College of Nursing & Health Care Professions

“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.

Biochemistry professor Dr. Tiffany Mealman always had a positive attitude even though she had reasons not to. Her joyful disposition, her faith and her dedication to her students is what those students and her fellow faculty members in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology will remember most about her. Mealman passed away Sunday after a five-year battle with cancer.

GCU is flexing its latest recognition as an Exercise is Medicine campus. What that means is that, in addition to the typical questions at the health clinic, students will be asked about their exercise habits and may get a prescription for exercise. The idea is to improve the health of students on college campuses.

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.”

More than 2,300 students from 65 schools across Arizona tiptoed through cadaver, engineering and DNA labs, and cavorted with 3D printers and robots as part of GCU’s Health, Sciences, Engineering and Technology Day on Wednesday. The goal is to showcase the STEM programs, facilities and clubs GCU offers.