Archive for September, 2019

Dominique Adkins’ research looking at the factors that influence forgiveness within the African American community has been shared in a long list of presentations at major conferences across the country and overseas. Not only is she an Online Full Time Faculty member in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences — she also works in the College of Doctoral Studies and has done lots of other amazing things in her life.

In this week’s Fitness Facts, Connie Colbert gives us a heads-up on dandruff. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not related to how often you wash your hair. Here are some ways to prevent it.

In this week’s Mental Health Vitamin, Dr. Deb Wade uses a Dierks Bentley song as a jumping-off point for her thoughts about breaking out of the doldrums. “It’s a beautiful world sometimes I don’t see so clear,” the lyrics. go. Here’s how to open your eyes.

Earlier this month two COFAP film students won awards from the Rocky Mountain Southwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Awards. Brittney Ha-Nguyen took home a College Music Video award for One Last Dance,” and Ryan Brennan won the College Short Form Fiction award for “Ruthless.” “It was a really good experience. It was really encouraging to be around other filmmakers from other schools, and it was really encouraging to see that me and my friends here are at the same level for festival-quality work,” Brennan said.

You see someone in need, and you sympathize. You might even empathize. But do you show true compassion? That’s what Riccardo Stewart wanted to know in his Chapel talk Monday morning. The pastor of Redemption Tempe cited one of Jesus’ miracles as an example of how He didn’t just sympathize or empathize — he acted. But first He did something just as critical: He looked at the person.

GCU’s IT-cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program just received a prestigious designation, being named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The award is given by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security after a program meets stringent criteria. “This is a big deal,” said Dr. Heather Monthie, Associate Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. “This is essentially their stamp of approval on our cybersecurity program.” What that means for students: They’ll have even more access to government jobs and scholarships.

The power is in the discussion for Katy Long. That’s her motto, and her College of Education students hear it over and over — and then regularly get to see just how powerful that talking can be. But Long is passionate about lots of other things in education and beyond, particularly the opportunity to pass on her knowledge. She also is quite the sports fan and was on a national championship team in college.

The Theatre Department earned 20 ariZoni Awards nominations for last year’s productions of “Peter and the Starcatcher” and “Ring Round the Moon,” and Christina McSheffrey was selected as one of three winners of the 2019 Zoni Scholarship. “I think it just speaks volumes about the education they’re receiving and how we try to work as much as possible to help them be ready to move on to either grad school or into entertainment as a profession,” said Claude Pensis, College of Fine Arts and Productions Dean and also an ariZoni Nominee. The award ceremony is scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday in Scottsdale.

Dr. Kimberly LaPrade has turned the page on “Thunder’s Vision,” her first children’s book to feature Thunder, the campus’ beloved antelope mascot. But she hasn’t forgotten about him. Far from that. He’s the main character once again in her follow-up to “Thunder’s Vision,” “Thunder’s Herd.” The Dean of the College of Education introduced the new work at a book signing Thursday in the Jerry Colangelo Museum. LaPrade, who’s bachelor’s degree is in writing, said “Better readers make better writers. And better writers make better thinkers, so that’s the No. 1 goal.” This time around, LaPrade tells how Thunder finds his community in the spirit of GCU among the Cheer, Dance, Thundering Heard Pep Band and Havocs.

A $3.2 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation will help GCU develop an accelerated pastoral training program in which students will be able to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Divinity in five years. GCU is matching the Kern Family Foundation’s investment by providing the other half of the $6.5 million needed to launch and build out the program over the next five years.