Academics

When the bachelor of science degree programs in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering earned ABET’s prestigious accreditation this year, the timing was serendipitous for two recent GCU graduates. Edward Lon was hired as a software engineer by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, and Denisse Delos Santos was promoted to the engineer program by SRP. Reprinted from the November issue of GCU Magazine.

Dr. Andree Robinson-Neal, Senior Doctoral Adjunct Faculty Manager for the College of Doctoral Studies, is passionate about helping learners who are early in the research process. That’s high-level work, but what’s also interesting is the way she uses her passion for writing fiction by weaving non-academic narratives into academics.

Dr. Sammy Alfaro is a Professor of Theology, but he also is a church pastor and soccer player and has become an avid runner. He is passionate about the fact that the Gospel is being preached and practiced all over the world. His wish for his students: “I pray our students will become church leaders who embrace diversity and unify the church to take it to the next level,” he wrote.

Dr. Derrick Tennial has a lot going on. He’s a member of the College of Doctoral Studies faculty …. and its residency faculty … and is a dissertation chair. He is a narrative researcher. He has a media company. He has a stake in an investment company that seeks to provide quality, affordable housing for middle- to low-income individuals and families. And he talks passionately about a variety of subjects — including a type of television show that might be a bit surprising.

Consider yourself forewarned if you’re visiting Frieda Cook’s house: Her family is a bunch of merry pranksters. Find out the ways they make life fun, and admire the ways the Lab and Simulation RN Instructor in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions makes life interesting for her students.

For Dr. Galyna Kufryk, few things are as amazing as plants, which can take sunlight, carbon dioxide, water and chlorophyll and create their own source of energy. She has been researching the photosynthetic process in unicellular organisms called cyanobacteria, which she hopes can give her a clearer picture of how photosynthesis is regulated in plants. Ultimately, she and other scientists want to mimic how plants create their own energy in hopes of creating renewable sources of energy for humans.

She was raised in Kenya, watching her missionary parents not only spread the Gospel but also help with the mental health issues of the population. That inspired Dr. Anna Edgeston to pursue a career in mental health care, and her passion became clear. After 18 months at GCU, she was named Program Director for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ counseling programs, a growing area in a time of crisis.

Dr. Shawna Martino submitted a photo of her holding a sign that says “Joyful,” and that truly reflects how she feels about training future teachers as an Online Full Time Faculty member for the College of Education. She also enjoys traveling to foreign countries and had a particularly memorable (and spiritual) experience in one of them.

Adora Villanueva, an adjunct faculty member of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is working on her doctorate from GCU and did some interesting research on a very personal subject as an undergraduate. Find out how she used some Christmas-oriented images in a class assignment and how she’s passing on her impressive background in athletics.

Dr. Theodus Luckett III, Senior Doctoral Adjunct in the College of Doctoral Studies, is devoted to improving music education — he is the Director of Fine Arts for his school district. He also is partnering on a study of diversity issues with the goal of providing “researchers, practitioners and leaders with meaningful knowledge to not only encourage diversity, but to also be intentional in the implementation of diversity initiatives in the workplace.”