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GCU MAGAZ I NE • 3 1
CLASS
NOTES
Send your class notes and a high-resolution photo to
www.gcu.edu/classnotes.What’s
newwith
you?
1970s
StevenMcClaren,
B.A. in Religion, ’76,
was involved in an
archeological dig on
Mt. Zion sponsored
by the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. On the trip,
McClaren also helped in the
maintenance and support of both
Messianic and Arab Christian
churches in Israel. McClaren is a
behavioral science instructor at
Northern Oklahoma College.
2000s
Jonas E. Alexis,
M.A. in Teaching,
’04,
is a columnist
for Veterans Today
and has written
more than 400 articles dealing
with issues such as the Israel/
Palestine conflict, culture wars,
psychological warfare, the
history of ideas and Christianity.
Marissa Leon, B.A.
in Communications
and Public
Relations, ’04,
is the
founder, president,
owner and operator of ML
Communications LLC and has
launched a new company
website, www.
marissaleoncommunications.
com. Leon has career experience
in corporate communications,
event management, public
relations and marketing in the
real estate and franchising
industries.
Pat Dennen, M.S. in
Executive Fire
Leadership, ’06,
is
the interim fire chief
of Desert Hills Fire
District in Lake Havasu, Ariz.
Dennen’s fire service career
began in 1974, and he has held
almost all ranks in the fire service,
including emergency manager,
fire chief, county fire warden,
battalion chief, division chief,
assistant chief and deputy chief.
Jill Mahoney, B.S.
in Corporate
Fitness &Wellness,
’07, andM.Ed. in
Education
Administration in
Organizational Leadership, ’09,
has joined the University of
Colorado women’s basketball
program as the director of
operations. Mahoney made her
coaching debut as an assistant at
GCU, which won three Pacific
West Conference championships
and twice appeared in the NCAA
Division II tournament during
her tenure.
Melanie Barnett,
M.Ed. in Secondary
Education, ’08,
has
been named East
Coweta (Ga.) Middle
School Teacher of the Year.
Barnett teaches sixth grade
science and believes in helping
students see the value in what
they are learning beyond getting
a good grade on a test.
TomDwiggins, B.S.
in Public Safety
Administration,
’08, andM.S. in
Leadership, ’16,
has
been promoted to chief of the
Chandler (Ariz.) Fire, Health and
Medical department. Dwiggins
has been with the department for
18 years and previously led the
emergency medical services, fire
prevention, training and
outreach, and innovation
divisions.
Erik Stone, M.Ed. in
Education
Administration, 08,
is the principal of
the Peoria (Ariz.)
Traditional School. Stone has
worked for the Peoria Unified
School District for 12 years as an
elementary school teacher,
assistant principal and athletic
director.
Natasha Beavers,
M.Ed. in
Elementary
Education, ’09,
has been named
Western Elementary School (Ga.)
Teacher of the Year. Beavers
teaches first grade and believes
in creating a positive learning
environment in which respect for
others is fundamental in
promoting intellectual diversity.