Antelope Intros is a recurring GCU Today feature that introduces some of our new employees to the people around them in a way that is fun and informative. Employees are eligible to be featured in the month following their orientation.
HANNAH GATES
Job title: Enrollment counselor, Colangelo College of Business and College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Job location: Peoria, 27th Avenue
What attracted you to GCU? When I moved here from New York I knew I wanted to work for a university. I spoke to a lot of people who had excellent things to say about GCU. I decided to apply for some positions, and after coming in for an interview I had a feeling that GCU was different. I could tell right away that people genuinely enjoyed their jobs and that the work atmosphere was fun and exciting. I also was attracted to the fact that GCU is a Christian college, which I think sets us apart from many other universities.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I absolutely love exploring new places and spending time outdoors. I’ve traveled quite a bit over the past year and have really fallen in love with learning about other cultures and meeting all kinds of people. Now that I’ve settled in Phoenix I plan to take weekend trips to new, local places and spend my vacations traveling abroad.
What are you passionate about? My biggest passions are travel, volunteering and learning. Over the past year I’ve spent time volunteering in Ireland, England and France. All of these experiences have allowed me to grow as an individual and learn so much about the world. I’m also passionate about learning. I plan to start my MBA soon, and I also want to start dance classes and learn a foreign language.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? I’m really enjoying the scenery! I love hiking and exploring the suburbs. I especially enjoy the coffee culture in Phoenix. I’ve been trying out a new café every week, which is also helping me familiarize myself with the city. This week I found a café downtown that has live jazz every Sunday. How cool!
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: Over the past year I have traveled to 13 countries: Ireland, England, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
What are you most proud of? When I talk about my travels, people tend to think my parents paid for my trips or I won the lottery. When I decided to take a career break to travel, I had about $300 in my bank account. I was determined to make it happen, so I worked two to three jobs, put my shopping habits on hold and saved all my pennies. I learned a lot by living frugally, but it also made me realize that if we really want something, hard work and determination can make it happen.
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ANDY MORGOSH
Job title: Enrollment counselor, Colangelo College of Business
Job location: Peoria
What attracted you to GCU? I recently moved to Phoenix from Bozeman, Mont., and one of the first friends I made here used to work at GCU. He spoke highly of his time here (he now attends medical school) and encouraged me to apply. It was his recommendation that attracted me to the University.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I love the outdoors — I’m a lifelong runner who ran cross country in college. I love canyoneering and have explored many of Zion’s slot canyons. I’ve climbed Mount Whitney, the Grand Tetons and other mountains over 13,000 feet. But I’m also a numbers nerd who loves mental math. In my spare time, I’ve been working on a regression formula to predict winners of the NCAA basketball tournament. My wife gets a kick out of asking me multiplication questions to see how fast I can answer them. When I was in kindergarten, a friend and I used to just write out numbers during recess. I think we got to around 20,000. Nerdy stuff.
What are you passionate about? One of the early church fathers, Irenaeus, has this amazing quotation: “The glory of God is man fully alive, and the life of man is the vision of God.” I am passionate about life, about living life to the fullest, and I have found, over the past six years or so, that the most fulfilling life for me is the one that seeks to know and love God. When I try to live without Him I notice a certain numbness. I’m just going through the motions. As I return to Him, the brilliant colors and shades of human life come into focus. My heart is fuller under His tutelage. My eyes see more, my ears hear more. He imbues me with passion to love Him, to love others and to experience the fullness of life.
What are your favorite places in the Valley that you like to visit? I’m new here, but I’ve been enjoying North Mountain for trail runs. So far my favorite place in the Valley is GCU Arena during a Lopes basketball game.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I have completed the Leadville 50, a 50-mile train run that fluctuates between 10,000 and 13,000 feet.
What are you most proud of? I’m proud of my wife, Kelsey. I’m proud that I chose her, and she’s so far out of my league that I can’t believe she chose me. I’m proud of her commitment to her studies (she currently attends the University of Arizona College of Medicine in downtown Phoenix) and proud of her compassionate heart, which loves to serve those who are less fortunate.
