Leadership Team
Fred Miller, MD, PhD, CMD, is currently a retired medical director from Arizona Priority Care and Centene Corporation. He is a dynamic, results-driven physician with a proven background of 31 years in both clinical and administrative roles. Dr. Miller provided design-focused effective strategies to support customer healthcare needs and organizational goals. He is a collaborative leader working closely with medical and legal professionals to resolve complex issues in the clinical, medical administrative and forensic services arenas. Dr. Miller has achieved success increasing revenues and reducing overall costs while mitigating and managing risks in high-risk environments.
Dr. Miller received his bachelor’s from Knoxville College in Knoxville, Tennessee, his PhD and Master of Science from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Miller’s teaching experience includes being an assistant professor at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Middlesex Community College in Middlesex, New Jersey, and Paradise Valley Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. During his more than 31 years of medical experience, some of Dr. Miller’s experience includes being the chief medical director for the Pima County-Tucson area and the director of the emergency department at Paradise Valley Hospital-Phoenix. He now serves as chairman of the board of trustees at GCU.
Peggy J. Chase retired in 2022 as the president and CEO of Terros Health, a growing integrated, whole healthcare company providing services to Arizonans since 1969. During her tenure, Mrs. Chase led more than 1,000 Terros Health employees statewide with a compassionate leadership style that sought to mentor, coach and grow new leaders.
Mrs. Chase has been a progressive healthcare leader and innovator for more than 30 years. Her commitment to service leadership has positively impacted healthcare public policy through her participation on local, state and national boards and committees.
Recognized as a health management expert, she is often called on by other healthcare leaders and state agencies for her expertise on how to achieve successful outcomes. Her contributions to Arizona’s healthcare and behavioral healthcare systems include, but are not limited to, success in fiscal viability, policy development, service innovation, data management and information systems development.
Mrs. Chase has served as the chief financial officer and chief operations officer of several companies and possesses extensive knowledge in finance and operations. She cares deeply for people and has an understanding of the clinical work of Terros Health strengthened by her social work degree from Arizona State University.
Under Mrs. Chase’s strategic vision and leadership as president and CEO at Terros Health, revenues increased from $38 million to nearly $84 million, through the expansion of existing services, the addition and growth of primary care services and three acquisitions of culturally and strategically aligned companies.
Mrs. Chase serves on several boards including: Mental Health Corporations of America (MHCA), Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers and Grand Canyon University as well as Arizona State University Advisory Council. She was named as the 2018 Outstanding Healthcare Executive and one of the Most Influential Women of 2018 by AZ Business Magazine. She was also listed on the 2018 Healthcare Power List by Phoenix Magazine and named one of The Most Admired Leaders by Phoenix Business Journal.
Dr. Lupita Ley Hightower was honored as Arizona’s Superintendent of the Year for 2023 and retired from K-12 education after a distinguished 28-year career, including the final 14 years as a superintendent. An immigrant from Mexico, Dr. Hightower began her education in the U.S. in the seventh grade. She attributes her success to the grace of God, relentless work ethic and the support of many individuals who believed in her along the way.
Dr. Hightower’s most significant achievement is her commitment to expanding educational opportunities for students, particularly those who would otherwise lack access. She is known for her ability to identify and nurture the unique talents, skills and intelligence inherent in every student and adult. Under Dr. Hightower’s leadership, all pre-K-8 schools within her district earned A or B ratings.
She is also dedicated to service outside of her superintendent role. She proudly serves on the Board of Trustees for Grand Canyon University and was the first Latina to serve as President of the Arizona School Administrators Association. She has held leadership positions, including President of the Arizona Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (AzALAS) and served as a past executive committee member for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the National Superintendents Association.
In recognition of her exceptional contributions to education, Dr. Hightower was honored with the Cesar Chavez Legacy Award in 2024. She was also named ‘Education Leader of the Year’ by the Asian Corporate and Entrepreneur Leaders (ACEL) in 2023. In 2019, she was recognized as the National Latinx Superintendent of the Year, among several other prestigious accolades.
