(Aug. 18, 2026) –Grand Canyon University is expanding its academic initiative to deepen the integration of Christian faith throughout every area of the university after receiving a $1 million founding grant from Dr. William B. McKee and Mrs. Penne McKee of Scottsdale.
The gift establishes the Theological Interdisciplinary Center (ThInC) within GCU's College of Theology, creating a permanent institutional hub dedicated to advancing the university's One Foundation initiative. Rooted in evangelical heritage and biblical truth, One Foundation is the core Christian worldview and theological framework that unifies GCU’s mission to integrate faith into learning, ethical decision-making and work. ThInC will serve as an institutional catalyst that embeds this vision not only in curriculum and pedagogy, but also in the very structure and operational life of the university.
“ThInC represents a transition from mission as statement to mission as infrastructure,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, Dean of GCU’s College of Theology. “By embedding theology into both pedagogy and architecture, GCU ensures that One Foundation is not episodic, but perpetuated across generations. We are deeply grateful to Bill and Penne McKee for their vision and partnership in helping GCU continue to lead Christian higher education.”
While GCU has long emphasized a unified Christian worldview across its curriculum and campus culture, ThInC represents the next phase of that commitment by creating the infrastructure necessary to sustain and expand theological integration throughout the university.
“Penne and I are deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with Grand Canyon University through ThInC to help institutionalize the One Foundation Christian worldview across every college on campus,” said Dr. William B. McKee “We are convinced that this effort will not only affirm students as they discover their God-given purpose, but will continue to shape them long after graduation — making them more productive in their vocations, strengthen their families and create servant leaders to flourish in their communities. The ThInC Fellows Program will extend that same vision beyond the campus by bringing Christian leaders and professionals into reflective engagement with the university, its faculty and students. Our prayer is that, by embedding this work into the life of GCU, ThInC will have a generational impact on graduates and their communities for decades to come.”
The four-year grant will provide operating support to establish the Center and launch strategic initiatives that strengthen GCU's Christ-centered mission. The gift also provides seed funding for a permanent endowment, with the goal of raising $5 million over the next three years to sustain ThInC and One Foundation operations for generations to come.
Longtime Phoenix-area pastor Dr. David Joynt has been named the executive director of the Center and will oversee an advisory board composed of Christian leaders from diverse professions who embody faith lived out in practice. The board will provide strategic guidance and fundraising, ensuring that ThInC’s work remains relevant to real-world institutional and market contexts.
The Center will support both internal and external engagement. Internally, ThInC will collaborate with faculty, curriculum designers, the One Foundation Committee, the Canyon Center for Character Education and academic leaders across the university to strengthen faith integration in teaching, curriculum development and faculty formation.
Externally, the Center will engage Christian scholars, business leaders, ministry partners and donors through research, lectures, conferences and collaborative initiatives that position GCU as a national leader in interdisciplinary Christian higher education.
