College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Melissa Davis has overcome an abusive childhood and young adulthood marked by drug abuse and crime to become a scholar and a model for her children. She works overnight jobs in Fresno, Calif., so that during the day she can home-school three of her eight children and study online for her master’s degree in English at GCU.

The younger generation has led a growth in enrollment in Social Work studies at GCU, from 40 students on campus to more than 275 this year. Generation Z has a desire to help others and be fulfilled with a purpose, not just to count their worth by material riches, senior students say. “I think our growth speaks to this generation wanting to connect with people in the community and to give back,” said Dr. Kathleen Downey, Director of Social Work in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the subject of our continuing series on each GCU college.

Dr. Julie Nelson of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is a passionate teacher of psychology and is delighted with how students tend to view her courses. And when she’s not in the classroom, she also takes delight in a game the whole family can enjoy — even though it gets pretty competitive.

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.  

Move-In gets the year started off right for incoming GCU students, but it has the same effect on the volunteers who help them. Whether they’re helping for the first time or are seniors and have done it every year, they treasure the excitement. “It’s my third year, and it’s always the same energy,” said one.

David Salgado knew it was a tough road to take. The Grand Canyon University graduate and IT employee wanted to pass the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), be accepted into a law school and earn a scholarship to pay for it. There were a lot of twists and turns along the way. But he managed a rarity — a full scholarship to law school. His west Phoenix parents jumped for joy. None of the extended family had ever been to college, much less law school. They had canceled vacation to plan on helping to pay for it. Salgado will go to Gonzaga School of Law on the Thomas More Scholarship.

GCE Curriculum Developer Ruth Douthitt ran in college, but it wasn’t until she turned 40 that she returned to competitive running and entered her first marathon. Twelve years later and she has competed in six full marathons and four ultra marathons — a passion she writes about in two stories included in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Running for Good.” The book, being released today, combines two things she loves — running and writing. Douthitt also has written 11 children’s books.

Most counselors and therapists want to be able to “do good” by their clients, but what does “doing good” really mean? That was the main topic of discussion at Thursday’s continuing education ethics workshop hosted by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Speakers from GCU and NAU offered professionals working in the field of counseling and social services a free way of receiving their CEUs (Continuing Education Units) that they are required to renew every two years.

There was one more order of business in the celebration of Jesse Dalla Riva’s amazing transformation from drug addict to GCU graduate: His Phoenix Rescue Mission co-workers wanted to throw a surprise party for him. They pulled it off in grand style Thursday afternoon at a celebration attended by a large group from the University, led by President Brian Mueller. “This so much reinforces my faith and what I believe about the God who created this,” Mueller said.

Stephen Taylor refuses to let his age (76) get in the way of his goal: He wants to help ex-convicts integrate back into society. When he received his master’s degree Friday morning, it came 55 years after his bachelor’s. “I got interested in life coaching and life skill stuff because I saw the direction of substance abuse and the direction it was going,” he said.