Marion Kelly serves as Director for the Office of Community Affairs at Mayo Clinic. In this role, Mr. Kelly provides leadership for the organization's efforts to build solid neighbor, civic and corporate relationships. “Community” in its broadest sense encompasses the entire Southwest region of the United States. In addition to providing leadership in Community Affairs, he is also responsible for institutionalizing diversity as a corporate objective within the strategic plan of Mayo Clinic.
Mr. Kelly’s broad experiences are in both the educational and political arena. His experiences include teaching elementary education, working in the United States Senate and the Indiana University School of Medicine Administration. He also served as the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at Mayo Medical School. Mr. Kelly was an appointee in the former Bush White House administration as a Special Assistant for At Risk Youth Initiatives at the United States Department of Labor and as the White House Liaison for the Labor Department.
Dr. Jim Rice was born and raised in Arizona. He has served 46 years in public education as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He served his career in the Alhambra Elementary School District in central Phoenix. After retiring from Alhambra, Dr. Rice directed the Principal Initiative for the Rodel Foundation of Arizona until June of 2013. From 2013 to 2016, Dr. Rice served two interim superintendencies with Gilbert Public Schools and the Union Elementary School District. Jim and his wife Jackie have been married for 52 years. They have two children, Jamie and Jason, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
During Dr. Rice’s tenure with the Alhambra School District, the district received numerous state and national awards. Dr. Rice has been recognized for his exceptional leadership including being named Arizona’s Distinguished Administrator in 2002; received the Willis J. Ray Volunteer Award from Grand Canyon University in 2003; received an Award of Excellence for Contributions to Public Education from the Arizona School Public Relations Association in 2004; was inducted into the ASU College of Education Hall of Fame in October 2005, received the ASA Administrator of the Year – Superintendent Division in 2007; was named Arizona’s Superintendent of the Year in 2007 and received the Grand Canyon University Alumnus of the Year. In 2010, Jim received the WestMarc Individual Leadership Award. When Jim retired from the Alhambra Elementary School District, the governing board bestowed his name, James W. Rice, on one of their schools. In 2013, he was inducted into GCU’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2016, he was inducted into GCU’s College of Education Hall of Fame. In 2017, Dr. Rice was inducted into Phoenix Union High School District’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Dr. Rice currently serves as a content expert for doctorate level students at GCU, where he also serves on the university’s board as a board trustee. In addition to GCU’s board, he serves on the advisory council for the Assistance League of Phoenix.
Jerry Colangelo is a prominent American sports executive and businessman. He is best known for his roles as the former owner of the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Rattlers.
Mr. Colangelo played a significant role in bringing professional sports to Arizona and has been influential in USA Basketball, particularly in reviving the U.S. men's national basketball team.
Mr. Colangelo continues to be highly influential in the world of sports and business, particularly in Arizona. He remains actively involved in various initiatives, including his ongoing contributions to Grand Canyon University through the Colangelo College of Business, which continues to grow and innovate under his guidance. Additionally, he is closely associated with the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series, which is part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame's efforts to promote basketball across the U.S. and Canada.
Mike Ingram is the founder and chairman of El Dorado Holdings, a leading real estate development company in Arizona. Since its founding in 1987, Mr. Ingram has played a crucial role in shaping the Phoenix metropolitan area through large-scale residential and commercial projects.
Beyond his business success, he is a co-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and is actively involved in various philanthropic endeavors.
Mr. Ingram serves on the boards of several influential organizations, including the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) Foundation, the Barrow Neurological Foundation (Emeritus) and the Arizona-Mexico Commission. His work on these boards supports economic development, advances in medical research and cross-border collaboration, highlighting his commitment to both business growth and community service.
Shawn Boskie, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, has made a significant impact beyond the sports world through his leadership in the entertainment and nonprofit sectors. As the founder and CEO of Canyon Productions, Mr. Boskie is dedicated to producing high-quality faith-based films that inspire and uplift audiences.
Before launching Canyon Productions, he played a crucial role at PureFlix Entertainment as Head of Investor Relations, where he successfully raised over $150 million to support the production and distribution of numerous faith-based films and to launch the PureFlix streaming platform.
Mr. Boskie’s passion for making a positive impact extends to his work with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), where he served as vice president of development for over a decade, advancing religious freedom and free speech causes. Recognized for his leadership and commitment to his faith, he was inducted into the GCU Alumni Hall of Fame, celebrating his contributions to both the entertainment industry and the broader community.
