Prior to entering a career in the academic realm, Ken was the program director of an out-patient psychiatric drop-in center that serviced 60-80 clients per day. From there, he went on to join the faculty at Northwest Missouri State University in the Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Counseling. While at Northwest Ken won ten different teaching awards including the universities most prestigious “Tower Service Award” for teaching excellence. While at Northwest, Ken served as a core psychology faculty member, directed the graduate program in school guidance, supervised the Therapeutic Community programs for regional prison systems, and eventually became Chairman of the department. In 1999 Ken came to the College of the Atlantic as the Director of the Educational Studies Program. In 2005 he was named Academic Dean, and in 2019, he was named Provost.