Claudia Ward
In the 2½ years Ward has been at GCU, she has
been part educator, part counselor, part coach
and part cheerleader in her role as an enrollment
counselor for the College of Doctoral Studies.
“Some need a little more guidance than others,
but I certainly feel like I want to be their biggest
cheerleader because when they do finally make
that decision to move forward in their doctoral
journey, especially for an online learner, they want
and appreciate knowing they have that lifeline
and that connection to the University,” Ward said.
“So many times learners will say it’s incredible
the amount of support they have been receiving
throughout their doctoral program at GCU, in
comparison to their bachelor’s or master’s degrees
at other universities. That’s something that not just
doctoral but GCU prides itself on.”
Ward’s doctoral students are typically well-
educated teachers, principals, administrators,
behavioral health professionals or business people
looking to further their education. Still, Ward said
she may be in contact with a prospective doctoral
learner for six to 12 months before they know what
path they want to take and are ready to enroll.
“Most of the time they know what they’re looking
for in a doctoral degree, but part of my job is
educating them about, say, the difference between
a Ph.D. and a doctorate of education. And from
there, determining what type of learner you are
so that when you get into a program, you’re in the
program in which you are going to be successful.
It’s a lot more than just walking them through the
admissions or application package.”
Ward got her master’s degree in community
counseling and worked for Terros Behavioral
Health Services for two years before coming
to GCU. Those experiences only helped her
in her transition.
“There is a lot of personal satisfaction in this
job because I find that I am able to use all my
counseling skills and communication skills in a
healthy environment,” Ward said. “My first group
of students will be graduating and attending next
May’s commencement, so I plan on being there
and I’m sure I’ll have my box of Kleenex with me.
It’s a journey for me, too. Just to know that I’ve
had somewhat of an impact in getting them to that
point. … It’s pretty cool when you can go home
at the end of the day and say, ‘You know what, I’m
making a difference in people’s lives.’”
Kimmy Erickson-Moen
In a management position, Erickson-Moen knew
she could help people and have an impact at her
former university. But it wasn’t the same as dealing
directly with students as an enrollment counselor.
So when an opportunity to work at GCU came
along, she knew she had to take it.
“I wanted to find that passion again of my students,”
Erickson-Moen said. “I wanted to hear that smile
in their voice. I wanted to hear the satisfaction. I
wanted to hear the purpose. I wanted to know that
what I did today changed their life. And that’s what
I do on a day-to-day basis. Every day, day in and
day out, when I talk to my students, I know that I’ve
made a difference.”
At GCU, Erickson-Moen works with online students
and cohort students who take classes at GCU in
the evening – moms and dads and people looking
for a new career.
“My students are with me through graduation,” said
Erickson-Moen, a student herself who is majoring
in sociology. “I make that promise to them. You do
this for me, I do this for you. I hold your hand, you
hold mine. That’s the way that we go.”
And, she found out, it works both ways. Erickson-
Moen had to take a leave of absence when three
people close to her were stricken with cancer
within six months. Her father died in April 2012.
Her boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer that
same July and has been treated. And her mother
found out in October that she had thyroid cancer
and is still dealing with that.
While Erickson-Moen was away, her email box
was flooded with students’ messages asking
about her whereabouts.
“It was truly heartfelt and you could tell they cared,”
Erickson-Moen said. “It’s more than just being a
counselor. You truly build partnerships and friends
and family and you find out about their dogs, and
their kids, and their Aunt Jo and Cindy and Bob.
You know everything that goes on in their life and
you counsel them. It doesn’t matter what it is.
“It’s amazing, it really is. And then they turn around
and do the same thing for me.”
Even if it’s the first day they’ve met, as was the case
with Ruth Ross.
“For that particular student who had nobody here
and saved every penny just to get here, I had to
make it an experience for her,” Erickson-Moen said.
“She’s going into her master’s program now with me,
so obviously we made a difference to impact her
and to still pursue more of her education.
“She’s going to go very far, and all it took was for
somebody to truly care.”
■
September 2013
P10
“
Some need a little more guidance
than others, but I feel like I want to
be their biggest cheerleader.
”
“
Every day, day in and day out, when
I talk to my students, I know that
I’ve made a difference.
”
Kimmy Erickson-Moen, Peoria site
Claudia Ward, Tempe site
