Photos by David Kadlubowski
GCU News Bureau
Move-In at Grand Canyon University had to be adjusted this year because of the pandemic, but the necessary changes couldn’t detract from the happiness of students as they returned to campus or were dropped off at college for the first time.
The post Slideshow: Move-In appeared first on GCU Today.
Dr. Katherine Fetter
Title: Doctor of Nursing Practice Program Lead
Years at GCU: 2 years
Academic degrees:
Associate Degree in Nursing, Cuyahoga Community College
Bachelor’s in the Science of Nursing-Leadership, Ohio University
Master’s in Nursing Education, Grand Canyon University
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Healthcare Systems Leadership, Chamberlain College of Nursing
What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it necessary?
I am not sure I can really say there is one specific notable accomplishment. What I mean is that I have accomplished a lot through higher education, climbing the clinical ladder, fully immersing myself in nursing educational leadership and striving to improve outcomes for learners and patients. I believe that my greatest accomplishment was the ability to step into the Program Lead role when there was a need. God has afforded me the opportunity to lead a program I am so passionate about. I have been graced with an amazing group of people to work with, not just within the DNP team but within the CONHCP family. Everyone has a role to play toward learner success, and it is cohesive, collaborative, caring and supportive. Without them, the work would feel insurmountable. The DNP team has built processes, created resources and become engaged not just in the courses we teach but with the courses we lead. We are so blessed to have outstanding faculty and GCU/GCE support systems to aid the success of many!
What are you most passionate about in your field, and why?
This question is a challenge — I have many passions in my field! I am most passionate about two things; learner success and improving patient outcomes. Early in my nursing career, I could see areas in health care that needed reform, processes that needed improvements and patients returning to the hospital frequently because of gaps in many different areas. I learned that in order to make meaningful, sustainable, patient-centered changes, I needed to position myself in a role where I could do this, and it required higher education.
During the many years of education, it was mostly “teach yourself, figure it out, find your resources.” This often left me frustrated, confused and less than enthusiastic in furthering my education. While I completed my DNP at another university, I said to myself, “GCU had it right!” My MSN program didn’t leave me frustrated and overly stressed. So if I was ever in a position to teach for GCU, I would ensure I did what I could to improve learner success and make sure that they, in turn, could go out into the field and improve patient outcomes globally.
To ensure health care can meet the needs of a growing nation, we need professional nurses who are prepared to utilize their Christian beliefs, values and practices so they may lead responsibly and globally and bridge the gap in translating research into practices to improve health outcomes.
What is a memorable moment you had in class, and what does that reveal about your teaching style?
Early on teaching for GCU in the DNP 800 courses, I called each one of my learners, all 23 of them, and introduced myself. Many were rather surprised.
I held a weekly open meeting for an hour, and the learners were tasked to bring me the questions; I facilitated their learning by having the learners present the weekly information and had the learners engage in dialogue that created a dynamic learning environment. They taught one another how to write a section of a paper, how to present information on their 10 Strategic Points and provided project advice.
I carried that over when I became a Chair in the project courses. At one point, Dr. Amanda Ziemendorf reached out to me and said there were more than 15 learners asking their student services counselors to be in my project courses. She wanted to see what I was doing. I invited her to the weekly meetings and she attended a few, and the learners just lit up to see the Program Lead. So what does that say about my teaching style? It says I will use all different approaches depending on the learners and their needs, sort of a hybrid approach of facilitation. It means I will adapt and embrace the modalities that will keep learners engaged, enthusiastic and forward-thinking.
What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
Well, when I do have some spare time, I like to do things outdoors. In the spring and fall, I like to run — put my earbuds in and just run. It is one of the few times I can just ground myself, feel and smell the air, see God’s work and just be. In the wintertime, I am outdoors. I live in Ohio, and it is not often sunny. It is usually overcast, gray, and when it snows, well, there is usually enough to snowboard! I am really good at that.
What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know? I am an expert shot in pistol and rifle. I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy. I have ridden a real bull for 4.6 seconds — 4.7 was midair, and 4.8 was painful! My team doesn’t know that I love to dance and know most dances; my favorites are the West Coast Swing and country line dancing.
The post Faculty Focus: Dr. Katherine Fetter appeared first on GCU Today.
By Mike Wallace
GCU Office of Student Care
#Askingforafriend
You’re in an elevator with someone you find attractive.
You’re at party and you find someone fascinating/intriguing.
You’re new to a church with a lot of interesting, energetic people or to a therapy group with a lot of new acquaintances.
Or it is Welcome Week with a lot of new contacts you just met.
We all have been there. And whether you are an introvert or extrovert, you will have times of awkwardness and a sense of no confidence to generate the necessary art of small talk.
Here are some tips to mastering this art form:
This is all based on this YouTube video by Brett McCay. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Now some truisms about connecting that are backed by research:
People are drawn to others who have similar interests, values, education, religion and even vices (yes, even tattoos), which can be deeper draws than just physical appearance (that’s why we may wonder why she is with him and vice versa). All of the truisms above are based on the 2017 textbook by Rathus, Navid and Fichner-Rathus on human sexuality.
In these challenging times of social distancing, let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are social creatures all craving to be connected in some form or another. And although we cannot control the explicit realties, we do have control of the implicit ones.
Yes, all this is doable – even while wearing a mask.
The post #Askingforafriend: The art of small talk and connection appeared first on GCU Today.
By Maggie Sabay
Nurse Practitioner, Canyon Health and Wellness Clinic
With COVID-19 still raging and as we approach the flu season, it is important to understand one significant symptom that worries most people – enlarged lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes, also known as lymph glands, are part of the lymphatic system and play a vital role in the body’s ability to fight off infections. Lymph nodes are drainage systems that function as filters, trapping viruses, bacteria and other causes of illnesses before they can infect other parts of your body.
Although lymph nodes are located throughout the body, common areas include the armpits, groin and on the neck under the chin.
Swollen lymph nodes show that there is some infection, either viral, bacterial or other forms of infection in the body. Swollen lymph nodes usually follow symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, fever, fatigue or night sweats.
Common causes of enlarged symptoms include:
Other conditions that can cause enlarged lymph nodes include:
Enlarged lymph nodes are usually benign and return to normal size once the infection improves/resolves. Applying warm compresses several times a day may be helpful.
When to see your primary care provider:
If your enlarged lymph nodes are consistent with and follow upper respiratory symptoms such as nasal congestion, mild sore throat and mild cough, you can manage it at home by treating the viral upper respiratory infection as well as applying warm compresses on the areas. Lymph nodes can remain enlarged for about 1-2 weeks.
If your enlarged lymph nodes are accompanied by conditions other than viral symptoms, please schedule with your primary care provider.
You can schedule an appointment at Canyon Health and Wellness clinic online or by calling 602-639-6215. Remember to wear a mask and maintain social distancing and good hand hygiene.
****
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swollen-lymph-nodes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353902
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/evaluation-of-peripheral-lymphadenopathy-in-adult
The post Fitness Facts: Swollen lymph nodes appeared first on GCU Today.
By Lana Sweeten-Shults
GCU News Bureau
Sunday’s One Love Awareness Walk on the Grand Canyon University campus is designed to be one more step toward togetherness.
