Dr. Greg Gogolin, information security & intelligence/information systems management professor, was named the 2010-11 recipient of the University’s Distinguished Teacher Award, after a yearlong review by the Distinguished Teacher Award Committee, chaired this year by Cami Sanderson, an associate professor of communication in the College of Arts and Sciences.
After receiving a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, Gogolin began teaching full time at Ferris in 1999. Prior to that he taught on occasion during a 15 year corporate career. Gogolin is a certified project manager as well as a subject matter expert reviewer for the Department of Homeland Security.
“The most satisfying thing about teaching is working with engaged students and watching them progress toward their career goals,” said Gogolin. “My largest compliment is hearing from former students and getting an update on what is going on in their life.”
Dr. Gogolin’s field of expertise includes homeland security involving digital forensics and visual analysis. He has experience in information security, computer forensics and project management.
Gogolin’s mother, Luanne Gogolin, was a finalist in both 1991 and 1995 for the Distinguished Teacher Award. “My mother is the most organized person I’ve ever met,” said Gogolin. “She was a tremendously talented teacher, and has had such impact on me.” Both received their doctorates from MSU.
“I think education is the only thing that cannot be taken from you,” said Luanna Gogolin. “You lose friends, relationships, all kinds of possessions, but your education is the one thing you will have forever, and I think Greg understands that.”
Gogolin is thankful to work with tremendously talented colleagues, including Doug Blakemore, Barbara Ciaramitaro, Jim Woolen, Mike Cooper, Dave Nicol, Don Green, and Shannon Yost – as well as President Eisler and Provost Erickson.
“One is only as successful as their environment allows, and these people, as well as many others, have been very supportive and encouraging,” said Gogolin. “In the 12 years I’ve been at Ferris I’ve seen it transform into an incredibly enabling place, which is remarkable given the budgetary concerns and other challenges we’ve all been faced with.”
Gogolin is now working on the creation of a new Master of Science in Global Cybersecurity at Ferris, nearly finished authoring a book on digital forensics, working on a couple of research projects, and taking Spanish classes. The new International Division at Ferris directed by Dr. Piram Prakasam is providing many interesting opportunities.