College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Women only make up 24 percent of the STEM fields, according to VEX Robotics, which is why it launched its Girl Powered initiative. Inspired by that initiative, GCU’s Robotics Club is bringing back its Girl Powered STEM Workshop on Saturday in the Technology Building for girls in fourth through eighth grades. “We want to have that awareness at an early age that STEM is not exclusive to boys,” said Ed Koeneman, the Robotics Club’s advisor and an instructor in electrical engineering technology.

Six medical professionals spoke to Grand Canyon University students Wednesday night about what it takes to get into their field. They emphasized that it’s not just a matter of mastering a specific medical skill — they want to see applicants who are well-rounded.

GCU’s IT-cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program just received a prestigious designation, being named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The award is given by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security after a program meets stringent criteria. “This is a big deal,” said Dr. Heather Monthie, Associate Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. “This is essentially their stamp of approval on our cybersecurity program.” What that means for students: They’ll have even more access to government jobs and scholarships.

The One Foundation Lunch and Learns, which began Friday, offer a perfect opportunity for faculty members to learn more about teaching from a Christian perspective. “It sustains a conversation that is necessary,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, Dean of the College of Theology. Five more one-hour sessions are scheduled during the academic year, and the first 100 people to sign up get a free lunch.

Honors College sophomore Esmeralda Gomez earned a prestigious internship at TGen this summer and for eight weeks joined students from around the country, including Ivy League schools, in researching possible cures and treatments for a rare form of ovarian cancer. “It was just really cool. There was just never any competition between us — it was all about growth,” she said.

Dr. Janet Brelin-Fornari began her career at General Motors, serving as an expert witness in product liability lawsuits against the company. It was then that she discovered her passion for improving safety for children in vehicles. Dr. Richard Mulski spent two decades in the aerospace/aeronautics industry, working for such companies as Boeing, where here he was involved in the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey program. Both changed direction in their careers, moving into academia and now to GCU as the new leaders in the University’s Engineering Department. Both are ready to take on new challenges in a new engineering program as they anticipate continued growth.

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.

Grand Canyon University College of Science, Engineering and Technology professors present their research at the American Scientific Affiliation conference.

Madelyn Hendrikse planned a whopper of a farewell to home in Wisconsin before heading to Phoenix for her first year at GCU. She decided to water ski 62 miles across Lake Michigan with a friend. It’s a rare feat that attracted national media attention. It was hard battling the rough waters in the middle of the lake. She did a lot of praying and gutted it out. It was about more than sking, said the freshman who will study biology with a pre-medicine emphasis: “This journey has taught me that I can achieve anything in life that I set my mind toward.”