“It’s really to bring awareness of our office and its expansion. It’s to bring unity and oneness to our campus and really to inform students of the resources that are now available to them through the vehicle of the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office,” said the office’s Director, Donald Glenn, who emphasized that the walk will not be about politics. It will instead concentrate on uniting the campus community in its Christian beliefs.
The walk, which will start winding its way through campus at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, is the first major event of the semester for the new office and will wrap up Welcome Week festivities.
The scope of the department was re-evaluated over the summer — during not only a global pandemic but amidst months of social unrest across the country — to not only define diversity from a Christian worldview but to also focus more on unity, civil discourse and inclusivity.
The duties of Glenn, who joined GCU in 2019 as Multicultural Manager, were expanded this summer to overseeing the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office in the Student Life Building, next to the Promenade. It’s where you’ll find not only Glenn but a diversity specialist and 10 student leaders.
The One Love Awareness Walk is about expressing campus unity.
Glenn spent much of the summer meeting with various departments, speaking about recent social unrest, planning events and sharing what he sees as his office’s role.
Now, after months of molding and shaping the office, he wants to introduce his department to students returning to campus.
They can drop in during the Multicultural Office’s open house, scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Saturday.
But the most visible introduction will be the One Love Awareness Walk.
It was an idea, Glenn said, that started with a forum of students over the summer who were concerned that recent social issues would not be addressed once they returned to campus.
Donald Glenn, Director of the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office, said the event will help remind students that we should be treating each other with dignity and respect.
“I wanted the students to know we are aware of issues that are going on in the world. We can’t control what goes on out there. But while we’re here in these gates, I thought it would be appropriate to remind our campus of how we are going to conduct ourselves and what we are encouraging as an office for the campus — to be walking in unity and love and, at the very basis, that we are treating each other with the dignity and respect that each person deserves.”
The walk is “aimed for students to raise their voice in awareness of steps we can take to promote multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion at GCU,” he added.
The route starts at the Technology Building (No. 57) and ends at the Quad.
Students will start to gather at 5:30 p.m. in front of GCU Arena, between Ethington Theatre and the College of Theology Building. The walk will depart from the Technology Building around 6:15 p.m. and will wind north past the College of Fine Arts and Production Building. Participants will turn left at the northeast corner of Camelback Hall and left again at Prescott Hall, then will follow the Promenade and will end at the Quad.
That’s where Glenn will give a short talk — a biblical argument for diversity and inclusion. He has emphasized how we should not dismiss our differences but learn from them, appreciate the diversity of the campus community and encourage conversations. Dr. Tim Griffin, Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students and University Pastor, also will address walk participants.
Various clubs will man tables on the Quad, and the event will wrap up at 8 p.m.
At least 250 students are expected to join in the walk, which will follow social-distancing protocols. Students are asked to preregister and will be assigned to a lane for social distancing. They also will be required to wear masks.
Ninety-plus cultures and backgrounds exist at GCU, said Multicultural Office student leader Roman Kim.
The hope is that the One Love Awareness Walk will help set the tone for the academic year — in-person learning starts the day after the event. Students and faculty will reconnect for the first time after the abrupt end of the spring semester six months ago.
Roman Kim, a student leader in the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office, sees the event as “a peaceful opportunity to unite the student community from all backgrounds.”
“I think there are 90-plus different cultures and backgrounds at GCU,” he said. “There’s a pandemic going on. Everybody is worried about coming back to campus. We just want to pass the message that, especially here in the Multicultural Office, we are listening to them. We are going to do our best so that they feel welcome and so they don’t feel alone.”
GCU senior writer Lana Sweeten-Shults can be reached at lana.sweeten-shults@gcu.edu or at 602-639-7901.
***
What: One Love Awareness Walk, presented by the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office
When: 6:15 p.m. Sunday (the lineup starts at 5:30 p.m. in front of GCU Arena, between Ethington Theatre and the College of Theology Building), followed by an address on the Quad at 7 p.m. by Donald Glenn, Director of the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office, and by Dr. Tim Griffin, Vice President of Student Affairs, Pastor and Dean of Students.
Where: On the GCU campus
Parade route: The walk will depart from the Technology Building, head north past the College of Fine Arts and Production Building, turn left at the northeast corner of Camelback Hall, then turn left at Prescott Hall before following the Promenade and ending at the Quad for a rally.
Etc.: Preregister here
***
Related content:
GCU Today: GCU’s new Multicultural Manager walks the talk
GCU Today: Why diversity matters (and is organic) at GCU
GCU Today: Glenn promoted to key unifying role on campus
The post Awareness Walk will emphasize oneness of campus appeared first on GCU Today.
GCU student Christian Simmons heads into one of the summer’s raging wildfires.
By Mike Kilen
GCU News Bureau
The Bush Fire was raging in June across the Tonto National Forest south of Payson, Ariz. It was a big one that eventually would cover nearly 200,000 acres. The contract firefighting crew that Christian Simmons had joined was called in, and he saw hotshots from Flagstaff lighting up a fire barrier by a road.
The junior student at Grand Canyon University was firmly in the moment amid a historically scorching hot summer during one of the worst seasons for wildfires in the West.
“The fire came up over the hill. Ten-foot flames,” he said. “We were holding this line, and it was so smoky it teared up your eyes, but we had to make sure it didn’t jump into houses.”
A commander ran to a home to get residents out. Simmons scrambled to help the Timber Ridge Engine 118 team unroll two hose lines.
“You couldn’t see or breathe. It was instinct. If you don’t stop this, it will hit this house.”
****
Simmons loves surveying the landscape God has created.
Some students spent their summer in quarantine because of the pandemic. Simmons was facing a different killer.
The 2018 Students Inspiring Students (SIS) scholarship recipient at GCU can share a thing or two about finding purpose.
He always thought he’d join the military because he wanted to serve. But when he was accepted into the Franklin Police and Fire Academy, part of the Phoenix Union High School District in Phoenix, he saw another path.
“I loved being outdoors and pushing my body to the limit,” he said. “And the science of how fire works caught my attention. I looked forward to going to school.”
He trained in wildland fire — working a chainsaw, digging lines and taking physical tests that require carrying a 45-pound pack, plus water that makes it 100 pounds, in 100-degree heat.
He learned that you are always trying to take away what a fire needs — a heat source, oxygen and fuel — by digging barriers, fighting fire with fire or reading the wind.
“Fire is a living thing,” he said.
****
Simmons fills many roles in firefighting.
Forty minutes into fighting the Bush Fire, the flames jumped toward the house.
Five times he had been called out to fires over the summer, but this one was intense. You never know when you’ll get the call, Simmons said. You grab your gear, which takes you away from your home for up to two weeks as your parents pray for you, and hit the ground running.
“When you roll up to a fire, sometimes they shoot you to the line right away,” he said.
Jeff Todd, his engine boss, said Simmons brings enthusiasm and hunger: “He’s a true professional and is a very skilled firefighter who is eager to learn.”
At age 20, Simmons is often among the young guys digging up the ground for barriers, fast and furious.
But when the flames are leaping, you rotate in to take the hose, as he did that day.
“You can fight it for a minute and then you can’t breathe,” he said.
****
Timber Ridge Engine 118 is contracted through the U.S. Forest Service and has been out fighting fires for 100 days this season.
The SIS scholarship in 2018 didn’t take him away from the fires but continued to lead him to service by seeking a degree in Government with an Emphasis in State and Local Public Policy.
