College of Doctoral Studies

Dr. Eric Peterson refused to let the postponed Commencement ceremony dampen his enthusiasm about earning a doctoral degree. But what stands out about his story is that he had virtually no time to prepare for defending his dissertation because he spent most of the day with his mother at a hospital. It still turned out fine. “God knew what I needed,” he said.

He was a gentle man from a loving family, she a tough woman with a Boston accent and a rough upbringing. But together they meshed. Together, they both got cancer — just weeks apart. Melissa Hathaway found the will to keep going toward her doctorate degree at GCU, and she feels her husband’s presence with her.

Dr. Cristie McClendon, Senior Doctoral Adjunct Manager/Assistant Professor in the College of Doctoral Studies, has had a hand in a long list of articles about dissertations and online learning. She’d like to have a hand in something far different — think paws — when she retires.

GCU was ready for this. After ground students were sent home to finish their studies at home because of the COVID-19 outbreak, leaders and faculty kicked into high gear by sharing its vast storehouse of expertise on online learning to insure a seamless transition as online instruction begins today. “GCU has been at the forefront in its investment in technology. We are at a time when that investment allows us to function, quite literally,” said Dr. Seanan Kelly, assistant professor in the College of Doctoral Studies and an expert in online instruction.

Dr. Charlotte Wheeless’s journey to receiving her doctoral degree had it’s fair share of obstacles, one of which included the unexpected loss of her husband Gene just three months after her first residency. Yet she decided to persevere and since graduating in October has advanced in her career at Williams Baptist University from assistant professor to associate professor and was granted endowment for her chair position as well.

Dr. Jason Ward, Faculty Manager for the College of Doctoral Studies, knows his way around the world — and around its languages, too. Check out how many continents, countries and states he has visited and how many languages he has studied. He also has a long list of scholarly presentations. But the key to his classroom presence, he says, is humor.

Dr. Jimmy Brown, Academic Quality Reviewer and Dissertation Chair for the College of Doctoral Studies, hasn’t just worked for a lot of different companies and organizations; his career has taken him to places all around the United States and beyond. Check out how many cities, states/provinces/prefectures and countries he has been employed in. But being at home with his family still is his favorite activity.

The February 2020 issue of GCU Magazine will be a keepsake for students, faculty, staff and alumni. The special dedication to GCU’s stunning transformation in the last 10 years includes stories, photos and videos covering every aspect of this remarkable story — academics, spiritual life, campus life, community outreach, athletics, online education and alumni — plus President Brian Mueller’s personal thoughts about what it has meant to him. Here’s the digital version.

The story of GCU’s ascent in the last decade is one of determination, discovery and bit of defiance. “We do what others say can’t be done,” said Will Gonzalez, Chairman of the GCU Board of Trustees, “and we do it every … single … day.” The cover story of the February issue of GCU Magazine tells how it unfolded, through the eyes of the people who saw it through.

There’s a lot more to Jay Harrison than his National Hockey League career, which spanned 2005 to 2015. He operates a consulting practice for athletes, and he’s pursuing his Ph.D. in Performance Psychology through GCU’s College of Doctoral Studies. “Education actually allowed me to be the best player I could be,” he said.