President Brian Mueller joined Grand Canyon University (GCU) in July 2008 to usher in a new era for the institution. Taking the successes he experienced as a teacher and coach at the high school and small college level as well as his 22 years of experience at the Apollo Group (the parent company of University of Phoenix), Mr. Mueller transformed GCU from a financially struggling university into one that is a driving force in higher education today.
As the university's president, Mr. Mueller is progressive and anticipatory in an industry that is slow in adapting to change. Since Mueller joined GCU about 16 years ago, enrollment on the Phoenix ground campus has increased from approximately 2,600 to over 24,600,1 while online enrollment has grown exponentially to over 98,000 students.2
Between 2009 and September 2023, Mr. Mueller has also overseen nearly $1.8 billion in campus expansion through new classrooms, laboratories, athletic facilities and student amenities.
These efforts to create a better educational environment have been accomplished at no additional cost to students or taxpayers in Arizona. By creating a hybrid education model that relies on operational efficiencies and fiscal responsibility on its ground and online campuses, this ensures one of Mr. Mueller’s highest priorities as president—that a high-quality, private, Christian education is affordable to all socioeconomic classes. In fact, GCU’s non-traditional students received over $161 million in institutional scholarships in 2024 and traditional campus students received over $196 million in 2024.
Academically, Mr. Mueller has led a reinvention of GCU's programs, aligning the school's curriculum with high-growth fields such as computer science, information technology, cybersecurity and engineering, among others, while continuing to produce graduates with the high character and servant leadership the university is known for. As of September 2024, the university offers 349 academic programs, including 285 online programs. By the end of 2023, GCU grew from nine to 10 colleges.
Another emphasis for Mr. Mueller has been his five-point plan to revitalize West Phoenix by 1) Creating jobs on campus that have made the university an economic catalyst for the community, 2) Creating jobs for local residents through 10 business enterprises that employ nearly 500 people, 3) Supporting K-12 education with free tutoring and full-tuition scholarship programs, 4) Making the surrounding neighborhood safer through a $2.2 million partnership with the City of Phoenix, and 5) Collaborating to complete nearly 1,200 repairs with Habitat for Humanity.3
Mr. Mueller's vision for Christian education draws from his own experiences as a student, teacher and coach in Christian schools. His passion is also seen in his inspiring Chapel service addresses, which draw standing-room-only crowds at GCU Arena.
Mr. Mueller began his higher education career as a teacher and coach at Concordia University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Master of Arts in Education from Concordia.
Mr. Mueller has served on a myriad of boards, including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Arizona Commerce Authority and is executive director of the Joy Community Church Foundation.
Provost
Randy Gibb, PhD, joined GCU in July 2014 and first served as the dean of the Colangelo College of Business for eight years before he was appointed provost. In his previous role, he and his team grew the business college based upon the pillars of servant leadership, ethics and entrepreneurism and promoted the concepts of free market capitalism and business as a form of ministry.
Additionally, Dr. Gibb has honorably served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force. He commanded two Air Force flying units and retired as a colonel and command pilot. He also has a wide variety of academic leadership experience: he taught as department chair of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Behavioral Science and Leadership Department, helped lead the human systems integration program at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio as a senior military professor at the Graduate School of Engineering and Management Department and served at Arizona State University as an associate professor and chair of the Human and Environmental Systems Department. Dr. Gibb’s career has extensive experience in aviation safety, human factors, visual perception and spatial disorientation, as well as leadership development.
Dr. Gibb, originally from Wisconsin, earned his PhD and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University. He also has a Master of Arts from the U.S. Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island and was a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. Dr. Gibb has served on the Governor’s Workforce Arizona Council, Canyon Angels, WESTMARC board of directors and Arizona’s Board of Conscious Capitalism.
Vice Provost
Jennifer Lech, PhD, has been with GCU since 2004, but she has worked in postsecondary education for over 20 years. Dr. Lech developed the initial curriculum of the university as it began its transformation to avoid bankruptcy in 2004. She is now responsible for academic and institutional integrity through the departments she oversees, including the Office of Academic Records, Policy and Program Management, Accreditation, State Compliance, Academic Compliance, Student Disability Services, Office of Assessment, Academic Analytics and the Library.