“I thank God every day I got it; it gave me an opportunity to go to college,” he said.
He wants to join a fire department one day, and the major will help him rise the ranks because he’ll know about public policy from his courses, he said.
When you get a job in the public service field, it’s on merit, said Evelyn Racette, one of his GCU instructors in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “It’s not a who knows who. He’s got to be good to get the job, and he is good,” she said.
As an administrator in a department, she said you also must walk a “political tightrope” because at times elected officials will be looking over your shoulder on policy decisions.
“Christian will succeed there. He has seen it happen in the real world,” he said. “And I think he’s got a heart for people.”
Saving people, saving structures. That’s what Simmons said his purpose was this summer.
****
At times, Simmons finds it hard to breath in the smoke.
The beauty and tragedy of the mountain forest was on display that day.
“I love being out there. You get to see the beautiful country that God has made,” he said.
But it’s also like sports, pushing yourself to the limit, facing the obstacles with a group of firefighters who become like brothers.
“When the fire jumps your line, it brings you down, but you have to re-engage,” he said.
You never know what a fire is going to do. It has helped him mature – to always be ready for sudden changes, to not procrastinate, to learn how to deal with different personalities.
That day in the Tonto, the flames were beaten back short of the home.
“We held it off just in time,” he said.
“You wipe away the soot from your eyes, and you get right back to work, doing mop-up, digging and making sure nothing will relight,” he said. “You work into the night. I think we were there 20 hours that day.
“You don’t think about it until the next day that you could have been hurt in the process, but it’s definitely an adrenaline rush. You’re like, ‘I’m ready for the next one.’”
He’ll be back at school Monday, but he thinks about “his guys” out in California, still battling the wildfires, and part of him wants to be there with them.
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at mike.kilen@gcu.edu or at 602-639-6764.
****
Related content:
GCU Today: Her job shows how SIS scholarship program works
GCU Today: It’s clubhouse to firehouse for former GCU players
GCU Today: Students create plans for police-community relations
The post GCU student fights wildfires with his own inner fire appeared first on GCU Today.
Photos by Mathew McGraw
GCU News Bureau
The Cheer and Dance teams, the Thundering Heard Pep Band and, of course, Thunder pepped up the campus Wednesday night with spirited music and merry-making.
The post Slideshow: Spirit teams enliven campus appeared first on GCU Today.
GCU News Bureau
College of Science, Engineering and Technology Professor Dr. Galyna Kufryk spoke on Wednesday at the virtual Algae Biomass Summit.
Dr. Galyna Kufryk
Her research focus has been on finding a clean energy source to replace traditional fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, which release carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, along with other greenhouse gases.
At the summit, she spoke about her research on cyanobacteria. These are microscopic, photosynthetic organisms that can be used to produce a renewable, clean biofuel called molecular hydrogen.
The ability to reduce carbon dioxide pollution and produce energy-dense hydrogen make cyanobacteria significant in biofuel research. She discussed improving hydrogen production in certain strains of cyanobacteria through genetic engineering.
Kufryk also was a panelist at the “Genetic Modification: A Key to Improving Algae Feasibility?” session of the summit. Read more about her research here.
The post Professor shares research on clean energy sources appeared first on GCU Today.
Connor Keene displays his certificate after completing the six-day Free To Choose Network program at the summer home of the late Rose and Milton Friedman.
By Rick Vacek
GCU News Bureau
Looking back on it, the decision was a no-brainer. But Connor Keene had to stop and think for a second: Could he really drop everything and go to Vermont – a state he had never visited – in just one week?
Then it hit him. How could the Grand Canyon University senior not accept an invitation, arranged by his Colangelo College of Business (CCOB) mentors, to participate in six days of discussions about free-market capitalism at the summer home of the late Milton Friedman?
The solitude of the Friedmans’ summer home, called Capitaf, is perfect for talking about his free-market ideals.
So off he went on a flight to Boston, followed by a drive to Fairlee, Vt., right on the New Hampshire border.
“It was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it was such a quick decision,” Keene said. “I was like, ‘Oh, man. Should I go? It’s a week out. I’ve got to buy a plane ticket and all this stuff.’ And then to do it and then to have the experience I had is really special.”
It was an experience offered by the Free To Choose Network, a nonprofit designed to perpetuate the legacy of the famed economist, who passed away in 2006.
The organization views Friedman’s beloved summer home, called Capitaf, as “a one-of-a-kind space for discussion and contemplation on the practical application of Friedman’s ideas to the many public policy issues that citizens in a free society must grapple with on a daily basis.”
It’s a perfect match with the Conscious Capitalism approach CCOB fervently practices. Fortunately for Keene, Canyon Ventures Center Director Robert Vera is one of the practitioners.
“For years I’ve worked with several organizations that educate young people on the importance of responsible free-market development – this is one of those organizations,” Vera said.
So when Vera was told that several students from other universities had backed out of the trip because of the pandemic, he asked Tim Kelley, Assistant Professor for Entrepreneurship and Economics, whom he would recommend.
Keene was at the top of Kelley’s list.
“Connor is one of the most dedicated students that I have seen in my 10 years at GCU,” Kelley said. “He shows initiative that is rare for students and has a level of maturity that makes him an exceptional representative of both GCU and the free enterprise system that we are proudly a part of.
“I think Milton Freedman would be proud to see that there is hope for this next generation.”
The view from Capitaf is breathtaking.
Friedman no doubt would be equally proud to hear that today’s students find so much value in what he wrote a half-century ago and beyond.
“It’s almost like he wrote them yesterday,” Keene said. “They apply to so many ideas, so many issues that we see in public policy today.”
The half-dozen assembled students from universities across the country watched a 10-part series Friedman did in late 1970s and early 1980s and spent considerable time discussing his philosophy as well as their own.
“Everyone had time to speak their mind and put what they wanted out on the table, and then we could work with that,” Keene said. “It was really interesting to see what you come in disagreeing on and what you walk out thinking the same about.
“It’s really about creating this space where students can discuss and carry on the ideas and theories that Friedman put forth.”
One example:
“Free market capitalism is not this zero-sum game. It’s not ‘I win and you lose.’ It’s about voluntary exchange and just how that leads to win-win situations. I think that’s a mistake that people make when they look at capitalism today.
“I came in with the base understanding of those ideas, and a lot of that definitely came from GCU.”
Before he left, Keene picked up a few copies of two Friedman books, “Free to Choose” and “Capitalism and Freedom,” to read and also to share with his friends.
He plans to apply what he learned to his work with Canyon Angels, in GCU’s entrepreneurship program and, eventually, in his career. He is on schedule to graduate in April after just three years on campus.
Two of Friedman’s teachings stuck out in his mind:
But the biggest lesson of all was simple:
“I just kind of decided to take a chance – I said, ‘This looks like it could be something really interesting.’ Let’s just say I don’t regret taking the chance.”
It proved to be a capital idea.
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
****
Related content:
GCU Today: O’Rea does the job, wins Canyon Challenge
GCU Today: Canyon Angels get their new sidecar fund moving
GCU Today: Investors see the value in Canyon Ventures Center
The post It was a perfect chance to study Friedman’s ideals appeared first on GCU Today.
An outdoor stage was built on the lawn outside of the COFAP Building to enable students to continue their productions this season while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.
