Lt. Ken Gullett of the Department of Public Safety lives by his own motto: “Give 110 percent or more, no matter what the job is, and always be thankful for what you have.”
It is this attitude that earned him the Southeast Missouri State University Employee of the Year Award for 2010.
“Being from a small farming community in the Bootheel of Missouri, I benefited from the education of a strong work ethic,” he says.
A native of Portageville, Mo., Ken also was one of two employees in the University’s Clerical/Technical/Service area recognized with a 2010 Employee Recognition Award.
In his role in the Department of Public Safety, he hires, schedules and supervises about 40 student ticket writers; supervises police officers at campus special events and athletic events; and provides security/escort detail to visiting University dignitaries. He serves on the First STEP information panel, the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee and provides information at Show Me Days. Ken also assists the Parking and Transit Services manager with day to day operations and with patrol supervision. He also reviews and approves police reports and serves as a liaison with local law enforcement on events such as Homecoming and Family Weekend and with state or federal law enforcement agencies when state or federal officials visit the campus.
“Ken treats people with the utmost respect and dignity,” according to his letter of nomination for an Employee Recognition Award. “He exhibits tremendous communication ability in dealing with all components of the University, both internal and external, and goes above the call of duty when dealing with alumni and special guests of the University.”
Ken attended Southeast Missouri State University and Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Ala. He has been employed by Southeast since1988.
Outside of work, Ken is an active member of Lynwood Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon and on several committees, sings in the choir and enjoys driving church children and youth groups to camp. He also enjoys reading about American and Missouri history.
Ken says he believes in treating others “the way you would want to be treated. Be professional at all times, even when the other person is not. You will come out on top.”