College of Fine Arts and Production

Alison King, Assistant Professor in the College of Fine Arts and Production, says she’s an introvert, but she has a lot to say about a lot of things — especially history and Southwest architecture. And she certainly applies that energy to teaching. “I tap into emotion to make ideas stick and encourage people to care,” she writes. “I’m told my enthusiasm is infectious.”

One of the most high-profile faculty members of the College of Fine Arts and Production is Michael Kary, mainly for his considerable teaching ability. But Kary also is well known to audiences around the Valley for his work as an actor. Find out more about what drives him to perform.

GCU News Bureau A special edition of the Journal of Instructional Research features several articles from Grand Canyon University faculty. JIR features theoretical and empirically-based research articles, critical reflection pieces, case studies and classroom innovations relevant to best practices in post-secondary instruction (including teaching, learning and assessment). The articles listed below are available here: “Defining Effective Online Pedagogy,” John Steele, Rick Holbeck, Jean Mendernach Ten Strategic Points: A Framework for Doctoral Dissertations Students to Conceptualize their Research Design in a Doctoral Residency Program,” Cynthia Bainbridge, Christie McClendon, June Maul “The Goldilocks Paradox: The Need for Instructor Presence but Not Too Much in an Online Discussion Forum,” Elizabeth Larson, Jacob Aroz, Eric Nordin “Virtual Professional Communities: Integrative Faculty Support to Foster Effective Teaching,” Katie Sprute, Crystal McCabe, Lynn Basko, Paul Danuser “Exploring Quiz-Style PowerPoint Games as an Innovative e-Learning and Teaching Pedagogy,” Nikki Squire “Reflective Practice through Mentorship: A Program Reflection,” Emily Pottinger, Rebekah Dyer and Jena Akard “Using OBS to Create Video Lectures for Online Counseling Students,” Daniel A. Kauffman “Active Classrooms: Great for Academic Performance, but can They Improve Student Health? A Critical Literature Review,” Mike Swoboda The Intersection of Theory and Practice in Teacher Preparation Courses,” Brandon Juarez “Alternative Mentoring for Psychology Students,” […]

There was no shortage of Christmas cheer last week for the residents of the Arizona Training Program in Coolidge as well as the students of Sierra Academy of Scottsdale, as GCU’s Critical Mass used their voices to serve students and adults with special needs. Critical Mass member Sam Brown, whose older brother, Hunter, is a student at the Sierra Academy of Scottsdale, says it brought a lot of smiles to the faces of his brother and his classmates. “It was honestly such a beautiful experience seeing all these children, who are special needs, and just how happy they were,” he said.

Photos by Mathew McGraw and Elizabeth Tinajero GCU News Bureau The Friday evening ceremony of Winter Commencement at Grand Canyon University featured graduates of the Colangelo College of Business, College of Fine Arts and Production and College of Nursing and Health Care Professions.    

Zane Courtney, the student speaker at the Friday evening session of Winter Commencement, had a straightforward message: The Department of Digital Film Production, like GCU, is all about collaboration. “In GCU’s culture, there’s this unsaid bond between every Lope,” he said.

The Senior Design Showcase on Tuesday night featured 33 students, many of whom have been active in obtaining internships and several who already have received employment offers. Sheila Schumacher, Director of the Digital Design program, said GCU graduates are making an impact in Arizona but also are taking their skills to other parts of the country.

College of Fine Arts and Production Professor Alison King always had an interest in writing, and when the brand 180 Degree Design + Build asked her to help them make their dreams of making a book a reality, King didn’t hesitate to give it a shot. “Making Architecture,” King’s collaboration with the architecture brand was recently self published and is being carried at Changing Hands bookstore.

Photos by David Kadlubowski GCU News Bureau The Winter Dance Concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Ethington Theatre. “ReInvent” will celebrate the Dance Department’s 10 years.    

It has been a good 10 years so far for the College of Fine Arts and Production’s Dance Department. Audiences can witness the growth and art the department has created over the years at the “ReInvent” Winter Dance Concert, scheduled for Friday through Sunday at Ethington Theatre.