Karl Larson

The most important things in life are to be happy and content, and we seem to be our own worst enemies sometimes-----

I have lived under the guise of this statement most of my life, and it has guided me directly into the field of public health. That probably wouldn't surprise anyone who knows me. I find human behavior fascinating, and I find behavior related to health choices even more so.

I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services in 1989. My first full-time gig was traveling among 4 senior citizen high rise apartment buildings and providing recreational activities. Interestingly, they never really wanted to talk about activities...they wanted to talk about anything related to their health and well-being. It was my first exposure to how imporatnat health was across the lifespan.

I decided to go back to college to get a Master's degree that would allow me to work in the college setting. There is something very much 'alive' about working with college students. I truly love it. I spent six years working in Student Affairs in a myriad of positions including coordination of an academic support program, TRIO program professional, director of orientation programs and probably a few more. I learned quickly that working in student affairs will burn you out...especially if you decide to do it right...and I needed a change, but I didn't want to leave academia.

In 2001 I completed my PhD. in Community Health Education at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. I spent 2 years in the public health sector and 4 years teaching at the University of Southern Indiana before coming to Gustavus in 2005.

So, academically, I focus on human behavior. If you have class with me, I assure you we'll talk about why people make the choices they make. Scholarly, I have written all kinds of different things, from teaching ideas, to 5-year qualitative studies, to textbooks...if you really want to know, come ask me sometime and I'll tell you....

My family is my life-- my wife Kathy (married since 1989) and my 3 children, Danielle, Evan, and Brenden. Without them, none of this other stuff even matters....

Courses Taught