Career Roadmap
Greg's work combines: Education, Law, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Take Roadmap QuizSkills & Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
University of Phoenix-Southern Arizona Campus
Graduate Degree
Business Administration and Management, General
University of Phoenix-Southern Arizona Campus
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Area, Ethnic, & Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary:
Graduate Degree: Education, General
Learn more about different paths to this careerLife & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
First, I was hired as a police cadet with the Walnut Creek Police Department in 1978.
2.
I was hired as a police academy instructor after 5 years of working on the police force.
3.
I was appointed academy director of Napa Police Academy in 1999.
4.
I met Judy Shepard in June 2001 and got involved with the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
5.
I came out of the closet as a gay man in 2004.
6.
I wrote my first book of gay police officer coming out stories in 2007.
7.
I got married to the love of my life, also a teacher, in 2006.
8.
In 2012, I created an accredited LGBT studies program that I now teach at my college.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Being gay is a sin and is bad. You could not have career in law enforcement if you were gay. In 1978, I heard politicians say you couldn't be a public school teacher if you were gay. The message was consistent that being gay was unacceptable.
How I responded:
Stay focused on your goals and always be true to yourself. Always strive to live an authentic life and realize you can't always expect everyone to accept you. The key to changing the hearts and minds of those who don't understand is to share your story.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Stay focused on your dreams and goals, but always be true to yourself by living an authentic life. Surround yourself with a strong support system.