She previously served as the Title IX Coordinator from 2013 to 2018 and the 504 Coordinator from 2006 to 2018. Dr. Lech also currently serves as a board member for Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and the Arizona-State Authorization Reciprocity Council (AZ-SARA).
Dr. Lech holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University, Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Washington State University.
Vice President of Academic Compliance, Title IX and 504 Coordinator
Shanna Milonas joined GCU in 2007 as an administrator in the Office of Academic Compliance. Since that time, she has held multiple roles within Academic Compliance, most recently serving as associate vice president, deputy Title IX coordinator and lead Title IX investigator. In her current role, she has oversight of compliance requirements for Title IX, VAWA, Section 504/ADA and processes to ensure non-discrimination for all other protected classes, including programmatic functions and institutional grievance procedures.
She holds multiple certifications issued by the National Higher Education Risk Management Group (NCHERM), including those for Title IX Administrator Levels One and Two, 504 Coordinator and Civil Rights Investigator Levels One and Two. She is also responsible for oversight of the Office of Academic Compliance and Student Disability Services Office, as well as both the Student Resolution and Academic Affairs project management teams
Shanna earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Argosy University in 2006 and her Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Leadership from GCU in 2010. She has over 20 years of compliance experience in the areas of higher education, healthcare and government.
Assistant Vice President and Registrar of the Office of Academic Records
Erin O’Brien has worked for GCU since 2010 starting as an academic counselor and transitioning over to the Office of Academic Records (OAR) in 2011. OAR is responsible for university admissions, institutional evaluation of transfer credit, degree progression monitoring, mailing of official documents, various student support functions, the International Student Office, the Veterans Resource Center, academic policy and program management. O’Brien has a passion for providing the best possible service and enjoys working collaboratively with other departments to identify opportunities for constant improvement. She feels fortunate to work with an amazing team and enjoys being a part of the Lopes family.
Assistant Vice President of Library and Academic Support Services
Nita Mailander joined GCU in 2009, initially serving as a librarian before transitioning to library director and currently to assistant vice president of library and academic support services. Her academic journey began at the University of California, San Diego where she earned a bachelor’s degree, followed by a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Mailander holds a distinguished certification from the Medical Library Association’s Academy of Health Information Professionals, along with a specialization in Consumer Health Information. These credentials reflect her deep commitment to advancing access to reliable health information and empowering individuals with knowledge.
With a career spanning special, academic and medical libraries, Mailander brings a wealth of experience and perspective on the management and dissemination of information across a variety of disciplines. She is passionate about providing tailored academic support services, ensuring that resources meet the specific needs of a diverse academic community. Central to her team’s work is a strong dedication to student progress, fostering an environment where students receive the tools, resources and guidance they need to achieve their academic goals.
Executive Director of University Assessment
Alexi Linn has been a dedicated member of the university community since 2011 and currently oversees the Office of University Assessment. She has been involved with assessments at both the university and college levels since 2017, actively contributing to the institution's assessment strategies and processes. As a part of her role, Linn also serves as the chair of the University Assessment Committee, collaborating with faculty and staff to foster continuous improvement in student learning and advance GCU’s culture of assessment.
Before transitioning to her current role, Linn held various positions within GCU’s College of Education overseeing college assessment, accreditation, program operations, alternative certification programs and other areas within clinical practice. In addition, she earned her Master of Business Administration from GCU in 2014 and currently serves as an adjunct faculty for the university. In each of her roles, Linn gained valuable experience that informs her current approach to institutional assessment.
Prior to her time at GCU, Linn earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of Arizona and spent time teaching at the high school level. She holds a Standard Professional Secondary Education teaching certificate in Arizona, with approved areas in business, history and political science/American government.
Executive Director, Accreditation and State Compliance
Kevin Wilhelmsen, PhD, is an experienced leader in non-traditional higher education and online learning, with over 20 years of expertise in accreditation, state and federal regulatory compliance. At GCU, he provides strategic oversight for accreditation and state compliance initiatives, managing a team to ensure regulatory adherence across all programs. His background includes leadership roles in accreditation, curriculum development, faculty management and regulatory approvals. He also oversees the accreditation and compliance budget for his department.
