Karl Larson, PhD, MCHES^®

“I look forward to helping shape the profession.”

Encouraged as a youth to be as active as possible, a career in health education and health promotion seemed inevitable for Karl Larson. As an associate professor, chair, and director of public health at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter Minnesota, he has the opportunity to teach his students about the health education profession and help them think about why people behave and make healthy choices the way that they do.

“I have always been fascinated by human behavior. I enjoy the ‘puzzle’ presented when trying to help people make positive decisions about their wellbeing.”

Before teaching future professionals, Karl was learning about health education himself.

He completed a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from Minnesota State University-Mankato, followed by a master’s and a doctorate in community health education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

After graduation, he found his way into higher education and eventually returned home to teach in Minnesota.

Karl has appreciated the opportunity to allow young health education specialists to grow into the profession.

“As a faculty member, I love watching students get that same degree of excitement from digging into the complexities of health behavior and design plans to help develop positive outcomes for people and communities.”

As an active SOPHE member, president of MNSOPHE, and director of the Case Study Student Competition at SOPHE Annual Conferences, Karl demonstrates the importance of involvement in a professional development organization to his students.

All of these opportunities allow him to help guide new and experienced professionals to their health education pursuits.

Over the years, Karl has received invaluable advice from colleagues and mentors. One in particular, a quote from Mark Kittleson, faculty of New York Medical College’s School of Health Sciences and Practice and chair of the department of public health, reads, “Find your niche, and do it as well as you can.”

Karl’s advice to young professionals,

“Stay involved. There is so much more to our discipline than our daily grind. Being committed to something outside of your normal routine can be invigorating and provide a sense of purpose and renewal.”

When he is not working, he enjoys hitting a mile-long drive on the golf course and spending time with his wife Kathy and three children Danielle, Evan, and Brenden.

Karl is a member of the Minnesota SOPHE Chapter.