Academics

Assistant Professor Chuck Banaszewski primarily teaches the first class that doctoral learners take when they come into the program, and they can rest assured that they are being instructed who knows what he’s talking about. Banaszewski’s background is filled with scholarly presentations, and his goal is to give the learners a solid foundation as they prepare to begin their dissertation.

GCU students wrote six-word autobiographies and short stories for the National Day on Writing. The day, launched by the National Council of Teachers of English, celebrates writing and the reasons we write. English Department faculty and student writing clubs hosted the event. I find inspiration in writing,” said student Yaritza Hernandez,. “I find comfort in writing. I find strength.

It’s been two years since the College of Doctoral Studies celebrated the passing of signing it’s 500th dissertation. Now, thanks to the college’s dedication to its learners success, quality faculty and resources, 1,000 dissertations have been signed and another group of doctoral graduates walked across the stage and receive recognition for their academic achievement at last week’s Online Commencement ceremony Friday morning. “The program has been maturing in a lot of ways. We’ve been maturing in how we work with learner, how we set expectations with learners, the strategies that are the most effective. I think we’re getting a better understanding of who our learners are and how we can help them be successful. Because that’s always goal,” College of Doctoral Studies Dean Dr. Michael Berger said. “It’s a major step up in expert and interpersonal power. It’s going to give them a chance to be heard, and we want them out there making change.”

Dr. Mark Wireman, Associate Professor in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, has done a lot of impressive things in his career. He was a chiropractor for 10 years. He went on a medical mission trip to Nepal. But the key to his classroom teaching is the ability to relate those experiences to his students, and he does so with a sense of humor.

You want to hear about determination? Take a listen to the Colangelo College of Business graduate who has battled head and neck cancer for 10 years. Or the one who had multiple strokes and had to learn how to walk and talk again. Or the woman who didn’t think she could have children and adopted three — but then got pregnant after she started the online program.

Biologist David Weedman grew up fishing and camping with his dad and turned that love of the outdoors into a 28-year career with the Arizona Game & Fish Department. Now he is sharing his expertise with GCU students as the University’s first Game & Fish liaison. Weedman is on campus every other Thursday, when students can drop by and talk with him about environmental science and conservation careers — or to just share a few big fish stories. “I want to be a mentor, contribute what I can and, hopefully, help students make informed decisions,” he said.

Dennis Attawia, Associate Professor in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, says he is known among students as someone who can take complex problems and make them understandable. Considering how he looks today, you’ll never believe the style he rocked back in the day.

Denise Matus, Immersive Simulation Facilitator in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, is known for her sense of humor and the way she says things. She loves it when students come back after graduation and remember how she taught them a particular concept. Her outside interests include kickboxing, and she dreams of trying something that has a punchline.

Stephanie Herrick Kays, Graduate Simulation Manager in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, has strong feelings about access to medical care and, as a result, wants to create nurse practitioners who will be change agents.

Dr. Bob Staples, an instructor in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, has published writing manuals and articles. He has done research. Nothing unusual there. But when you find out the names of his two horses, you’ll have no doubts about which football team he likes.