NW Valley Times

The eighth annual Kevin McClean Research Colloquium at Grand Canyon University's Colangelo College of Business facilitated discussions on various research topics, ranging from loyalty and COVID-19 impacts to women's leadership. Dr. Kevin McClean, who initiated the colloquium in 2007 after noticing a lack of research culture at the university, emphasized the importance of understanding ongoing research and opportunities available.

The event featured presentations from faculty and students, with some conducted virtually. "Hopefully, this will inspire some of you," said GCU Provost Dr. Randy Gibb. Participants were allotted seven minutes for their presentations, followed by a three-minute Q&A session.

Dr. Zachary Zeigler presented his work titled “Beyond the Pandemic: Leveraging COVID-19 Insights,” challenging misconceptions about pandemic-related weight gain. His study found that nearly 60% of surveyed students maintained their weight during the pandemic.

Assistant Professor Evelyn Racette highlighted how poor food access affects health and economic growth in her presentation “Addressing Food Deserts to Enhance Economic Mobility.” Racette argued that economic mobility is a justice issue that should be addressed through community empowerment and self-sufficiency.

Biological sciences professor Dr. Randall Ordovich-Clarkson discussed loyalty dynamics in group behaviors, emphasizing the importance of trust and cohesiveness for survival.

Dr. Daisy Savarirajan shared insights from an experiment integrating gospel teachings into science education, while Dr. Kelly R. Maguire presented findings on effective teaching practices in doctoral programs.

Economics associate professor Dr. Kathy Archer examined mentorship's impact on women's leadership styles, and student Jessica Neamtu explored perspectives on euthanasia.