College of Doctoral Studies

Time after time over three days of commencement, Grand Canyon University volunteers sought to make the experience special for the graduates. One of the ways they do it is the “tunnel walk” after each ceremony — applauding the grads as they walk out of the Arena after the ceremony. It was just one of many memorable moments.

Photos by Travis Neely GCU News Bureau Online students from the Colangelo College of Business and learners from the College of Doctoral Studies participated in commencement Saturday morning at Grand Canyon University. To watch the ceremony, click here.    

“We’re here tonight to hopefully, not only mourn together and remember together, but to celebrate their lives together,” Dr. Tim Griffin, Dean of Students, said at Tuesday night’s Celebration of Life ceremony. The GCU community honored the lives of Christian Applegate, Roy Pietrek, Keisha Nicole Oyola Perales, Dr. Tiffany Mealman and Taylor White.

When it comes to online learning, GCU’s faculty have established a reputation of being some of the most sought-after thought-leaders in presenting and publishing their scholarly work. Between 2012 and 2017, they led 163 presentations, and their work was featured in 138 publications. GCU are the innovators, said Rick Holbeck, Executive Director of Online Full-Time Faculty.

There was laughter, a few tears and a stirring sense of pride Saturday during Grand Canyon University’s Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event celebrated five new inductees with long, successful careers and a passion for giving back to the community.

Everyone on the Grand Canyon University campus is invited to the Dr. Kevin McClean Research Colloquium, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Building 57, rooms 221-223. There will be eight presentations demonstrating research done by GCU faculty.

“Those Lewis boys — they’ll never amount to anything.” David Lewis heard those words all his life, even after he made it through his teen years and being abandoned by his father, even after serving in the Army and Marine Corps reserves. It’s one of the things that has driven him to become a firefighter, reserve sheriff’s deputy and now, an online doctoral learner pursuing his doctor of education degree.

The College of Doctoral Studies achieved a milestone by approving the school’s 500th dissertation, and as it turns out, it’s by one of GCU’s own. After some investigating, we found out the author of that dissertation is faculty member Melissa Beddow, who wrote about “The Portrayal of DNA Testing in the Forensics Crime Show ‘Bones.'”

Lift up the eggnog. It was a blizzard of holiday cheer these past few weeks as employees turned up their Christmas decorating acumen to unprecedented, spirited levels with Christmas decorating and ugly sweater contests. Story.

The commencement speaker Friday, Dr. Rick Rigsby, spoke about his third-grade dropout father and the impact his simple — but profound — words of wisdom have made on his life. Typical of what Rigsby passed on to his audience: “Look at me, graduates. Don’t ever show up on time. That’s mediocre. That’s basic minimum required. Show up early.”