Online Life

When doctoral learner Lena Denman found out about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, she knew she had to do everything she could to help. As President of the Arlene Campbell Humanitarian Foundation, a nonprofit established in 2016 to assist in sending medical supplies to Ukraine, Denman has numerous friends and connections there. “While I intellectually anticipated it, emotionally it was still very difficult,” she said. But the doctoral program already has provided her with the skills to make things happen.

Another successful year for GCU’s National Society of Collegiate Scholars chapter did not go unnoticed by the prestigious honors society. Honors College Dean Dr. Breanna Naegeli and Program Manager Anya Cofrancesco were named NSCS’s Chapter Co-Advisor Team of the Year. With nearly 7,000 members, GCU’s chapter is the largest in the country.

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 […]

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.

The impressive lineup of student speakers this week included a solid talk Wednesday morning by Breana Lee, who praised the way GCU handled the pandemic and had interesting advice for graduates about the importance of being constant in faith and other areas. Here’s more about what she said plus the final submissions from graduates detailing their journeys to their online degrees.

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.