Colleges

Melissa Martin went to school in Chinle, Arizona, in the Navajo Nation, then taught and coached there. But when she led the Chinle Junior High back from the pandemic in her first year as principal it caught the eye of the Milken Family Foundation, which recently awarded her the prestigious Milken Educator Award and $25,000 for her skillful leadership. She attributes some of her ability to GCU’s College of Education, which has more than 100 alumni who have won honors for their excellence.

Professors step up in the classroom with lectures, PowerPoint presentations and the like. But they also encourage and mentor students in their undergraduate research, link students to startups or use their connections from their time in industry to help students get jobs. Strategic Employer Initiatives & Internships recently recognized 13 faculty members across seven colleges for their efforts to champion the career success of their students.

When doctoral learner Lena Denman found out about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, she knew she had to do everything she could to help. As President of the Arlene Campbell Humanitarian Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2016 to assist in sending medical supplies to Ukraine, Denman has numerous friends and connections there. “While I intellectually anticipated it, emotionally it was still very difficult,” she said. But the doctoral program already has provided her with the skills to make things happen.

GCU student Megan Mason and her mother, Nikki Brown, had a special relationship. “Everyone always called me her mini me,” Mason says. So when Brown was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it weighed on Mason heavily as she was accepted into the nursing program — but it also put it into perspective for her. Her mother taught her many lessons, in particular what it means to truly have a relationship with God.

Isaac Duh Nei Lian immigrated to the United States from Burma when he was just 11 years old and is now headed for infantry training as an officer in the Army. He was among nine cadets appointed to lead enlisted personnel as second lieutenants during the University’s Army ROTC Thunder Battalion Commissioning Ceremony on Friday. “This is my privilege to give back to the country,” he said.

Another successful year for GCU’s National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter did not go unnoticed by the prestigious honors society. Honors College Dean Dr. Breanna Naegeli and Program Manager Anya Cofrancesco were named NSCS’s Chapter Co-Advisor Team of the Year. With nearly 7,000 members, GCU’s chapter is the largest in the country.

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau Dr. Hank Radda is retiring after 12 years as Provost of Grand Canyon University, effective July 15. That’s the headline. But there is so much more to the story. To fully understand what Radda has witnessed, you would have had to been there with him as he walked around the campus for the first time on the day before Thanksgiving in 2010. It led to one of the coolest experiences of his life, but what he saw didn’t look so hot. Radda, who had come to interview for dean of the newly created College of Doctoral Studies, was taken aback by the sight of so many small, dated buildings. There was only one new structure – the two-story Education Building. GCU Arena was identifiable only by the steel framework that had been erected. “Everything else was still flat and asphalt and broken down,” he said. Then it happened. He saw the University’s energetic new president, Brian Mueller, whom he had worked for at the University of Phoenix. Mueller cheerfully volunteered to show him around and started talking about his plan to turn a decrepit campus into a beacon for higher education. “We want to […]

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau Dr. Randy Gibb learned an important lesson during his 26 years in the Air Force. “Every two to three years we moved to a different base in a new airplane, a different mission and part of a new team,” he said. “You would learn to assess an organization and create a template to get acclimated and determine how to contribute.” He has been assessing and contributing for eight years as Dean of the Colangelo College of Business (CCOB) at Grand Canyon University. Now Gibb is embarking on a new mission: He is GCU’s new Provost, replacing Dr. Hank Radda, who will retire in July. “Dr. Gibb very much fits the mold of Dr. Radda in that he is accomplished academically but also understands the operational part to be able to build on what Hank has done,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “A big part of that comes from his military background and his ability to lead a team. That is evident in everything he has accomplished as dean of one of the fastest-growing business colleges in the country.” Just as Radda has overseen GCU’s dramatic rise from less than 1,000 traditional students to more […]

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau Dr. Jennifer Lech’s new title as Vice Provost at Grand Canyon University is much simpler than her old one: Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and University Registrar, Accreditation Liaison Officer. But her involvement will continue to be just as complex – and extremely important – to the new Provost, Dr. Randy Gibb, as they take over for Dr. Hank Radda, who will retire as Provost in July. Lech describes her role as the “problem solver of University conundrums and mysteries.” But maybe the biggest mystery is how one person could do all this: Accreditation: Ensure GCU’s institutional accreditation is maintained as well as project manage and assist the colleges with programmatic accreditations. State compliance: Ensure GCU is authorized as needed in any state in which the University has students. Office of Academic Records/Registrar: Keep the official student record for each student, including all documentation, academic processes and policies. Policy and program management: Promote academic governance in the creation of policy and oversee the management and implementation of policies and programs throughout the lifecycle, through collaboration with the colleges and Curriculum Design and Development. Articulation agreements: Review and approve articulation agreements with other higher […]

Michael Feather felt lucky he could work from home during the pandemic. But the GCU online English instructor also felt the shadow of isolation. “I was really struggling – I don’t know if this was true for you,” said Feather. That’s when one of his friends asked him if he ever thought about returning to drawing. Eventually, he picked up some paints just to see what would happen. Now Feather, who originally moved to the Phoenix area to pursue his love of animation, draws and paints just about every day as part of a global community of artists called Urban Sketchers, who are dedicated to the practice of on-location drawing. Feather has churned out ink-and-watercolor street-corner restaurant scenes, the hustle and bustle of sidewalks, people as they gather for lunch, and even scenes of GCU Arena and the men’s basketball games.