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.
NATE LAWRENCE
Job title: University counselor
Job location: 27th Avenue
What attracted you to GCU? I had heard such great things from friends who work here that I had to find out more.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? The beach in California, riding my bike, hitting the gym and going to the movies. I grew up in Sacramento and I lived all over SoCal, from Palm Desert to Anaheim and Corona to Big Bear.
What are you passionate about? Quality of life, friendships, fitness and really living life to the fullest. I’ve only got one life to live, so I plan to live it well. This also includes never saying no to a good pizza and never saying yes to a bad one.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? Chase Field, just because I love baseball. I'm an Angels fan and a D-backs fan, and I'm happy to see that they're both having a great start to the season this year (knock on wood). I also enjoy a trip to Topgolf or going to see the Cardinals.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I worked at Disneyland for four years doing most everything there, including training new cast members, leading school groups, giving tours, running attractions, working with characters, setting up for special events and much more. I applied to Disneyland soon after college and started off working at Autopia there. Soon I was leading school groups around the park for Youth Education Series, running Space Mountain and working very closely with the characters. I definitely have a lot of stories from that time in my life!
What are you most proud of? Probably moving from California to Arizona. Moving here was like a 50 percent discount on life! I could afford my own place, a gallon of milk is only $1.50 … Arizona is a magical place!
*****
AMANDA GREEN
Job title: Reference library associate
Job location: Main campus
What attracted you to GCU? I received my B.S. in Psychology and my M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from GCU. Upon my first visit to campus, I knew I wanted to work on campus on day. Upon the start of my second master's degree to obtain my Master of Library and Information Science, I knew that if a position opened at the GCU Library I would apply as soon as I was qualified. This position opened up and I couldn't believe that I qualified because my MLIS program had started. My family and I lived in Southern California, so when I was offered the position here in the Library we jumped on the opportunity and relocated. Added benefit was the ridiculously dramatic reduced cost of living compared to SoCal.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? Right now my life is pretty consumed being a wife, mom, grad student and working in the GCU Library. So fun consists of having absolutely nothing to do or nothing due. I do enjoy reading (well, I've gotten into audio books because my MLIS program requires me to read so much).
What are you passionate about? My faith, my family and learning.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? We are pretty new, so we do not have any favorite spots yet. Any recommendations would be awesome.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I am teaching myself to play the ukulele. Well, I'm trying.
What are you most proud of? That against all odds, surviving and exiting years of domestic violence, I am remarried to an awesome dude, raising two children, finished a bachelor's and a master's degree and am working on a second master's degree. I am able to show my children to never give up and that you are never too old to chase your dreams.
