Jason Amador: 'None of us achieve anything meaningful alone'
Jason Amador hasn't been the only one carrying himself on his hard-fought journey to Grand Canyon University's College of Doctoral Studies. He has been carried by everyone who has gotten him there.
“My family, my coaches, my professors and mentors ... and my grandmother.”
Loretta Anderson inspired Amador until she passed away shortly after entering his doctoral program and earning the college's student of the month honor in August.
“When I told her I was pursuing my doctorate, she was super excited, and she had been calling me doctor ever since,” Amador said. “This is something I can do to honor her legacy and fulfill the dream she had in me and what I had for myself.”
The former player and staff member of the GCU men’s basketball program and citizen of the Colorado River Indian Tribes is aware that grace and the support of others have propelled him far from his home in Parker, Arizona.
“This is reminding me that none of us achieve anything meaningful alone,” Amador said.
He's reminded, too, that excellence isn’t limited to one arena, whether it’s on the basketball floor, in the classroom or in your community.
"I believe you can always strive to keep learning, growing and serving others.”
Growing up in the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Amador said that earning a doctorate means more than adding a title to his name.
"It really represents the sacrifices of my family, the community. Growing up on the reservation, (when you think of) higher education – especially a doctorate – it’s not something that many young people see as attainable.
“If my journey can even show one student that they can pursue higher education without giving up their identity or dreams, this degree will have meant something far more than a personal achievement. And I always wanted to show people from my reservation that they don’t have to choose between where they came from and where they want to go. They can be proud of their culture and pursue a career in education, medicine, business and law.
"I hope my doctorate can become another example of how excellence is possible, and how communities belong in every room where decisions are being made.”
Shortly after earning a master’s degree from GCU in organizational leadership, Amador decided to push himself further and pursue a doctorate in the same concentration.
“I’ve always been trying to challenge myself academically ... and continue growing as a lifelong learner and develop a deeper understanding of leadership and organizations," Amador said. "For me, it’s always to show people athletics and education can co-exist.”
Amador challenged himself by majoring in kinesiology and exercise science while playing basketball at the University of Saint Katherine in San Marcos, California. It was a college career beset by injuries and that included double hip surgery in 2021.
“I came from a super small high school on a Native American reservation,” Amador said. “So, if we got hurt, we didn’t have the athletic trainers or a weight program to follow. It was always do what you can.”
Then the college closed its doors, and Amador was unsure of what would happen next.
Luckily, Saint Katherine was able to hold its final commencement ceremony, and Amador walked the stage in spring 2024.
With one more year of college eligibility, he continued to push forward, hoping to play Division I basketball, and found a home at GCU.
He said the early stages of his doctoral program have been eye-opening, from the time invested in planning and research, to using different platforms and tools applied to dissertation topics.
He credits College of Doctoral Studies dissertation chair Dr. Renee Winter and professor Dr. Remilyn Mueller for their support.
Mueller noticed a significant improvement in Amador’s time management and “quality of output” in his papers after two weeks.
“At first, he was still operating as if he were still in a master's program,” Mueller said. “So, just like I do with any student, I messaged him to let him know what he should do to improve and direct him to read the course policies that he should follow as a doctoral learner.”
Mueller also let Amador know that she chanted “Jason! Jason! Jason!” with the Havocs every time he entered games during the 2024-25 basketball season.
“He was very surprised and thanked me profusely for that message,” Mueller said. “After that, his output completely improved. He became more active in class participation and submitted work on time. He finished the course with a high mark, and he even messaged me at the end to thank me again.
“Not all students do that: Message a professor just thanking them after a course has ended. I think that shows a lot about his character. He looks back with gratitude and has no sense of entitlement, despite his accomplishments.”
Amador also heeded the advice of Mueller, author of “You’re Not Alone: How You Can Flourish as an Online Learner With Faith and Success Strategies.” He read her blogs about faith and how to incorporate it into work and education.
“He participated well in my forum posts, integrating Scripture when approaching doctoral work,” Mueller said.
“His dreams are not only about himself; they extend beyond the basketball court. They are about sports leadership and about helping others become the best versions of themselves. And I can sense his faith plays a role in his confidence that someday he will achieve all his dreams.”
Amador hopes earning a doctorate will fortify his goal to remain in basketball in some capacity and work with people.
“What this doctorate degree gives me is a deeper understanding of leadership, decision-making, organizational culture and really just how to develop people,” Amador said. “I believe the lessons are directly applicable to leading teams. I believe building relationships creates those healthy, high-performing organizations, and I just really hope my doctorate allows me to make an impact beyond basketball, whether I’m mentoring young coaches or speaking to students or working in professional sports organizations.
“I just want to use what I’ve learned to help others grow as leaders. Education has opened doors in my life, and I want to continue to open doors for others.”
GCU News senior writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]
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