College of Doctoral Studies

Katia Cheetany, didn’t let the language barrier stop her when she immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon 26 years ago. Now she refuses to allow the obstacles that have come up throughout her doctoral journey keep her from furthering her education and achieving her goal. “From every professor I learn something. At the end of every class I walked out with something,” She said. “To me I feel like every single class gave me an opportunity to grow academically and personally.”

Saturday was a day of celebration as Grand Canyon University’s Alpha Chi chapter inducted 1,212 new members into the prestigious honors society. Only students within the top 10% of their graduating class in each of their individual colleges are eligible. “GCU does attract a lot of exceptional learners,” Honors College Associate Dean Breanna Naegeli said.

The Association of Christian Schools International’s first international job fair at GCU brought representatives from 28 countries to campus Tuesday. “We have a variety of job fairs and career fairs, but mostly they’re local and national. This is opening up the door in a large way to the number of professions in that international sphere,” said Dr. Tacy Ashby, Senior Vice President of K12 Educational Development. “The College of Education is really excited about this because it affords incredible ministry opportunities while allowing their students the opportunity to serve in Christian schools abroad.”

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.

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.”

In this version of My LopeLife, the GCU Today feature in which students, faculty, staff and alumni share enlightening experiences, we hear from two doctoral graduates with a lot to say about that journey. The 9 a.m. Friday ceremony also included master’s graduates from the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, so their chance to reminisce and advise is here as well. 

Photos by Mathew McGraw GCU News Bureau The College of Doctoral Studies and master’s graduates from the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions were featured Friday at the 9 a.m. ceremony during Fall Commencement at Grand Canyon University. For a full replay of the ceremony, click here.   Related content: GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Friday evening ceremony GCU Today: My LopeLife: Passion for education drives teachers GCU Today: My LopeLife: Nurses know all about hanging tough GCU Today: My LopeLife: Tales of doctoral, nursing challenges GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Friday afternoon ceremony GCU Today: GCU reaches 1,000 signed doctoral dissertations GCU Today: My LopeLife: Stories from Thursday evening session GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Thursday evening ceremony GCU Today: Jamaican graduate hopes degree will impact others GCU Today: Kirk Cameron delivers powerful message to grads GCU Today: My LopeLife: They had to be all business to succeed GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Thursday afternoon ceremony GCU Today: Slideshow: Fall Commencement, Thursday morning ceremony GCU Today: My LopeLife: Humanities grads share their joy

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.