement to others would be to follow your dreams, goals, and highest aspirations to serve others well.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am most proud of students I have mentored over the years, who have gone on to serve others at a high level. I have been able to establish and create new innovative degree programs at my university, and it is exciting to see students graduate from the programs and go out serving others.
Here is a blog post my university promoted on my current (and past) work:
https://gracechristian.edu/blog/meet-dr-scott-shaw-a-leader-in-education-and-student-development/
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Keep moving forward and remember that any knowledge and skills you earn will most likely be transferable to any other area of life. Higher education pays a lifetime of rewards, both tangible (i.e., income and earning potential) and intangible (i.e., legacy, intrinsic rewards in serving others). My grandfather used to say, “education is something nobody can ever take away from you.” I have sought to learn as much as I can to serve others as much as possible, and I still continue to learn daily to keep growing and developing my competencies to match my growing responsibilities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gracechristian.edu
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-shaw-phd-98359013/
