Dr. Patty Gross, DHS, MDiv, MS
Owner/Certified Professional and Executive Coach
Who I am
I have stood out all of my life. Being born in the 1950s, having more talents and intellect reflected in the male of the species was problematic. I was more interested in science and math classes than English and home economics in grade school and high school. Even in 4-H, I chose ranch animals as my projects instead of cooking and sewing. I grew up with four sisters and no brothers on a ranch in Wyoming, so I also had to help out on the ranch. I always felt I had more traditional male traits and none of the male privilege. Had I been born 20 or 30 years later, I would probably identify today as either gender-fluid or non-binary.
Bio:
I have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Baylor University. After spending 30 years in the IT industry, I decided to do a career pivot into the ministry. At 50, I graduated with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, intending to become a missionary. Due to the cutbacks in churches deploying missionaries during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I tried pulpit ministry. After realizing my call was not for that purpose, I pivoted into chaplaincy. I completed a Christiana Care Health Services Chaplain Residency in Wilmington, Delaware, and served as a hospice chaplain for a few years. I went from there to working at a non-profit as a case manager while working on a second Master’s degree, an MS in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University, which I received at age 60. In 2018, I started working on a Doctorate in Human Services with Capella University, which I completed in 2023, five days before my 68th birthday. I have suspended a postdoctoral job search due to family issues and began certification as a professional life coach. I received a Professional and Executive Coach certification from the CaPP Institute and am working toward ICF Certification, which I expect by the end of 2024.
My professional life has included 20 years in management, including seven years as a vice president of research and development in a multi-billion dollar software company. I have successfully navigated several career pivots, including software company executive to ministry, pulpit ministry to chaplaincy, and non-profit casework/management. My doctoral project included a program evaluation for a non-profit agency to evaluate their compliance with grant requirements. I have served on the board of directors of a non-profit singing organization, working with fundraising, event planning, and member retention. I have lived through many life situations that make me uniquely qualified to coach individuals and companies through what has them spinning their wheels.
