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.
KARLEE GRUNDEIS
Job title: Regional admissions representative
Job location: San Francisco Bay Area
What attracted you to GCU? I’m actually an alumna. When I was a senior in high school I was looking for a Christian university where I could be on the swim team. I visited the campus, felt like it was the perfect fit and started attending in the fall of ’09.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I love exploring. Whether it’s traveling to new places or exploring new places to eat or new trails to hike in my own community, I love to find new adventures. Also, if I’m being entirely honest, I spend more time than necessary binge-watching shows on Netflix.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about people. In my opinion, humans are God’s most interesting creation. It deeply fascinates me how all over the world we have different habits and different perspectives but deep down still have important similarities, such as the universal desire to be loved. I love listening to people’s stories, their testimonies of where they came from. I believe one of the best ways to share the Gospel with someone is by building a relationship with them. By learning about one another we can better understand someone’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs. I believe one of the best ways to connect with someone is to be transparent and open up about your mistakes and then share how you’ve grown since then because the Lord has forgiven you.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? When I’m in Phoenix I love to catch up with my friends and former classmates or teammates, which almost always consists of getting fro-yo — and Phoenix has so many delicious joints to choose from. I have a major sweet tooth and know the best routes to get to Zoyo, Frost Gelato, Cheesecake Factory and Sprinkles Cupcakes.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: Most people don’t know how competitive I am. If you’re on a treadmill next to me at the gym, we’re racing.
What are you most proud of? I am most proud of what I’ve accomplished so far in my life. I’m 23, have a B.A. in Christian Studies and a B.S. in Sociology (and will soon be pursuing a master’s) and now have an incredible job. None of this could have been accomplished without GCU, without the help of my supportive family and, of course, without the Lord’s guidance. Though I appreciate the education, the campus life experiences and the personal and spiritual growth I received while attending GCU, I am most grateful for the lifelong friends I made in the process.
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AMANDA DILLON
Job title: Enrollment counselor
Job location: Peoria
What attracted you to GCU? The ethics and morals on which the University is founded. I’ve worked for some shady businesses in the past, including other colleges, and I said I would never go back to enrollment unless I found a college that actually cared about the student.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I love to spend time with my family and friends. My boyfriend is a musician, so we go out to a lot of local shows and music venues, and I am a huge fan of live music. I’m also an esthetician/makeup artist on the side, so that is a creative outlet for me, and I love to design and create clothes when I have the time. I’ve been sewing since I was 12.
What are you passionate about? Life! I lost my brother suddenly three years ago, and he was my only sibling. Since then I have learned that life is truly a short gift and we need to grab each day by the horns. I am also a big advocate for body-image issues and would love to work in some capacity with our youth to help change the societal views of today.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? I love, love, love downtown Phoenix. There is so much to do and it’s a very fun atmosphere. I also love to venture north, especially to Sedona — one of my favorite places in Arizona. It’s gorgeous and serene and you can absolutely get lost in your thoughts there.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I can list all 50 states in alphabetical order in less than one minute. It’s a good party trick.
What are you most proud of? The people around me. I am truly blessed to have the friends and family that I have. They are my constant support. I’ve had a lot of curveballs thrown at me in my life that could have taken me to a bad place, but having the support of people who truly care about you is the best thing anyone could get.
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MARINA J LOVE
Job title: Enrollment counselor, College of Education
Job location: Tempe
What attracted you to GCU? The fact that the University makes it important to follow the life values given by Christ and also the fact that this is the only private institution in Arizona with Division I sports teams. Go, Lopes!
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I love to sew. I have sewn many different costumes for tribute bands in Arizona. I love seeing my work worn on stage. My favorite and most difficult project was making the famous Bon Jovi trench coat that he wore in the “Lay Your Hands on Me” video for the Ultimate Bon Jovi tribute band that plays in Scottsdale. I was even mentored by famous designer Ray Brown on how to duplicate his famous design, which now hangs in the Smithsonian!
What are you passionate about? Family. I have been married for 14 years to one of my best friends, Jason. We have three children together (Mylez, 12, Seig, 8, and Jenna, 6) and I also have a 20-year-old stepson, Tyler, who is my other best friend. My husband and I did not come from the best parenting experiences from our childhood, so we believe a strong family unit builds the foundations for love and success in a child’s future. We are building a strong foundation within our family by attending church, offering service for those who need it in our community and making sure we tell each other that we love each other every day.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? Since I am a native of Arizona, there are a lot of places I love to visit, especially anything to do with water. I like to go to the lake, hike at Christopher Creek or get wet at Wet 'n' Wild Phoenix. We also love the many art walks and museums in downtown Mesa and Phoenix.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I love to sing! I’ve sung with the band Swain’s World at various locations. I’ve also sung in our church choir. My hope is to have Jenna go in front of the church and sing our favorite song, “I Am a Child of God.”
What are you most proud of? I am most proud to be part of GCU and look forward to a long relationship and lots of success. I am excited to watch GCU grow.
