College of Education

On Wednesday, Grand Canyon University announced its Lopes Leap to Teach program, a joint effort through the College of Education and office of Strategic Educational Alliances to address Arizona’s teacher shortage. The program will include efforts like a clinical practice expo and networking event in January where Arizona schools can recruit GCU students who’ve recently completed student-teaching assignments, or link up with students and alumni that need to complete practicum hours in local classrooms.

Grand Canyon University’s non-traditional commencement ceremony returned to campus and to the more spacious GCU Arena on Saturday. The extra seats were a blessing as family members and friends of nearly 1,900 online students for morning and afternoon ceremonies.

Joanna Simpson earned her master’s and doctorate from Grand Canyon University, her hometown university. But she also has a longtime connection with former high school mentor and College of Education dean Dr. Kimberly LaPrade, with whom Simpson is now working closely with as COE addresses the needs of new teachers.

Grand Canyon University is in the process of updating how its Public Safety force responds to emergencies and how the campus community is alerted to potential threats.

GCU has received a collection of more than 700 print and digital books and publications from national education spokesman Dr. Paul D. Houston and from WestEd, a noted research organization. The collection, which is on display in the GCU Library and will be dedicated by University officials Monday, is an interesting historical look at the changes in education and educational leadership over the past century. And, there are a few surprises in the stacks, too.

Two new recurring events — a Lunch and Learn for faculty members and a Ministry Forum open to anyone on campus — are important additions to the activities in the College of Theology. The first Lunch and Learn is Friday, Sept. 12, and the Ministry Forum starts Monday, Sept. 15.

College of Education alumnus Anthony Perez taught English to ESL students in China before starting a new job as a second grade teacher in Phoenix.

GCU Today brings you a Daily Dose of STEM-related information to summarize how Grand Canyon University’s academic programs are being designed for the future.

The launch of the two new programs signifies Grand Canyon University’s re-emphasis on an academic commitment to training on science, technology, engineering and mathematics — also known as the STEM disciplines.

Jim Mostofo, an assistant professor in the College of Education, went to Medellin, Colombia, in April and had the experience of a lifetime.