(Sept. 22, 2026) – Grand Canyon University has named Dr. Ryan Bredow as Vice President of Advancement, where he will lead fundraising and development, alumni engagement, corporate and community relationships, and donor stewardship.
“Ryan has been an important part of GCU for many years, and he understands both our mission and the transformational vision for this university,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “He has a passion for Christian education and a deep appreciation for the people who make GCU what it is. I’m confident he will build on the strong foundation established in Advancement while embracing the opportunities ahead.”
Bredow joined the university’s service provider, Grand Canyon Education, in 2018 and most recently served as Vice President of K-12 Educational Development, where he worked with schools, districts and education leaders across the country to advance Christian education and GCU’s approach to affordable, innovative education.
“I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve in this role and to be part of further championing the vision that President Mueller and his team have established here at GCU,” Bredow said. “I have such a firm belief in, passion for and trust in our mission, and I am continually inspired by the incredible colleagues I have been blessed to serve alongside.”
GCU has also promoted Noah Wolfe to Assistant Vice President of Development, recognizing his years of leadership and deep connection to the university as an alumnus, former student body president and longtime director of the Development team.
“Noah is a tremendous example of the kind of leadership we hope to develop at GCU,” Mueller said. “He knows this university and understands what makes the GCU experience meaningful for students. He has built strong relationships with our alumni and supporters, and his leadership continues to be an important part of expanding our culture of philanthropy.”
Together, Bredow and Wolfe will help lead an Advancement operation focused on building connections with GCU’s growing alumni community, expanding philanthropic partnerships and supporting initiatives that create educational opportunities for students.
“GCU has invested so much in me, both personally and professionally, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back by helping others become part of the university’s story,” Wolfe said. “There are so many people who believe in what GCU is doing and want to make a difference. Our job is to listen, build relationships and create meaningful opportunities for them to make an impact.”
GCU’s Advancement efforts connect alumni, friends, businesses, corporations and private foundations with opportunities to support university initiatives and students while honoring donors’ philanthropic intent.
Bredow said his new role provides an opportunity to support the people and initiatives that are helping GCU expand its impact. He will lead Advancement at a time when GCU is entering another period of significant growth. The university expects to serve a record 141,000 students during the 2026-27 academic year and is moving forward with plans to establish a College of Law and a College of Construction and Industrial Technologies. Those efforts reflect GCU’s continued commitment to expanding educational opportunities, responding to workforce needs and creating pathways for students to pursue meaningful careers and lives of purpose.
“The community here continually inspires me, and doing whatever I can to further support their ongoing impact through this position is especially motivating,” he said. “It is also a genuine honor to steward the remarkable foundation Kale Gober established so faithfully here. His influence on this place is never lost on me, and I look forward to stewarding what he has put in place while continuing to be responsive to the growing, ever-evolving opportunities ahead for GCU.”
Gober, who recently relocated to Arkansas to be closer to family, joined GCU in 2020 and led the university’s Advancement efforts through a period of significant growth. GCU is grateful for Gober’s leadership and the success he achieved in developing philanthropic relationships and creating new opportunities for alumni, donors and friends to support GCU’s students, faculty and community initiatives.
As GCU continues to expand its academic offerings and workforce partnerships, Bredow said the opportunity to engage others in the university’s mission is equally significant.
“Whether we are preparing a student for a career in law, health care, education, engineering or the skilled trades, we have an opportunity to help students understand that their work has purpose,” Bredow said. “Advancement gives us the opportunity to bring people alongside that mission and help them see the difference they can make in the lives of students and in the communities we serve.”
