College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Professors step up in the classroom with lectures, PowerPoint presentations and the like. But they also encourage and mentor students in their undergraduate research, link students to startups or use their connections from their time in industry to help students get jobs. Strategic Employer Initiatives & Internships recently recognized 13 faculty members across seven colleges for their efforts to champion the career success of their students.

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau Dr. Hank Radda is retiring after 12 years as Provost of Grand Canyon University, effective July 15. That’s the headline. But there is so much more to the story. To fully understand what Radda has witnessed, you would have had to been there with him as he walked around the campus for the first time on the day before Thanksgiving in 2010. It led to one of the coolest experiences of his life, but what he saw didn’t look so hot. Radda, who had come to interview for dean of the newly created College of Doctoral Studies, was taken aback by the sight of so many small, dated buildings. There was only one new structure – the two-story Education Building. GCU Arena was identifiable only by the steel framework that had been erected. “Everything else was still flat and asphalt and broken down,” he said. Then it happened. He saw the University’s energetic new president, Brian Mueller, whom he had worked for at the University of Phoenix. Mueller cheerfully volunteered to show him around and started talking about his plan to turn a decrepit campus into a beacon for higher education. “We want to […]

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau Dr. Randy Gibb learned an important lesson during his 26 years in the Air Force. “Every two to three years we moved to a different base in a new airplane, a different mission and part of a new team,” he said. “You would learn to assess an organization and create a template to get acclimated and determine how to contribute.” He has been assessing and contributing for eight years as Dean of the Colangelo College of Business (CCOB) at Grand Canyon University. Now Gibb is embarking on a new mission: He is GCU’s new Provost, replacing Dr. Hank Radda, who will retire in July. “Dr. Gibb very much fits the mold of Dr. Radda in that he is accomplished academically but also understands the operational part to be able to build on what Hank has done,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “A big part of that comes from his military background and his ability to lead a team. That is evident in everything he has accomplished as dean of one of the fastest-growing business colleges in the country.” Just as Radda has overseen GCU’s dramatic rise from less than 1,000 traditional students to more […]

By Rick Vacek GCU News Bureau Dr. Jennifer Lech’s new title as Vice Provost at Grand Canyon University is much simpler than her old one: Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and University Registrar, Accreditation Liaison Officer. But her involvement will continue to be just as complex – and extremely important – to the new Provost, Dr. Randy Gibb, as they take over for Dr. Hank Radda, who will retire as Provost in July. Lech describes her role as the “problem solver of University conundrums and mysteries.” But maybe the biggest mystery is how one person could do all this: Accreditation: Ensure GCU’s institutional accreditation is maintained as well as project manage and assist the colleges with programmatic accreditations. State compliance: Ensure GCU is authorized as needed in any state in which the University has students. Office of Academic Records/Registrar: Keep the official student record for each student, including all documentation, academic processes and policies. Policy and program management: Promote academic governance in the creation of policy and oversee the management and implementation of policies and programs throughout the lifecycle, through collaboration with the colleges and Curriculum Design and Development. Articulation agreements: Review and approve articulation agreements with other higher […]

It was a long journey for many dedicated online students to make it to their final destination: graduation. Thousands of online students earned their degrees and walked the GCU Arena stage this week for Commencement, many with inspirational stories to tell: moms and dads who struggled to do their homework in between taking care of children and full-time jobs, those who lived through hurricanes and illnesses, and those who didn’t let a disability stand in the way of their academic goals. They celebrated with family and friends, and with us, through their social media posts, a few of which we’ve compiled here.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau The Monday morning ceremony in Spring Commencement at Grand Canyon University featured the conferring of doctoral degrees and also was for graduates of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. Here’s a replay of the ceremony.

The Students Inspiring Students full-tuition scholarship program is creating more and more graduates, and their achievements continue to expand, too. Friday, Estephanie Torres was the student speaker at the afternoon ceremony, and Luis Pena Espinoza was one of the most prominent grads in the evening. Torres has done internships with Bank of America and Morgan Stanley and has a job lined up with Uber, and Pena has plotted an interesting career path for himself.

Robots tackled mean obstacles, teams launched plastic purple Easter eggs at targets, and aerial gliders went the distance at the first International Christian STEM Competition, which made its debut Saturday on the GCU campus. “It’s the first Christian schools international STEM competition of its kind that we know of,” said K12 Educational Development’s Corinne Araza, who shared how Christian schools don’t always have the resources to develop the kind of STEM programs they want.

GCU News Bureau They came, they saw, they conquered. And, they gave a Lopes Up or two during their four-year academic journey at Grand Canyon University. Now they’re leaving the nest and moving on to their next steps as they graduate (some 30,000 of them) in 11 ceremonies over six days. Here is how traditional ground students, whose Commencement ceremonies were Thursday and Friday at GCU Arena, commemorated the big day on social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kris Gesink (@kgesink77) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Makenzie Meier (@mak.meier) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Garrett Firth (@garrett_firth) View this post on Instagram A post shared by GCU SIS Scholarship (@gcusisscholarship) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Christian Diaz (@iam.cmd3) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ms. Michelle ?? (@_chxlle_) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Garrison Godard (@garrisongodard) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maria Sparling (@mama_sparling) View this post on Instagram A post shared by vincent king ? (@vincentkinng) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dodge_Vader98 (@dodge_vader98) View this post on […]

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau The parents of GCU students Chelsea Valladares and Kelli Ingle, who died in a car accident earlier this month, accepted posthumous degrees on their daughters’ behalf Friday in Spring Commencement at Grand Canyon University. Fausto and Erica Valladares came to the stage in the afternoon ceremony, and Rick and Kristi Ingle — with Fausto and Erica joining them and some students displaying Kelli Ingle’s initials on their mortarboards — were likewise honored in the evening. Here are replays of Friday afternoon and Friday evening.