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.
STEVE LENT
Job title: Enrollment counselor
Job location: Peoria
What attracted you to GCU? I think it’s great to work at a place where the mission is to represent Jesus. I want to help people get an education and make a positive contribution to their lives.
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? I’m an amateur photographer. When I stand in front of a beautiful landscape with my camera, I get a shot of adrenaline. I’m in a zone as I try to capture the beauty in front of me.
What are you passionate about? I think the first step to senility is when you treat your animals like your own kids. My wife and I love our Havanese, Tuffy, and our tabby, Scooter, and have semi-adopted a dysfunctional family of hummingbirds in our backyard.
What are your favorite places or events in Arizona that you like to visit? After enjoying the beauty of Washington state for 40 years, we are loving Arizona. We find ourselves up in Sedona every month, and we are digging the Grand Canyon. Still looking forward to getting up to Page, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I was in the crowd at Husky Stadium in Seattle in 1981 for one of the first times that The Wave cheer was done. Washington was playing Stanford and John Elway (and beating them good). For years, UW fans had done “vertical” waves that would go from the bottom of the stadium to the top, with poor results. Robb Weller, a former UW cheerleader, was a sideline reporter for ABC and tried to get the vertical wave going. Someone yelled, “Let’s do it around the stadium.” Robb said, “Around?” He had some guys run along the track to get it started. It took about three times to get it going, and then there was only one problem: We couldn’t get it to stop.
What are you most proud of? It’s amazing to think that God would love me and is working to change me from the inside out.
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PATSY ROOT
Job title: Enrollment counselor
Job location: Peoria
What attracted you to GCU? I feel as if I’ve grown up with GCU. I’ve been watching over the years as the University has changed, morphed and embraced the current and future trends of education — a happy thing to watch!
What do you do for fun and where do you find that outlet? My family are all avid moviegoers, and we love to challenge each other to movie quote wars. I’m not nearly as savvy as my college-age kids, but they let me play anyway.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about family, helping people and being a good steward of the gifts God has given me. I can’t get enough of it — His Word, His people, His Gospel.
What are your favorite places or events in the Valley that you like to visit? Love the Arizona Science Center and Wildlife World Zoo, where I can take my 10 grandkids and let them run like crazy. I also love the best theaters in town and a good sushi bar for me and the hubs.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: I started my career as a staff member for Campus Crusade for Christ, before they changed the name to CRU (what’s up with that?). I also have read “Lord of the Rings” once a year since 1974.
What are you most proud of? Thirty years of marriage to my high school sweetie.