Story by Ashlee Larrison
Photos by David Kadlubowski
GCU News Bureau
It will be an Ethington Theatre season like never before.
Starting with the theatre itself.
College of Fine Arts and Production staff and students at Grand Canyon University have completed construction of the outdoor theatre that will be used this season in light of COVID-19 restrictions. It was an ambitious undertaking, even for someone as experienced as Technical Director Brad Cozby.
Students will wear clear face masks during performances.
“It’s a mammoth project because we’re constructing an entire outdoor theatre,” Cozby said. “It’s much different than one of our standard builds for a theatrical show because we don’t normally have to build an entire theatre.”
The project, which began construction roughly a month ago, has taken the work and skills from not only Cozby to turn into a reality, but students as well. Student workers and even cast members for the production of “The Comedy of Errors,” which begins Wednesday night, came together to assist in the construction of the stage, located on the lawn in front of the COFAP building.
Recent GCU graduate Micah Larsen and regional theatre professional Patrick MacDonald were contracted to help Cozby, and student workers joined in on the project when they returned to campus several weeks ago.
The 40-foot stage will be surrounded designated seating areas for audience members, allowing families to sit together while also socially distancing from others. The lighting has been described as resembling an outdoor café. There also is a booth for controlling stage lighting and sound, and all plays will be livestreamed for people who prefer to watch from home.
Cozby said he collaborated on the stage design with COFAP Dean Claude Pensis and Assistant Dean William Symington.
“There were a lot of talks among the three of us on how we could make something like this happen,” Cozby said. “I was given a list of objectives for what the stage needed to accommodate, and then I took that and worked through the engineering of it all.”
Symington said the Theatre Department was prepared for the challenge because it comes with the territory.
The stage lighting will resemble that of a café.
“I think that artists and particularly performing arts folks are used to being adaptable,” Symington said. “Creative problem-solving is literally what we do every day. When we’re working on a project, it’s never sort of a set situation where we’re like, ‘Oh we’ll just do it the same way as we’ve always done it.’ It never works that way.
“I think we’re uniquely suited for this. It’s been a challenge, but we create a problem-solving way of thinking of how to do something in a different way and how to make a positive out of it.”
For Cozby, the challenge stemmed from the shear size of the project, but he also can point to several fun experiences during the construction process. His favorite: getting to work alongside the students.
“They’ve really thrown themselves into this project whole-heartedly,” he said. “It’s just been an absolute joy to work with them and make all of this happen.”
Cozby said the stage is an example of how much importance is placed on both keeping students safe while also ensuring that they still can partake in the arts.
“It obviously speaks a lot about the trust the University has in our department to do everything safely and also great trust and faith in our students and what they do and how they perform,” he said. “We’re kind of setting up a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students by doing outdoor theatre. Most universities, at least that I’ve seen, don’t tackle something like that often, so I love that we took that step and that we wanted to do something like this.
“I love that the students still get to perform amid all of the restrictions that we have currently.”
Contact Ashlee Larrison at (602) 639-8488
or ashlee.larrison@gcu.edu.
****
Related stories:
GCU Today: Fine Arts goes all out to improvise for students
GCU Today: Students bid sad adieu to show that couldn’t go on
The post Outdoor theatre completed for Ethington season appeared first on GCU Today.
Nathan Hollis II
Nathan began his professional career in education over 20 years ago as a classroom teacher for grades 1-4. In addition, he was a mentor teacher, private tutor and curriculum designer before he moved into a variety of administrative roles in nonprofit education and higher education.
He is active in his community as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Arizona Schools Administrators — Higher Education Division, as a member of Profound Gentlemen, a mentorship program for male educators of color and as faculty advisor for the Black Student Union at GCU.
Title: Assistant Professor
Years at GCU: 8
Academic degrees:
What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
I have had some phenomenal professional experiences, such as presenting at local and national conferences, providing several keynote commencement speeches and sitting on esteemed boards with my colleagues. However, I don’t believe my most notable professional accomplishment has come just yet. I believe it is on my journey ahead, and God continues to prepare me.
What are you most passionate about in your field and why?
I remain passionate about equitable and fair treatment for all people, especially our children, and specifically our Black children in public schools.
Although many advancements and opportunities have been made available across the country to all, Black children remain disproportionately disadvantaged academically and socially compared to their peers. Because of this, I am an advocate for researching and discussing the variables for this systematic occurrence and practicing educational and community sustainable strategies for improving and eventually eliminating this norm with the help of my teacher candidates and colleagues in the field.
What is a memorable moment you had in class, and what does that reveal about your teaching style?
I am blessed to have many memorable teaching moments over the last 22 years, both good and challenging, that have helped to develop me into who I am today.
Perhaps one of the most pivotal moments was under the guidance of my former mentor, who passed away several years ago. He was the first person to push me to honor my instinct and my voice unapologetically.
Since then I have learned the power of saying no with kindness, but without regret, and the value that comes with using my previous experiences to guide my critical thinking and decision-making both in and outside the classroom.
What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
Before the pandemic, I enjoyed attending basketball games with family and friends. Whether my son’s high school or club games, the GCU home games or the Phoenix Suns, the excitement of basketball never failed us. I am really looking forward to seeing live games again!
What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
Before I decided to become a teacher, I had every intention to pursue dentistry. At the end of my sophomore year in my undergraduate studies, I was awarded a summer dental college internship to learn more about the variety of practices. The experience was rewarding, but after six weeks I went back to my campus and decided it wasn’t the profession for me. Instead, I changed my major, pursued teaching and never looked back!
The post Faculty Focus: Nathan Hollis II appeared first on GCU Today.
Photos by David Kadlubowski and Elizabeth Tinajero
GCU News Bureau
Grand Canyon University students were treated to a wide range of activities during Welcome Week, including Night at the Movies on Friday night and the Welcome Fest on Saturday night.
The post Slideshow: Welcome Week activities appeared first on GCU Today.
GCU News Bureau
Photos by David Kadlubowski
A socially-distanced crowd of about 500 joined in the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office’s One Love Awareness Walk Sunday on the Grand Canyon University campus.
The post Slideshow: One Love Awareness Walk appeared first on GCU Today.
By Lana Sweeten-Shults
GCU News Bureau
Eunice Ishimwe has a voice.
Most days at Grand Canyon University, it gently rises and falls to formulas and technical concepts.
Senior electrical engineering major Eunice Ishimwe sang Hillsong United’s “Good Grace.” (Photo by David Kadlubowski)
But at Sunday’s One Love Awareness Walk, the Rwandan-born electrical engineering senior mesmerized a socially distanced crowd of about 500 with her voice as it boldly rose and fell to the song “Good Grace” by Hillsong United: “People/ Come together/ Strange as neighbors/ Our blood is one,” she sang.
“We are united through Christ, who loves us and who cares for us, and that was the main goal of this: to know that there is one love, and that it is through Him,” said Ishimwe, a member of the African Student Association.
Ishimwe was surprised, she said, to see multiculturalism front and center so quickly in the semester.
“I have been here for four years. I’ve never seen firsthand, ‘Let’s talk about the cultures that are on campus. Let’s talk about diversity.’ So this was incredible to have and actually to see it happen, especially the first week of school, when everybody is distracted,” said Ishimwe, who felt the peaceful stroll through campus, organized by the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office, was saying something else important: “Oh, by the way, there’s people on campus you should get to know.”