Having served in various faculty and administrative roles, including director of student services, associate dean of curriculum and provost, Wilhelmsen is currently a site visit evaluation chair for accreditation associations and contributes regularly to industry publications, such as Hotel Business Review and SHRM. He has presented on topics such as accreditation, curriculum development and talent management.
Wilhelmsen holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a PhD in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University.
Dean, College of Arts and Media
Craig Detweiler, PhD, joined GCU in 2021. He merges theology, arts and culture with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Davidson College, an MFA from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and an MDiv and PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Detweiler wrote the screenplays for “The Duke,” the comedic road trip, “Extreme Days,” and directed the award-winning documentary “Remand,” narrated by Angela Bassett. His acclaimed books include “iGods: How Technology Shapes Our Spiritual and Social Lives,” “Selfies: Searching for the Image of God in a Digital Age” and “Deep Focus: Film and Theology in Dialogue,” co-written with Robert Johnston and Kutter Callaway.
Detweiler’s cultural commentary has been featured on ABC’s “Nightline,” CNN, Fox, NPR and in “The New York Times” and “The Wall Street Journal.” Prior to his role at GCU, he served as a professor at Biola University, Fuller Seminary and Pepperdine University. “Variety” honored Dr. Detweiler as their 2016 Mentor of the Year.
Dean, Colangelo College of Business
John Kaites is follower of Christ and as such seeks to be a transformational leader in the lives of others. His most important goals are the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, through life, business, law, ministry, and most joyfully, through personal relationships. Dean Kaites is an ordained minister, entrepreneur and lawyer. He has started and owns numerous businesses, is an accomplished investor, a church planter, and an Arizona licensed attorney.
Dean Kaites has a doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law, Juris Doctor, a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, a degree in Christian studies from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is completing a master’s in ministry from Phoenix Seminary in Fall 2024. His post-college career began at age 21 as a television broadcaster (news and weather, WJAC and KPNX). After law school, at age 26, he served as an assistant attorney general in its organized crime division. At age 29, he was elected as a state representative, and at age 31, a state senator.
Dean Kaites has started over 20 companies in his career. One of his companies, GSIS, does global security consulting around the world. Another company, P3, LLC, helps sports teams and professional leagues with their business transactions. He is also an investor in more than 100 companies both public and private. Taking the knowledge learned in the world of sports, he formed a company called the Christ Foundation, LLC that gives its services away to churches to help them succeed in the business of the church. He is of counsel to the law firm of Fennemore Craig and a pastor at a church in Scottsdale, Arizona.
He is the author of two books: “Fear Not” and “In the Beginning” and is currently working on a third book. He is a grateful husband to wife Ann and a blessed father of Alexander and Jacob.
Dean, College of Doctoral Studies
Michael Berger, EdD, joined GCU in 2004. Previous to his role as dean, Dr. Berger oversaw development of curriculum and instructional material for GCU. His dissertation focused on instructional techniques that online faculty can use to better connect with their students. He has presented at numerous conferences on the subjects of higher education assessment, online learning and virtual doctoral education. Dr. Berger earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dayton, and he received his EdD in organizational leadership from GCU.
Dean, College of Education
Since early childhood, Meredith Critchfield, PhD, has been fascinated by teaching and learning. Hailing from a long line of K-12 educators, Dr. Critchfield’s love of teaching and learning has led her to spend the last 18 years in the field of education. Prior to her appointment as Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Critchfield served in online and ground faculty chair roles and was awarded the earned rank of professor at GCU. She also served as a K-12 teacher in the United States and abroad in Kenya.
Dr. Critchfield has contributed to over 40 publications, including a co-authored book with Columbia University’s Teachers College Press, as well as over 55 international, national and regional conference presentations. Her passion for education has netted her eight major awards including Teacher of the Year, Leadership in Research and Scholarly Activity Award, Mental Attitude Award and Distinguished Faculty Scholar. Dr. Critchfield’s research interests include literacy education, teaching English learners and teacher preparation.
Dean, College of Engineering and Technology
Paul Lambertson joined GCU as the inaugural dean of the College of Engineering and Technology (CET) in November 2023. In this role, he and his team focus on igniting the potential within every student, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to become innovative and entrepreneurial leaders in their respective fields.
