NW Valley Times

Grand Canyon University exercise science professor Dr. Zach Zeigler was recently named a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Achieving this title has been a long-standing goal for Zeigler, who stated, "The ACSM is really the main organization in the field of exercise science, so it’s always been something I wanted to do once I felt like I was able to do it."

Zeigler's journey to becoming an ACSM fellow involved fulfilling several requirements, including a significant research component. "You have to put together this application and apply for it. Then there are some requirements, such as being a member of the organization for a number of years," he explained. His extensive research work at GCU contributed significantly to his successful application.

In addition to his role as an exercise science professor, Zeigler also serves as a methodologist in GCU’s College of Doctoral Studies. He emphasized that much of his research was conducted with the help of undergraduate students through the university’s Research and Design Program. “I’ve done that (met the research requirement) with the assistance of the GCU students,” said Zeigler.

Zeigler's efforts extend beyond academia into service roles within ACSM. His students hosted an ACSM Southwest Chapter meeting two years ago and have maintained GCU's status as an Exercise is Medicine campus for about five years.

Biology professor Dr. Daisy Savarirajan was also honored recently by being named a fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation (ASA), an organization comprising Christian scientists. Savarirajan focuses her research on desert plants' antimicrobial properties and integrates her faith into her scientific endeavors.

Savarirajan remarked on her dual passions: “For me, it’s about ‘biology and the Bible.’” Her leadership has revitalized GCU’s ASA chapter post-pandemic, now boasting healthy membership numbers again.

Her nomination for ASA fellowship came from national recognition of her efforts within ASA and at GCU. “All these efforts we were doing at GCU were recognized by the ASA leadership at a national level,” she said.

As an ASA fellow, Savarirajan aims to enhance collaboration within ASA and provide growth opportunities for both faculty and students at GCU. She will be traveling to Washington, D.C., this week for the ASA national conference where newly elected fellows will be honored.

“It enhances the prestige of our university because we are now being recognized not only at a national level but at an international level,” she noted.

Manager of Internal Communications Lana Sweeten-Shults can be reached at [email protected] or 602-639-7901.

___