Diverse people.
Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office Director Donald Glenn shared the Parable of the Good Samaritan at the event. (Photo by Mathew McGraw)
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
Walk participants lined up in assigned lanes before the kickoff at 6:15 p.m. from the Technology Building, led by Thunder and members of GCU’s Gateway Brass Band. Athletics and the Spirit Programs made a strong showing at the event, where students carried signs, such as “Love Above All Else” and “Love Thy Neighbor,” as they wound through campus. The route ended at the Quad, where Bob Marley’s “One Love” was playing.
It was over the summer that Donald Glenn, Director of GCU’s newly expanded Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office, was speaking with student leaders who expressed a worry they had. They thought there might be little mention of the recent social issues that have swept through the country once students returned to campus for in-person classes.
So the office organized the One Love Awareness Walk as a way to recognize what has been going on in the world but also to express how GCU approaches multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion: through the lens of Christian worldview.
Students line up outside GCU Arena for Sunday’s One Love Awareness Walk, the most visible event so far for the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office, which was expanded over the summer. (Photo by David Kadlubowski)
The event, which culminated Welcome Week, also introduced students to the office and the resources it offers.
“There are a lot of things that I am unsure of,” Glenn said to the crowd. “But tonight, what I do know, is that we are at a place that has allowed an opportunity for diversity and awareness and inclusion to be possible, and that is not happening across the country. So let’s give praise that we have the ability to celebrate diversity and unity at this place. I am grateful tonight.”
Glenn, a pastor who sees diversity and inclusion through biblical text, said he was reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan in planning this event.
He shared the story about a religious leader who asked Jesus how he could gain eternal life.
Jesus answered by telling him about a man who was beaten and bruised and left by the side of the road for dead. A priest traveling down the same road passed the man by. So, too, did a Levite. But a Samaritan — the Samaritans were hated by the Jews — had compassion. He poured oil on the man’s wounds and wrapped them, brought him to an inn and told the innkeeper, “If he needs to stay longer, let him stay. When I return, I will pay what I owe you.”
About 500 participated in the walk. (Photo by David Kadlubowski)
When Jesus asked the religious leader which of the men was a good neighbor, he said it was the one who showed grace.
“And tonight, it’s all about sharing what the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office is all about,” Glenn said. “ … From now and until forever, we will be about showing each other grace. In the world that we live in, that is what we need: One love.”
Glenn then led the crowd in an exercise, asking them to yell their own name.
A multitude of dissenting voices answered.
Then, Glenn continued, “I want you to yell that name, the name that is above every name, the name that every knee shall bow to, the name that every tongue shall contest to.”
“Jesus!” everyone said.
“Do you see the difference when we are all in one place with one accord, yelling one message, and that is what the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office is all about — coming together with one voice, with one message, one love.”
Iliyani Lambey, a sophomore from Los Angeles majoring in government with an emphasis in legal studies, joined in the walk to show support for the University’s diverse community.
The walk culminated Welcome Week activities. (Photo by David Kadlubowski)
“This new section (the Multicultural Office) opening up on campus is really important,” she said, expressing how diversity isn’t always in the spotlight and how some groups can feel marginalized. “So I’m glad this group is here to discuss this and to make minorities on campus feel more included and more a part of this community.”
Tyler Wells, a junior marketing and advertising major from the Bahamas, said he attended to “show my friends unity.”
Heather Witt, a junior pre-med major from Kingman, Ariz., and president of the Sexuality and Gender Awareness Club, said it was nice to start the semester with community oneness “to make sure that we aren’t going to divide ourselves due to current issues,” she said.
The Sexuality and Gender Awareness Club was just one of the multicultural organizations on campus that manned tables on the Quad.
Multicultural clubs, such as the Latino Student Union, lined the Quad. (Photo by Mathew McGraw)
Edgar Moreno, a sophomore government major and president of the Latino Student Union, said he was hoping students at the event would find their second family at GCU and at the One Love Awareness Walk. He spoke of a student from Colombia who just signed up at the group’s table.
“This is one night for him to have a second family and feel welcome to this school and hopefully this country,” Moreno said.
He also expressed how being able to have a voice is powerful.
“A lot of people feel shuttered out,” he said, whether it’s because they are a minority or for other reasons. “We’re here to tell people, ‘You know what? You have power in your voice, and as long as you’re willing to stand with us, we’re here to help you out.’”
Ishimwe said, “It’s super-important for people of color like me to know that they have a place in the school and that we can be represented and let our voice be heard.”
Dr. Tim Griffin told students to look for opportunities to show love and compassion during the semester. (Photo by Mathew McGraw)
Dr. Tim Griffin, Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students and University Pastor, told students in his address, “We have got a lot of work to do to make this a great semester, and so your involvement tonight is symbolic of our commitment together to have a great semester.
“So I trust that you have been encouraged and challenged by what you’ve heard and that we will look for every opportunity that God gives us to show love and compassion and respect and dignity to one another this semester.”
After six months of building the Multicultural Office while students were away, Glenn was gratified to finally have GCU’s students together again in person. Seeing the GCU community in one place and of one accord while at the same time sharing their diverse voices, he echoed Ishimwe’s thoughts: “It’s beautiful.”
GCU senior writer Lana Sweeten-Shults can be reached at lana.sweeten-shults@gcu.edu or at 602-639-7901.
***
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The post Awareness Walk: ‘One voice, one message, one love’ appeared first on GCU Today.
By Mike Kilen
GCU News Bureau
Freshmen wearing masks stood on white marks 6 feet apart on The Grove lawn. They were mostly strangers to each other who had endured a topsy-turvy six months. But, finally, they were at college.
The field lights were turned off on a perfect Saturday night for Welcome Fest on the Grand Canyon University campus, though the lawn still was illuminated. Freshmen clicked on their smartphone lights, listening to questions by Caleb Duarte, a recent GCU graduate and newly hired, enthusiastic voice of events.
Students rotated through “speed friending” to get to know each other.
He asked them how many were excited, and all the lighted phones glowed high above their heads as they lifted their devices.
He asked them how many missed their moms, and they lifted their phones high.
He asked them if they were nervous about making friends, and they lifted their phones high.
“Do you see the lights go up around you?” he asked them. “You are not alone.
“We are one Lope. We are one herd.”
It was one moment that said much about the community forming at a time when so many need it, albeit 6 feet apart. Students buzzed around several Welcome Fest events on campus, this one called Stage Connect.
Welcome Programs Coordinator Alden Sia said Welcome Fest was coordinated to give students an opportunity to engage with each other and campus life in a safe way. Students met in commuter orientation groups, gathered at the Canyon Activity Center (CAC) to learn about recreation programs and played sand volleyball with friends.
A new event was Stage Connect, where students played rounds of “speed friending.” They rotated across the field at safe distances, more than 100 strong on each side of the stage, as Duarte asked them to converse with the person across from them about favorite movies, memories and hopes for college.
Students spread out on the Quad lawn to eat barbecue and play bingo during Welcome Fest. (Photo by Elizabeth Tinajero)
What did David Polson learn, having traveled among the farthest in this group to come to GCU, from Columbia, S.C.?
“I learned they all play volleyball,” Polson said. “I like volleyball.”
He looked around to the sparkling, energetic campus, all lit up, and it was a new day. So many were taking the first steps at finding their place.