Prior to joining GCU, Mr. Lambertson served in numerous leadership roles in The Boeing Company, including chief engineer, systems engineering, Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) leading all functional activities for the nearly 1,200 BCA Systems Engineers; integration leader, 777/777X Fuselage Assembly Center leading the production engineering and integration for Boeing’s wide body 777 and new 777X fuselages; with his last three and a half years serving as The Boeing Company’s chief of standards.
Additionally, Mr. Lambertson served over 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. A command, instructor and chief examiner pilot, he logged over 3,300 flying hours in various aircraft worldwide, including 147 combat hours. His career included a variety of individual contributor, management, command and senior leadership positions. He was selected as an Air Force chief of staff intern to DARPA. He has commanded missions globally including in both the Iraq and Afghanistan combat zones, as well as commanding the National Science Foundation’s support missions to Antarctica (Operation DEEP FREEZE). Finally, he served as the director of systems engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy and continues as a senior advisor to the USAF Academy’s Systems Engineering program.
Dean Lambertson holds a Bachelor of Science in Space Operations from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of the USAF’s Air War College. He enjoys spending time with his family and volunteering. He serves with the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) as a transport mission pilot and character development instructor. He has served in leadership roles with organizations, including Aerospace Industries Association, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, SAE International and the Everett Gospel Mission. Dean Lambertson and his wife have two children.
Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Sherman Elliott, EdD, started with GCU in January 2011 as a faculty member in the College of Education where he served for a year and a half as chair of secondary education. Since 2013, Dr. Elliott has served as the assistant dean and recently acting dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Prior to joining GCU, Dr. Elliott held the positions of assistant clinical professor of secondary education and director of the Center for Civics Education at Arizona State University.
Dr. Elliott received his doctorate in teaching innovation and leadership in 2009 from Arizona State University. He holds a BA in government and an MA in theology from the University of San Francisco. Dr. Elliott has served as an executive board member for the Arizona Council of the Social Studies and serves as a leader reviewer for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and a judge for National History Day. Dr. Elliott’s research interests include effective strategies for teaching religious studies objectives in social studies courses, Holocaust education and adolescent moral development..
Dean, College of Natural Sciences
Mark Wooden, PhD, earned a Bachelor of Science in wildlife conservation biology and a PhD in biology with a focus on integrative and comparative environmental physiology from Arizona State University. In addition to previously serving GCU as the dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, he also served as the dean of the College of Health Sciences, and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as various administrative roles at GCU, including department chair of math and sciences.
Dr. Wooden possesses experience teaching in the field as professor of biology, adjunct faculty, teaching associate and guest lecturer at several universities in Phoenix. His vast knowledge has afforded Dr. Wooden the opportunity to teach an array of fascinating biology classes such as human anatomy and physiology, endocrinology, pathophysiology and developmental biology.
Dean, College of Nursing and Health Care Professions
Lisa Smith, PhD, RN, CNE, served GCU as assistant dean of the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions prior to her appointment as dean. Previously, she taught for 10 years in a pre-licensure nursing program in South Florida. Before academia, Dr. Smith spent 20 years in hospital nursing, 15 of those years in managerial and executive leadership positions including chief nursing officer with a for-profit hospital system, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA).
Dr. Smith has been a registered nurse (RN) for 32 years and has earned BSN, MSN and PhD degrees. She also holds national certification as a certified nurse educator (CNE) with the National League of Nursing.
Dr. Smith has two published articles on nursing simulation, one on the influence of virtual world and high fidelity simulation when teaching critical skills and the second article on "Substitution of Clinical Experience With Simulation in Prelicensure Nursing Programs: A National Survey in the United States."
Dean, College of Theology
Jason Hiles, PhD, joined GCU in 2013. He is a graduate of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design where he received a BFA in sculpture in 1998. He also earned an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2001 and a PhD in systematic theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008. Upon graduation from Southeastern, he was appointed assistant professor at Louisiana College and later named associate dean of the Caskey School of Divinity. Dr. Hiles is a member of the Evangelical Theological and Evangelical Philosophical Societies.
