NW Valley Times

Demi Skinner recently received the College of Education's (COE) ground adjunct award for excellence in leading and serving. The recipients ranged from 25-year veterans to first-time college instructors.

“For some, it’s their first time here,” said College of Education Faculty Chair Dr. Alicia Kozimor about adjunct professors at a recent Grand Canyon University College of Education Fall Adjunct Conference.

It was also the first time COE held the conference for adjunct professors, while full-time faculty had a conference the week before.

“We are welcoming adjuncts to campus to create community,” Kozimor said of the approximately 250 who registered to attend in-person or online. “Our adjuncts need to feel they are connected, get a feel for leadership and get the year started.”

Participants came from various locations.

Cathryn Warren of Lucedale, Mississippi, expressed her enthusiasm for being on campus. She is a new adjunct teaching early childhood special education courses online. In March 2023, Warren shared her story with GCU News about how she learned the grace and love of her COE colleagues during two miscarriages while working as an instructional assistant.

Warren displayed photos of her children at the faculty conference: Alex, age 14 months; Ryan, 7; and Charlie, 14 months. Assistant professor Jillian Hartman was by her side.

“Have you seen the pictures?” Hartman asked. “They are adorable.”

Fourteen months ago, Warren gave birth to twin daughters, and the department celebrated.

Warren attended the conference to meet colleagues who supported her through tough times and to experience Welcome Week energy.

“Coming (to GCU) in person is rejuvenating in a sense because it renews and reinforces my ‘why,’ which is ultimately to help our students succeed,” she said.

Adjuncts were informed about the college’s goals and accomplishments as well as teaching methods, character education, Christian worldview, civil discourse, and other topics.

A pep talk from COE Dean Dr. Meredith Critchfield energized attendees. Each year, the college selects one Bible verse to guide them through the academic year. This year:

“Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic. Be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord” – Romans 12-11

Critchfield noted that "passion" was a recurring theme among faculty discussions—a desire to bring more passion into teaching to help students.

“So what I ask for all of us this year is be on fire. We know that teacher preparation and K-12 education is facing a contentious time. It’s complicated; it’s political; it’s layered. But if we continue to focus on serving our students and serving the Lord we can’t go wrong,” she said.

COE has graduated more than 80,000 students in the last 15 years. School administrators who have hired these graduates describe them as “fundamentally different.”

“I know why," Critchfield said. "Because all of you pour into them in ways that go beyond their assignments. You are interested in their character; you are interested in virtue development; you are interested in who they are as humans."

She emphasized that this dedication aligns with this year's guiding verse: "It specifically says be on fire. Have passion for what you do."

COE acknowledged two faculty members demonstrating such passion: Jackie Pelegrin won the online adjunct award for leading and serving, while Demi Skinner won the ground adjunct faculty award.

“I feel like I am passionate about everything I do,” said Skinner of Anthem. “I was always told never be lukewarm in anything you do...always be on fire."

Skinner highlighted her innovative teaching methods: "Not just cookie cutter style but out of the box; they were always up and moving...I try to bring in peers from the field or have students go out into classrooms."

Skinner's commitment extends beyond class hours: "I continue to mentor them even out of class."

And that commitment encapsulated what this conference aimed to foster among its participants.

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