“I love it here,” he said. “The people. The staff. It’s honestly a campus like no other. It’s just such a fun campus.”
The message from the stage was clear. Members of the Havocs student group urged them to get involved, to be part of the community. Student leaders urged them to prize their differences in a divisive time but celebrate unity.
“It doesn’t matter what your politics are,” Associated Students of Grand Canyon University Vice President Noah Logan told the crowd, “We are all God’s children.”
The future engineers and artists, nurses and teachers, had started their college life. Some were so excited about meeting new people they returned for the second session.
Welcome Fest was one of the first big events that tested the resolve of the campus to be safe during a pandemic. The masked students reserve their spots via cellphone. It was a way to manage the crowd size at entertainment venues such as Stage Connect, Welcome Back at the CAC and Barbecue Bingo.
Thunder led a parade of Spirit Programs through campus during Welcome Fest. (Photo by Elizabeth Tinajero)
They were urged to stay “One Lope Apart.” Signs reminded them to “Wash Your Hands Like Your Mother is Watching.”
“Wear a mask,” Duarte said. “It’s good for you, like peas and carrots.”
Two years ago, when Nick Serviss was a freshman, it was very different.
“We didn’t have to wear masks and stand 6 feet apart from each other. But it’s cool to see the community is still here, even after something like COVID has impacted us so much,” said the Resident Assistant, who was delighted to be back.
“It’s very different than the sheltered life we’ve been having, but obviously GCU has great protocols in place that allow us to be a campus.”
Members of the band marched across campus. Contests and pep rallies were held at the baseball clubhouse. Students spidered up the climbing wall at the CAC and asked questions at the tables of the Involvement Fair at the west end of Lopes Way.
Freshman Dominic Cox was asking questions at the eSports table and was told of the easy access to the gaming center, where he could continue to compete like he had in high school in California.
“I want to take the same passion and bring it here,” he said. “I like the (gaming) community. It’s always chill and somewhere to go unwind.”
On other parts of campus, as students walked in small groups, singing to fitting music, such as Flo Rida’s “My House” (“Welcome to my house”), they stopped to form a long line in front of a table that listed more than 70 student clubs.
Cheer team members were on hand to lend a little spirit. (Photo by Elizabeth Tinajero)
There’s even more interest this year, said Sarah Miller, a student director of clubs. Some large events are altered or are postponed, so they are starving for community involvement.
At the Barbecue Bingo in the Quad, the B14s and G59s rang out as students sat on spaced white circles on the turf, munching hot dogs and corn dogs.
“This is showing them that even though we are limited to a spray-painted circle on the ground that we are still a community,” said Kassidy Grammer, a sophomore who is part of the Canyon Activities Board, a student-run group that plans campus events such as the opening-weekend bingo.
She held a corn dog, of course, and laughed about the bit of corny, old-school fun.
“We are here to make their freshman year the best we can make it. Even if that’s playing bingo and eating corn dogs, then playing bingo and eating corn dogs is the answer.”
Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at mike.kilen@gcu.edu or at 602-639-6764.
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The post Bingo! GCU offers a prized welcome to students appeared first on GCU Today.
GCU President Brian Mueller, speaking to Chapel on Monday, promised that this will be another year of positive action despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.
Story by Rick Vacek
Photos by Garrett Ohrenberg
GCU News Bureau
The first in-person Chapel of the fall semester was an opportunity to set a tone for the 2020-21 academic year, and Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller wanted to make sure the assembled students know who sets that tone.
“God is really clear throughout Scripture that He wants us to take action,” he said Monday.
Amanda Riffe performs with the Worship team at Chapel.
As action-packed as Mueller’s first 12 years at GCU have been, he foresees a 13th that’s luckier than ever despite all the challenges of this year. Again, there’s one reason for that.
“This is not going to be a throwaway year,” he said. “God does not take years off. I really think that we’ll all look back on this year someday and say, ‘It’s at times like this, when things look a little bleak, when God usually takes action, where He shows up and starts moving.’
“… I anticipate that this is going to be the best year that we’ve ever had here. I think God is going to move in a way that He has not moved in the 12 previous years, and He’s really moved since we’ve been here.”
Mueller centered his talk around two biblical passages that are remarkably similar: the 58th chapter of Isaiah and the 25th chapter of Matthew. Both make it very clear what God expects us to do for each other, how He will assist us in those efforts and what the reward will be.
Isaiah 58:11-12 reads:
… If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.
Matthew 25:34-40 describes what Jesus will say when He returns:
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’
Students were able to worship together again after three weeks of online Chapel.
“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’”
Mueller told two stories to illuminate how much God loves us.
One was about taking his young sons, ages 9 and 11, to a talk he was giving at a local resort and then not being able to find them when he was finished. After several frantic minutes, he finally discovered that they had left the room where he had left them and had fallen asleep on lounge chairs next to the pool.
“It took me three days to calm down after that,” he said. “Your kids are part of you, and your compassion and love for them – it starts right away when they’re babies.”
The second story was about meeting a highly successful businessman whose son had died of an opioid overdose. The man told Mueller that it’s hard to go on after such a devastating loss.
Mueller said it all points to the most famous Bible passage of all, John 3:16:
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
“This God that we want to have a relationship with, He probably has, I don’t know, a hundred, a thousand, 10 thousand times the capacity for compassion and love that we have … and yet He was willing to give His only Son for us,” Mueller said.
Mueller then recounted GCU’s commitment to its neighborhood by creating jobs, improving public safety, transforming homes through the largest Habitat for Humanity program in the world, and helping educate local children through the Learning Lounge and the Students Inspiring Students program.
He told one final story, of a man, an immigrant, who was delighted with the Habitat work but even more grateful for the fact that GCU students would take his two daughters to the park every Saturday morning for the Canyon Kids program.
“There is so much we can do,” Mueller said, “especially in this time when there is so much racial tension and unrest, where there is so much focus – as there should be – on meeting the needs of people who don’t have the same opportunity.
“I’m so happy that we’re back here this year, that we have a chance to do this in the middle of this pandemic, because I think what we should do is double down now – we should double down. We should make an even bigger commitment. And I think if we do that – in fact, I know that if we do that – the impact that it’s going to have on people’s lives and the impact that it’s going to have on the Kingdom is going to be very, very special.”
● Chapel replay.
● Next Monday’s speaker: Brian Kruckenberg, New City Church
Contact Rick Vacek at (602) 639-8203 or rick.vacek@gcu.edu.
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Related content:
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GCU Today: Chapel message: Nothing to fear, even this year
The post God’s love is where the action is, Mueller tells Chapel appeared first on GCU Today.
By Nicholas Rudgear
GCU Office of Student Care
#Askingforafriend
Whenever someone comes to see me for mental health counseling for the first time, I always ask them about their physical health. The reality is that there is an intricate relationship between our mental and physical health; one will always affect the other.
That relationship can be a double-edged sword in that when one is suffering, the other is likely suffering as well. But there is good news about this connection – improving one area can improve the other!
Many who need mental health care have little to no awareness of the significant impact of this relationship. It’s the reason I ask about physical health care and include it in my clinical work with my clients.
If you find you are struggling with your mental health or simply want to improve your wellbeing, here are physical health areas that impact mental health:
Look, I know this can seem rudimentary or redundant. And I also recognize that when we are struggling with our mental health, it can severely and negatively affect our ability to attend to these different areas.