Dean, Honors College
Breanna Naegeli, PhD, started with GCU in August 2009 as a university development representative with the Traditional Campus Operations department. After five years in various operational and management roles, Dr. Naegeli transitioned into Academic Affairs as a program manager for Institutional Effectiveness and served as an adjunct faculty within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and Colangelo College of Business. She served as the associate dean of the Honors College prior to her appointment as dean.
Dr. Naegeli received her Doctorate in Performance Psychology in 2020 from Grand Canyon University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bethany College, Master of Arts in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Argosy University and Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Dr. Naegeli also supports the university’s traditional study abroad and short-term global studies programs, is the editor-in-chief for the Canyon Journal of Undergraduate Research, is the university’s chapter sponsor for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Alpha Chi National College Honors Society. Her research interests include people development, leadership and professional development, team dynamics, peak performance and resilience strategies.
Vice President of Student Affairs
Tim Griffin, EdD, joined GCU in 2010 and currently serves as the dean of students, university pastor and vice president of student affairs. Dr. Griffin has a bachelor's degree in theology, a Master of Arts degree in ministry and a doctorate in organizational leadership. Dr. Griffin has a professional background that includes public speaking, leadership, fundraising and resource management. He has served for more than 25 years in clergy positions, ranging from being a pastor and chaplain to university minister.
Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel
Ray Kaselonis joined Grand Canyon University as General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer in 2022. He has extensive experience representing, advising and counseling thousands of clients, including faith-based non-profit organizations all across the country on many different matters. Kaselonis began his legal career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., where he worked in the legislative arena for nearly 12 years. He has also taught thousands of undergraduate students as an adjunct professor of government and economics as well as served as an associate pastor at a large church.
Kaselonis earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1997 and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Regent University School of Law in 2001. As a law student, he served on the Regent University Law Review where he subsequently had two law review articles published. Kaselonis is admitted to practice law in Arizona, Oregon, Maryland and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Chief Financial Officer
Junette West joined GCU in August 2018 as the university’s vice president of business and finance. Mrs. West graduated from Grand Canyon College with a BS in Accounting and she also has an MBA and has maintained her CPA license for over 30 years. Mrs. West’s experience is primarily in the higher education sector. She has held various finance and accounting roles such as controller, VP-finance for international operations, VP-corporate treasurer, VP-financial operations and VP-enterprise risk management.
Vice President of Student Financial Aid Compliance
Trish Leonard joined GCU in 2020 as the vice president of student financial aid compliance. She graduated from Ottawa University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management. She has worked for over 40 years in Federal Title IV compliance roles for private consulting firms, software providers and post-secondary institutions. She spent 14 years running a financial aid consulting firm specializing in audit and program review resolution and client training as well as risk management and federal, state and accrediting regulatory compliance. She was a member of the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE) from 2007 through 2020, a member of the AZPPSE complaint committee and chairperson for the AZPPSE Board.
Vice President of Athletics
Jamie Boggs currently serves as the vice president of Athletics at GCU after serving as interim athletic director for more than two years and deputy athletic director for four years. In her role, she provides leadership and drives the overall operations for the department. In 2018, Boggs was appointed by the Western Athletic Conference to serve on the NCAA Division I Council. She was also selected by the NCAA to serve as vice chair of the Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee.
Vice President for Advancement
Kale Gober, EdD, joined GCU in 2020, bringing more than a decade of experience in higher education development. Dr. Gober majored in education at Henderson State University, obtained a Master of Science in Instructional Technology from the University of Central Arkansas and has earned a Doctor of Education. Prior to joining GCU, Dr. Gober served as the vice president for advancement at the University of Central Arkansas. He arrived at Central Arkansas after serving as assistant athletics director for development at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Gober began his career as the director of athletics at Henderson State University.
Vice President of Facilities Planning and Operations
James (Jim) Kossler joined GCU in 2019 after serving 26 years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a colonel. As a career civil engineer officer, Kossler served two tours in Southwest Asia and commanded three times at the squadron and group level, including the 56th Mission Support Group at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Glendale, Arizona. During his time at Luke AFB, Kossler provided oversight and direction for six squadrons encompassing facilities management and construction, logistics, transportation, recreation, lodging, human resources, procurement, security and law enforcement, fire department, emergency management, housing, mail center and communications.
