Meet…
Kathleen Gish, if you haven’t already attended her sociology class.
Why she is interesting…
Gish is intriguing because her jet black hair and assortment of tattoos differentiate her from your stereotypical college professor.
She looks like she’d be more at home at a late night heavy metal party in an art district bar than a college, but a few minutes of conversation with Gish reveals her extreme intelligence and passion for health, knowledge, community and teaching.
Gish is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Cincinnati. She began her academic journey at Sinclair, studying for three years before moving on to Wright State for her bachelor’s, and then the University of Kentucky to earn her master’s degree.
Some of Gish’s favorite bands are Operation Ivy and Rage Against the Machine and she said that sociology was a natural interest of hers.
“The music I like is super political, so that always sort of inspired me towards social justice,” Gish said.
It was her Sinclair sociology professor and now colleague Dorie Farrell, who ultimately influenced her to focus on the subject of sociology.
“She was my first sociology teacher, when I was 16, and I was like ‘Oh, my destiny’,” Gish said.
Being raised by parents who were both teachers also helped in her decision to become a teacher.
Her reading habit also played a role in her interests. She often reads for hours on end, sometimes until 6 a.m. Paulo Freire’s novel “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” played the largest part, revealing to her the concept of praxis, or as she defines it, “Using knowledge to change the world for the better.”
At 18 she worked hard to finish the Portuguese author’s book.
“It’s translated into English, but translated into such dense language that I had to rewrite it between the margins, because I didn’t know half the words they used,” Gish said. “There’s a few basic messages that I got really loud and clear, and ever since then it’s been my guiding principle as a teacher.”
Gish’s influences all add up to solidify her affinity for her work, and her style of teaching. She wants to create an easy going atmosphere in her classroom.
“I hate being an authority figure, telling people what the truth is,” Gish said. “My ongoing theme is to get students to take ownership of their thoughts and ideas, because I think that’s what makes them better citizens.”
She prefers that her students call her Gish because she’s uncomfortable with the formality of courtesy titles and says that “Mrs. Gish” makes her feel like her mom is lurking behind her. One of her previous classes insisted on a formal label, so Gish told them they could call her Mr. Jigglepants, a nickname that she still hears from Sinclair students today.
“I don’t like feeling like I’m their boss and they’re my subordinate and I’m going to dock their pay,” Gish said.
Her favorite part of her job is that she feels like she can be friends or peers with many of her students, and that they are able to lift her up when the news and the world brings her down.
“I get to come to class and talk to these really brilliant people,” she said.
She knows that not every student is going to like her. Some student’s personalities don’t align with hers.
“I’d like more for people to succeed than to like me,” Gish said.
She volunteers her time at the Humane Society and SICSA, as well as with homelessness activism and social movements such as Black Lives Matter and Women’s March.
Gish also rock climbs, runs, rides her bicycle, does yoga, and spends time with her friends, her husband, nine cats and two Chihuahuas.
Will Drewing
Contributing Writer