College of Doctoral Studies

Kirk Cameron’s Fall Commencement keynote address underlines the importance of perseverance. The former “Growing Pains” star and now prominent Christian actor addressed GCU’s most recent group of graduates with congratulations and a powerful message of overcoming fear, fulfilling their mission and finishing the race. “This was really exciting,” Cameron said. “I was a little nervous, I’ve never done it before … I knew with all these Christian families, it was just really a special blessing to be part of this day that they’ll remember for their whole life.”

With five years left until his retirement from her career as a judge, Dexter Wimbish is working toward his doctoral degree from GCU and hopes join the full-time faculty of a university. “I love working with young people and imparting some of the wisdom I’ve gained over the years,” he said. Wimbish was on campus recently for his third and final doctoral residency and hopes to complete the program in 18 months.

Dominique Adkins’ research looking at the factors that influence forgiveness within the African American community has been shared in a long list of presentations at major conferences across the country and overseas. Not only is she an Online Full Time Faculty member in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences — she also works in the College of Doctoral Studies and has done lots of other amazing things in her life.

Dr. Joseph Hattrick, who received his doctoral degree from GCU earlier this year, will appear on “Wheel of Fortune” on Friday night. Interestingly, he said the pressure of defending his dissertation prepared him well for the stress of solving word puzzles on the popular game show.

The One Foundation Lunch and Learns, which began Friday, offer a perfect opportunity for faculty members to learn more about teaching from a Christian perspective. “It sustains a conversation that is necessary,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, Dean of the College of Theology. Five more one-hour sessions are scheduled during the academic year, and the first 100 people to sign up get a free lunch.

The desire to become the first doctor in her family motivated Hestia Elmes to travel from her home in South Africa to the summer heat of Phoenix for her doctoral residency. Now that she is approaching the dissertation phase of her degree, Elmes credits the structure of the program for how prepared she feels.

Pursuing a doctoral degree is one of the most challenging endeavors in academics. But Dr. Michael Berger, Dean of the College of Doctoral Studies, and his staff have developed a program that gives learners multiple ways to receive assistance. “We can’t make it easy, but we try to make it easier by the addition of all the great support services that we have,” he said.

Photos by Elizabeth Tinajero and Enrique Lucha GCU News Bureau Thursday’s Welcome Week activities included socials for the Academic and Career Excellence (ACE) centers and transfer students, ROTC orientation and a welcome-back party for Worship Arts students.  

Ashley Longoria has never been the kind of person to let anything slow down her quest to chase her dreams, even something as life-changing as adding another member to her growing family. Longoria asked to defend her doctoral dissertation early in order to complete her program before the birth of her third child. With barely more than a week to spare before her due date, Longoria successfully passed her Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership program and then welcomed Declan Longoria into the world.

When the Dean of Bethany College in West Virginia resigned in the fall of 2014, all Associate Dean Levi Esses wanted was to become the new dean of students for his alma mater. Unfortunately, there was only one thing in his way: the fact that he didn’t have his doctoral degree. That experience is what drove Esses to pursue his doctoral degree, ultimately leading to his graduation this past April. “God had a plan Honestly, it all happened I think largely part to my doctoral degree, that I had it finished and my experience in higher education,” Esses said.