College of Doctoral Studies
Education
Ph.D. in Organization and Management - Capella University, Online
M.B.A. - Southern Illinois University, IL
B.S. in Marketing - Southern Illinois University, IL
About Carol Kensler
Dr. Kensler is a native Californian who has been transplanted to the Midwest for various reasons - all of which worked out for the best. Her home is located in a small town in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, MO.
Professionally, she has worked for a major aeronautical organization in St Louis for the last 12 years. During that time, she spent several years on the contracts team for the FA-18 and several Weapons Systems. She returned to school to pursue her Ph.D. in 2004 and shortly thereafter transferred into Human Resources. Currently, she works as an Executive Process Coach for one of the executive training programs and handles Knowledge and Information Management, and Process Based Management projects for the Learning, Training and Development group.
She has been involved as an officer with several local organizations including Enterprising Support of Professional Women (ESPW) and the Amelia Earhart Society (AES). She is also a member of the National Contracts Management Association (NCMA) and is an Associated Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coaching Federation.
She has been an Adjunct Professor for GCU since 2008 teaching a variety of MBA and Doctoral courses in Leadership and Finance and is very passionate about the benefits of not only learning in the online environment but also in communicating virtually.
Personally, her family includes three grown children, six grandchildren and one great-grandson with ages ranging from 5 months to 20 years old. When time permits, she enjoys working out in her gym, working in her yard, and reading. She reads anything from magazines to forensic murder mysteries. Carol's favorite thing to do is to play with her two youngest grandchildren.
How has facilitating online courses at GCU helped you find your purpose?
Working with students at GCU has been extremely satisfying. Every student has an amazing story. In addition, teaching online has opened a new world for me by allowing me to merge my love for teaching with my love for writing with the flexibility of working from home. Working for GCU adds an additional dimension in also bringing a spiritual mission and vision into the mix. I absolutely love being able to work with students and to watch them grow in their abilities to research and write while at the same time discussing the spiritual angle and how it impacts their world.
What is one effective teaching strategy you use in your online classes?
I think the best strategy I can apply in any classroom is to simply be present. Every student has a time when he or she needs extra information or advice, and that is when he wants to be able to find the professor, rather than later that evening or the next day. I also try to assist every student with writing and APA skills, and in most cases this is something that improves with practice. By providing valuable and constructive feedback in both content and style it is always my hope that my students will be better equipped for the next class and ultimately better prepared to write their dissertations.
What is a GCU online student success story you can share?
I have worked with several students who had life altering situations occur during our classes. The beauty of working in an online environment is we have the flexibility to work with our students to assist with these things. One student in particular had a parent who was in a nursing home and who was slowly fading away. There was not anything anyone could do, but this student was there in her mother's room every day for support. We were able to modify her due dates and still keep her discussions active. She completed the class and at the same time was able to spend the time she needed to with her mother.
