Colleges

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 […]

Michael Feather felt lucky he could work from home during the pandemic. But the GCU online English instructor also felt the shadow of isolation. “I was really struggling – I don’t know if this was true for you,” said Feather. That’s when one of his friends asked him if he ever thought about returning to drawing. Eventually, he picked up some paints just to see what would happen. Now Feather, who originally moved to the Phoenix area to pursue his love of animation, draws and paints just about every day as part of a global community of artists called Urban Sketchers, who are dedicated to the practice of on-location drawing. Feather has churned out ink-and-watercolor street-corner restaurant scenes, the hustle and bustle of sidewalks, people as they gather for lunch, and even scenes of GCU Arena and the men’s basketball games.

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.

The success of the 11 Spring Commencement ceremonies wouldn’t have been possible without the behind-the-scenes work by the Event Services team and the dedicated volunteers from other departments. But the workers have a secret for you: They enjoy themselves as much as the graduates and their guests. Here are six anecdotes that demonstrate the joy that filled GCU Arena for six days.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau The final ceremony of Spring Commencement was Thursday morning for online students who earned bachelor’s degrees from the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions. Here’s a replay.

Stefany Caicedo was in a coma for 49 days after a car accident in 2012. She had to learn everything again, from talking to walking. Ten years later, she stood in the sunshine outside GCU Arena with her Georgia family as the proud owner of a bachelor’s degree in educational studies. “God saved me from something horrible. I’m not supposed to be here. If he put this in front of me, I’m going to do this,” Caicedo said.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau The Wednesday afternoon of Spring Commencement at Grand Canyon University featured graduates of the online programs in the College of Education (bachelor’s degrees), College of Arts and Media, and College of Theology. Here’s a story on one of the graduates at the ceremony, Stefany Caicedo, and here’s a replay of the ceremony.

Photos by Ralph Freso GCU News Bureau The Wednesday morning ceremony of Spring Commencement at Grand Canyon University featured graduates of the Colangelo College of Business. Here’s a story with highlights of the student speech by Briana Lee and a video with graduates’ comments about the online program, and here’s a replay of the ceremony.

One graduate responded to discussion posts while she was in labor. Another had to take a leave of absence during Hurricane Harvey but pushed through. Still another continued on her journey after her mother passed away from West Nile virus a few months after her father died. Despite all that life threw at them, GCU’s online students reached the finish line and completed their degrees.