It’s hard to exercise when depressed. I get it. However, taking care of our physical health is just as much a treatment intervention as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or any other therapy technique.
Because they are connected, it’s challenging to improve mental health while having poor physical health habits. Get back to the basics on your physical health, and your mental health will thank you. If you are struggling in these areas, see your primary care physician or a mental health counselor.
The post #Askingforafriend: Physical and mental health connections appeared first on GCU Today.
Connie Colbert
By Connie Colbert
Director, Canyon Health and Wellness Clinic
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It’s tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus because it is resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.
These bacteria naturally live in the nose and on the skin and generally don’t cause any harm. However, when they begin to multiply uncontrollably, a MRSA infection can occur.
Approximately 5% of patients in U.S. hospitals carry MRSA in their nose or on their skin.
It also can be contracted when someone comes into contact with an object or surface that has been touched by a person with MRSA.
Anyone can get MRSA. The risk increases with activities or places that involve crowding, skin-to-skin contact and shared equipment or supplies. Some of the people who carry MRSA can go on to get a MRSA infection.
Non-intact skin, such as when there are abrasions or incisions, is often the site of an MRSA infection. People at higher risk of MRSA infection are athletes, daycare and school students, military personnel in barracks and those who receive inpatient medical care or have surgery or medical devices inserted in their body.
MRSA is usually spread in the community by contact with infected people or things that are carrying the bacteria. This includes contact with a contaminated wound or by sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin.
You can take these steps to reduce your risk of MRSA infection:
The symptoms of a MRSA infection depend on the part of the body that is infected.
For example, people with MRSA skin infections often get swelling, warmth, redness and pain in infected skin. In most cases it is hard to tell if an infection is the result of MRSA or another type of bacteria without laboratory tests that your health care provider can order.
Some MRSA skin infections can have a typical appearance and can be confused with a spider bite. However, unless you see the spider, the irritation is likely not a spider bite.
The infection most often appears as a bump- or blister-like lesion that may be filled with pus under the skin. The area is often red, swollen, painful, warm to the touch and can be accompanied by a fever.
If you or someone in your family develops this skin condition …
If your health care provider suspects MRSA, he or she will take a sample of the drainage from the lesion and begin a course of antibiotics to help fight the infection. If the lesion is large, the health care provider may need to drain the lesion.
The post Fitness Facts: What is MRSA? appeared first on GCU Today.
Dr. Daniel Kaufmann
Title: Online Full-Time Faculty
Years at GCU: 3
Academic degrees:
What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
Multiple contributions to educating counselors on understanding internet gaming and video game disorders via publication, presentation and supervision. My favorite published work so far (besides my dissertation) is “The Use of the Hero’s Journey as a Framework for Understanding Counselor Development.”
What are you most passionate about in your field and why?
Finding ways to apply pedagogy via technological resources to help our online students experience what occurs in the classroom.
What is a memorable moment you had in class, and what does that reveal about your teaching style?
I had my theories students do a final-week role play where they formed small groups and conceptualized a fictional character using one of the 17 counseling theories learned in the course. Then two members of each group role played the fictional character seeing a clinician from that style. It was amazing to see Ariel (“Little Mermaid”) and Tony Stark (Iron Man after “Infinity War”) go through a counseling session. My students were creative geniuses for that activity.
Another moment: I was sharing about a book I once read, “The Dharma of Star Wars,” which does a great job of relating mindfulness concepts similar to Acceptance Commitment Therapy to the Force and other spiritual elements from this fictional galaxy.
I lent it to a friend to read before my time relocating to Phoenix to teach at GCU. When I moved here, I left my book with my friend. I then mentioned that my copy didn’t make the move with me in one of the cohort courses where I was teaching Addiction in Counseling.
The final week of class, we returned from dinner break and the book was sitting on the podium — all of the students had written on the inside cover the things they appreciated about my passion for the course. I thanked them and could not hold back the tears. That book sits on my desk, and I regard them giving me that book as one of my greatest accomplishments to this day as an educator.
What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I have a game-streaming channel on Twitch where I play games as Dr. Gameology. I actually connect this into my teaching persona.
When a storytelling point or character moment treads on the concepts I teach, I create videos called “Mental Health Moments,” which academically break down the action in the game. I use these as class resources to encourage my students to see the insights from our coursework throughout all of life and not just when we plan to sit inside a counseling office.
This has caused some of the most vibrant interactions in my forums since I started blending my entire person into my teaching efforts. Also, the game community of my viewers know me as an academic, since many of them knew me before I finished my doctorate, so it helps them to enjoy all of what I offer as a person experiencing the games they enjoy to watch. It is a win-win.
Dr. Gameology (which is me) also is the host of a podcast called “The Gaming Persona,” where my cohost and I explore “who we become when we play games.” The intended audience is people who enjoy games or clinicians who may need an entry point into understanding the appeal of playing games focusing in virtual environments.
This is an extension of the supervision efforts I provide for counselors in the field pursuing the International Gaming Disorder Certification. I just enjoy sharing what I have learned en route to becoming what I am as a counselor professional.
What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
I am the owner of a private counseling practice that operates entirely through telehealth. Area of Effect Counseling connects to a type of spell used in video games to heal or destroy.
I use this because I see the benefits of counseling in various ways. If you receive healing, you will be more capable of inspiring those around you through your wellness. Also, if you are struggling, it will be more possible to spread your frustrations to the surrounding area.
I hope I inspire people to pursue the path of healing so they may have that positive impact on those surrounding them. That concept comes from the world of video games, but it reflects my philosophy of why mental health matters on every level. That is my passion for being a counselor and a counselor educator.
The post Faculty Focus: Dr. Daniel Kaufmann appeared first on GCU Today.
Saruta Tantisirikulchorn and Daniel Castillo take part in a physics class.
Staff report
Photos by David Kadlubowski
GCU News Bureau
Dr. Jen Santos wasn’t sure what to expect from her English 105 students bright and 7 a.m. early Tuesday. She thought they probably were used to sleeping in after not having in-person classes for six months.
But when she walked into West Lecture Hall, she saw bright-eyed students.
With proper social distancing, students take a quiz in the Technology Building.
“Normally, they might think of ways not to come to class,” she said. “But they were THERE. ‘I’m in a classroom! Yeah!’”
They raised their hands to talk. They got excited about the material.
“I like the energy of being in class,” Santos said. “It’s exciting to see the students again rather than seeing them in a box on Zoom.”
It took awhile to feel as if students were coming together in remote work the first three weeks of the semester. When they got together in person, she said, “it felt like a community again.”
That scene has unfolded again and again this week as most in-person classes at Grand Canyon University resumed for the first time since March.
It was hard to tell who was happier to be back in the classroom – returning students or freshmen. Call it a tie.
For returnees, it’s the first step toward erasing the memory of having to go home at spring break because of the pandemic and finishing the 2019-20 academic year with four weeks of online classes. University officials then had to delay the start of the fall semester and begin it on the online platform when COVID-19 numbers spiked in Arizona during the summer.
Instructor Ben Trey teaches a physics class.
For newcomers, it was an opportunity to finally and fully experience life at GCU – with in-person classes in addition to all the campus activities – after looking forward to it for so long.
