Colleges

Julie Blair, Assistant Director of Academic Programs/Assistant Professor, and Dusty Sanchez, Clinical Practice Program Manager from the College of Education, recently took part in the 2021 Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) National Convening, presenting their work with the Arizona CEEDAR State Team initiatives.

Imani Steward watched enough cop and detective shows on TV to think it might be a cool job. But after learning about the law in her Justice Studies program and becoming a student worker in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the April graduate found she could help people in her new role as a court clerk. “Even though we are not on the street, we do so much just to make sure someone doesn’t break the law again,” she said.

Sun, sand and surf are all good, but Paige Petrine is challenging herself this summer in a different way. The Paradise Valley High School senior was furiously jotting down observations from her busy morning in the Biomedical Device Design and Protyping Lab, where GCU Biomedical Professor Dr. Jeff La Belle innovates, designs and protypes medical technologies. She is one of more than a dozen high school students who are part of the inaugural High School STEM Internship Program, developed by K12 Educational Development. They spend eight hours most days researching in various fields, from anatomy to biomedical engineering, software development and health and nutrition. They also sit in on professional development sessions organized by the Honors College. Said Petrine, “The lab is my happy place.”

Russell … the name sounds familiar to Canyon Worship fans. But now it’s Madison Russell, not her brother Harrison, who has two songs on the 2021 edition of the annual album. She seems made for this moment, but it’s only a recent development — she has been writing songs for only three or four years. “I think that’s an important lesson – not being afraid to try something,” she said. Sixth in a series on Canyon Worship 2021, scheduled to be released in September.

Starting any new program is difficult. Starting one during a pandemic is more difficult. Add in the importance of face-to-face conversations in the new Barnabas pastoral program, and it makes what the College of Theology pulled off that much more impressive. Students found great value in taking a deeper dive into ministry topics and learning about how various faiths compare. “I think I’ve learned more about the importance of spiritual disciplines in one semester than I did my whole life being raised as a Christian,” said Abbigale Burdett.

When Ellen Mari heard from her students that they were interested in computers, she was on it. She took a Linux course at a community college and now she’s one of 23 teachers from 17 high schools who are sharpening their cybersecurity skills at GCU’s GenCyber Summer Camp. Dr. Brandy Harris, Assistant Dean in the College of Technology, said a there’s a dire need for cybersecurity professionals in the industry. One of the ways to increase those numbers is to educate more teachers who might inspire their students to enter the field. “We want to get more students trained in cybersecurity and start filling these gaps,” she said.

The bond between a doctoral learner and their dissertation chair is one like no other. This was especially true for Dr. Laurica Yancey, who recently completed her doctoral program. Throughout her program, Yancey had to take on caretaking responsibilities for both of her parent, all while working full-time and going to school. When things got challenging and she was on the verge of calling it quits, her dissertation chair Dr. Theodus Luckett helped motivate and support her through out the remainder of the program. “I wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for Dr. Luckett,” Yancey said. “He was an example in terms of I’m paying it forward to other people because of what he’s done for me.”

Scott Wade was a lawyer but fell in love with teaching four years ago and is in the classroom under an emergency certification. Lisa Baird has taught off and on for 20 years, also without being certified. They are among the first 14 teacher candidates who graduated recently from the Canyon L.E.A.P. to Teach program, which offers an alternative pathway to licensure during a time of severe teacher shortage. “The ultimate goal is to get more certified teachers into Arizona classrooms,” said Carol Lippert, Executive Director of K12 Outreach and Education Program Development.

Dr. Randall Downs, Coordinator of the Worship Arts program, calls Nicole Swartz “a great songwriter” but is most impressed by the fact that she asks for songwriting advice and then acts on it. So Downs was pleased when Swartz’s song, “In the Waiting,” became her first solo on a Canyon Worship album. Fifth in a series on Canyon Worship 2021, scheduled to be released in September.

It never hurts to have connections to land a job interview. GCU graduate Kelsey Lamphier found that out recently when she landed a job in the Scottsdale City Manager’s Office. One of her interviewers is on a GCU advisory board for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. She got the job. Helping students connect to jobs and internships in just one of the roles of the four CHSS advisory boards that bring in industry professionals to also help keep up with changes in the field.