In his role at GCU, Kossler oversees campus development, facility management and construction, environmental health and safety, transportation and emergency management. Kossler received a Master of Science and Master of Arts in Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology and Webster University, respectively. He earned a bachelor’s in architecture from the University of Notre Dame in 1992 and is a licensed architect in Illinois and Arizona.
Vice President of Government Relations
Dana Drew Shaw currently serves as the vice president for government relations and joined GCU in 2021. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Toledo and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Toledo College of Law where she was a published member of the law review. Drew Shaw has worked in higher education for over 15 years in various capacities. She worked with several institutions while an attorney at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP and served as a full-time faculty member at Belmont University. Additionally, her professional background includes serving as an elected school board member, teaching sports law as an adjunct professor and consulting with several individuals/organizations on business strategy and professional development.
Assistant Vice President of GCU Marketing
Tamara Rios, MS joined GCU’s marketing department in 2008 and most recently served as the director of marketing services at Grand Canyon Education, Inc. prior to returning to GCU in her current role as the assistant vice president of marketing. An Arizona native, Rios has 16 years of experience in higher education marketing and received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Science in Leadership from GCU.
Driven by her passion for servant leadership, she has led and developed successful teams and created department processes and policies to increase efficiencies. Along with her incredible team, she launched the marketing strategy for several new colleges, departments and enterprises across the university.
Assistant Vice President of Industry Relations and Strategic Partnerships
With more than 17 years of experience in higher education, Haley Fagerlie is known as a connector with an entrepreneurial mindset cultivating mutually beneficial programs and partnerships. In her time at GCU, she has served in various roles such as a faculty member, mentor and student advisor, founder of the GCU AZ HOSA chapter, K12 STEM director, director of dual enrollment compliance, associate director for the Center of Integrated Science, Engineering and Technology, and subsequently played a role in the formation of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, which later grew into two colleges: the College of Engineering and Technology and the College of Natural Sciences. Fagerile has helped to build the various advisory boards focused on engaging industry in the development and alignment of talent pipelines. Focused on relationships and workforce development, Fagerile is responsible for creating the university’s Employer Network for relationship engagement, connecting job opportunities to students.
Fagerile holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry, a Master of Science in Leadership and a Master of Science in Addiction Counseling from GCU. Fagerile is passionate about lifelong learning, servant leadership and community engagement. Over the past decade, she’s served on boards and committees for education, workforce development and healthcare.
She currently serves on the board of directors for WESTMARC (the Western Maricopa Coalition) as the co-chair of the Education and Workforce Committee and on the board of trustees for Abrazo Hospital Central, Scottsdale and Cave Creek campuses.
Assistant Vice President of Research and Grants
Scott Greenberger, EdD, originally joined GCU in 2013 as a full-time instructor for the College of Doctoral Studies. Since that time, he has served in several administrative roles focused on supporting faculty and student research, including dissertation chair, research manager, research director and research executive director. He has been especially active in the College of Doctoral Studies, serving on 11 dissertation committees to completion, including eight as chair and three as content expert. He has also served as a subject matter expert in writing 10 e-book chapters on methodology and research design.
Dr. Greenberger has distinguished himself in the field of reflective practice, creating and publishing the “Guide for Reflective Practice,” which emphasizes an evidence-based approach to documenting practical problem-solving. He has published many scholarly papers in peer-reviewed academic journals on teaching, learning and reflective practice, and has twice presented his research at the World Congress on Positive Psychology. He currently serves as the executive editor for the Canyon Journal of Undergraduate Research and the Journal of Scholarly Engagement.
Dr. Greenberger earned his Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from GCU, Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John's College and Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Studies from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay.
Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations
Bob Romantic joined GCU in 2011 and currently serves as the executive director of communications and public relations. Known for his collaborative storytelling, editing and communication skills during 25 years as an award-winning journalist and editor in Arizona, Romantic now uses that experience to shine a light on the many positive stories emanating from the university.
A native Arizonan who was born in Phoenix, he oversees all communications at GCU — externally via news.gcu.edu and GCU Magazine, internally through direct communications to employees, students and stakeholders, and through public relations efforts with local and national media.
He received his Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona.