GCU’s status as a leader in online education made it easier to deal with “attending” class on Zoom, and that expertise will continue to be important this fall with most classes being conducted in a blended learning environment.
Here’s how it works: Half the class meets in person on one day while the other half works with assistants online. Then they switch on the other day. It’s designed to limit the number of students in one room and keep them physically distanced as much as possible to try to prevent the spread of the virus.
The GCU Today staff toured campus this week to get a snapshot of how the new setup was going. The pictures painted by instructors and students had one thing in common – lots of smiles.
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The early bird gets a shot in the arm in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions, where the first day of in-person class really wasn’t the first day of in-person class.
“We came back sooner than the rest of the student body,” said immersive simulation facilitator Denise Matus of the college’s early start in August. Unlike other programs, nursing runs year-round, so the schedule looks a little different.
Maria Sanchez finds a quiet place to study.
Still, with the chatter in the hallways and on the Promenade a little louder the past couple of days, the fall of footsteps more urgent and a general electricity in the air, it was a boon to be joined by the rest of the student body.
“The students are glad to be back. They’ve been just overjoyed. They’re like, ‘We don’t care what we’ve got to put on to be back, we just want to be back.’ We missed them and they missed us,” said Matus, who spent the past few months helming classes online, where students completed virtual simulations rather than interact with actors who bring medical scenarios to life in the third-floor Nursing Simulation Lab.
“There are some good things about it (virtual labs), but it doesn’t replace that face-to-face that you need for nursing,” she said.
Besides submitting to a temperature scan before entering the lab each morning and attesting to a statement that they don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, one thing that’s different for nursing students in their coronavirus-altered classrooms is they can’t be 6 feet apart. They’re up close when they’re trying to diagnose a patient, even a simulated one.
“We have to wear masks, face shields and gloves,” Matus said, which makes it difficult to see if students are understanding certain concepts or if they might be confused. “It does feel like it’s a little bit of a barrier.”
There’s plenty of room for students in a biochemistry class in the Technology Building.
Matus and fellow immersive simulation facilitator Stacy Overton have compensated by doing Loom videos without their masks so students can at least see their faces.
Matus said what has warmed her heart is that, through all the threats of COVID-19, her students have seemed more resilient and dedicated to nursing than ever.
“We have asked students, ‘Has all of this changed your thoughts about nursing?’ … Nurses, we don’t get the opportunity to turn and run,” Matus said. “Overwhelmingly, the students have said, ‘No, it makes my desire even greater to be a nurse now.’ It’s a calling. It really is.”
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Engineering instructor Emmy Tomforde teaches how to get from liquid to vapor and vapor to liquid and illuminates the finer points of boiling points in her thermodynamics and lab class (STG 330).
But learning those concepts has less of a big-group dynamic in the COVID-19 world.
Amiyah Gaines works in a lab.
Lab tables in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology have gone from four seats per table to just two to allow for social distancing. And at Tuesday’s lab, where students observed a water boiler to see pressure and temperature changes, “instead of a normal lab where I would have everybody go at once, I had two at a time come up and look at the gauges.”
Then there’s the blended learning model.
Some of Tomforde’s students were in the classroom on Tuesday while the other half of the class logged in online from their residence halls (the two groups will trade places on Thursday).
The students who attended online, “logged on with their phones and did exactly the same thing we did here in class,” Tomforde said.
One of her students, mechanical engineering major Sandra Morales, was ecstatic to be back in class despite having to wear a mask, sanitize her hands and see fewer students around since some opted to continue distance learning.
Students work in the Engineering Building.
It was strange in the spring semester, she said, to suddenly go from in-person learning to distance learning. The transition this time around, going from online to in-person, was much easier.
“I prefer in person,” she said, simply.
Tomforde agrees. She said that over Zoom students are more reluctant to ask questions. She also doesn’t get the same kind of feedback she does by seeing students face to face.
“I find it much more energizing to be here,” she said. “In a classroom.”
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The first day back to class offered College of Fine Arts and Production students and professors alike some much needed in-person engagement time.
The seniors in Sheila Schumacher’s Digital Design class eagerly took full advantage of the benefits they had come to appreciate from physically being in class.
“This group is kind of trepidatiously moving toward ‘I have to adult now,’” Schumacher said. “Emotionally, everyone was excited to be back. For creative students, they like creating with a crowd better than creating alone, so our work in the Zoom world was going fine but I saw much more student-to-student collaboration.”
They also have a new sense of both the value of working alone and a value of working together, she said.
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A student works after class in one of the Technology Building’s study rooms.
Coming from a different perspective was COFAP freshman Bryan Weide, who began his GCU journey in the COVID era after graduating from Sunnyslope High School in the spring. His first experience as a GCU student would take place through a screen, so finally getting to explore the campus that he had looked forward to attend makes him feel more at home.
“It’s completely different being here as a student. It’s a big, amazing school, and there’s a completely different atmosphere than most colleges,” he said.
Weide said he had struggled to feel connected to his classmates and professors over Zoom calls, so attending his first in-person class was an exciting opportunity to finally meet the names he had seen on his Zoom screen. Because he is a commuter student, it was important to start building bonds with people on campus.
“Meeting them was nice, and just getting to see everybody in person is completely different,” he said.
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Another commuter student, senior Deanna Diaz, was thrilled to be in the Colangelo College of Business Building again even though it means she comes to campus all the way from Buckeye, at least a 45-minute drive with no traffic.
It was good to see lists of classes all across campus again.
“I would do it every day just to be back on campus,” the business management major said.
Asked how this compared to last spring, when she had to learn online for the first time in her life, the senior had a quick response: “This was a lot easier because we had been told about it and had lots of emails to prepare us. Last spring was abrupt.”
Over in the CCOB offices, Dr. Mark Clifford had an interesting observation after sitting in on two classes Tuesday.
“The excitement of being back on campus translates to the classroom,” said the CCOB Assistant Dean and Director of Sports Business.
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Senior Joseph Vaught praised the work of his Worship Arts instructors as they navigated the online environment.
“All of my professors have done a really good job of making class not feel like I’m stuck on my laptop in my bedroom,” he said.
The community feeling is even more important to Worship Arts students, who gather daily in the GCU Recording Studio. “It’s been nice seeing people,” said Vaught, a Worship Arts with an Emphasis in Ministry major.
Dr. Randall Downs, Worship Arts Coordinator for the College of Theology, noticed that seven students stayed after class to talk about local churches. “Everyone was so excited to learn,” he said. “You could tell that they had been champing at the bit to get there.”
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Students also have been eager to have more one-on-one time with their instructors. College of Education Assistant Professor Stephanie Nilsen noted that before her first class, which is Wednesday, she did 18 private forums with students, a one-day record for her.
The campus again is filled with students walking to class.
They felt the need for those sessions because classes had been online. “It was all the stuff they normally ask in class,” Nilsen said.
There’s no getting around it: Being in a classroom feels so much better.
Freshman Dawson Moulsong said it felt strange to walk into a classroom for the first time since students were sent home from his senior year of high school in Chandler last spring. But once he entered his psychology class Tuesday morning, he realized what was strange was trying to share thoughts in class in front of a screen.
“It’s really awkward,” said the biology major. “Once you’re in person, it feels normal again.”
Mike Kilen, Ashlee Larrison, Lana Sweeten-Shults and Rick Vacek contributed to this report.
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