Posted October 12, 2023 – written by Jarrett Whipple, SOE Graduate Assistant
“Because of Buffalo State I have been able to experience the world and grow my career.”
Behind any Buffalo State School of Education student is the drive to help others and a passion for authentic engagement. This is also Trevor Gates’ impetus for pursuing of a career in education. “I love engaging adults in meaningful learning experiences, particularly about queer studies, social justice, and international issues.”
The first in his family to earn a doctorate, Trevor Gates has had a prolific and wide-reaching career. He moved across the globe from his hometown of Hampton, Virginia to Hanoi, Vietnam and on to Queensland, Australia. In his current position at Colorado State University Gates teaches primarily in the Master of Social Work program. He also teaches queer studies for the Institute for Shipboard Education’s Semester at Sea, a 60-year-old study abroad program bringing American undergraduate and graduate students on 100-day voyages to at least 10 countries. “I don’t view advanced degrees as being only for the special people, but for those who are persistent and hard-headed,” he said.
Before becoming an educator, Gates worked as a clinical social worker specializing in mental health work in LGBTQ+ communities. While passionate about his study and career in social work, Gates wanted to strengthen his teaching, “The Adult Ed program at Buffalo State was a great fit because it was nearby and focused on creating meaningful experiences for adult learners.” Gates feels strongly that faculty from some of his most memorable classes (such as Methods of Adult Education, Diversity Issues in Adult Education and Training as well as those focused on second language and public administration) helped him think creatively about the world and inspired him to seek out global opportunities. The Buffalo State Adult Education program is fully online, but this did not stop Gates from connecting with and building meaningful relationships with professors such as Andrea Nikischer, program chair.
“Dr. Nikischer helped me see the connections between social justice and adult education. She helped me to strengthen how I engaged with adult learners. Some people think you cannot develop relationships with professors online, but that is not true,” he asserts. Nikischer also helped Gates further his pursuit of global education. “She encouraged me to seek out international experiences in Asia that have been formative in my career and personal development. Andrea is top notch and supported my development.”
Through Buffalo State, Gates was encouraged to go beyond his required coursework and to strengthen his focus on international adult education. He was awarded a 9-month Huayu Enrichment Scholarship through the Ministry of Education at the Republic of China (Taiwan) where participated in a 3-month course in Mandarin. After graduating, he became a senior lecturer of social work at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. In 2023, Gates was made a Fulbright Scholar in Gender Studies in Vietnam and, building on this experience, he is taking a group of students to visit LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations in Vietnam in December. He is currently working on a paper about LGBTQ+ inclusion in volunteerism. In the future, Gates hopes to grow his career as an educator focused on cross-cultural learning.
Buffalo State strives to incubate global learners and educators such as Trevor Gates. He is an excellent example of the greatness one can achieve through hard work and a resolute belief in individual passions and values, and an exemplary educator who strives to enlighten others at home and across the globe on LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. Following his interests and passion for education across the globe, studying and teaching what he knows is important, Gates believes that stubbornness and persistence are key in succeeding in the field of education.
“I believe that the best educational experiences are grounded in the here-and-now and within the problems and opportunities found in everyday life,” he said in describing his teaching philosophy. “The best teaching has a real-life component.” Asked what advice he wished he had when starting his career Gates said, “Seek out the experiences that excite you. Develop yourself. Travel and engage in global experiences. Make friends with people who are different from you. Share your stories. You will be a more interesting educator if you have rich life experiences for yourself. Even if people doubt you, you must proceed ahead and do what you believe is right.”
Dr.Gates is married to his partner Philip, an educator as well, and lives happily with their dogs Judy Dogland (a poodle schnauzer mix), and Christopher Nolan (a beagle/basset mix).
