Leadership Team

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.

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. Hightower has received numerous recognitions, including Arizona Superintendent of the Year in 2022. Her greatest accomplishment is bringing more learning opportunities to students especially in cases where they would not otherwise have them. She is a treasure hunter who searches for the talents, skills and intelligence that exist in all children and youth without exception.

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.

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.

He continues to act as a consultant to his predecessor at Indiana Institute of Technology. From 1960 to 1970, Mr. Andorfer served as a full-time faculty member at the International Business College (Fort Wayne, Indiana) and then from 1970 to 1977 as dean and director of the International Junior College of Business (Fort Wayne, Indiana). Mr. Andorfer has actively participated as a consultant and evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association for the past 15 years. During that time, he occupied a three-year term on the Higher Learning Commission’s Academic Review Committee.

Mr. Andorfer and his wife, Mary Janet, continue to play an active role in their community. They chaired a capital campaign to raise $1.5 million with St. Aloysius Catholic Church for its elementary school and new community center.

He has served on numerous boards and is the recipient of several honors and awards. To name just two, he received the Sagamore of Wabash Award (Indiana’s highest citizen award) and another naming him the “Citizen of the Year” by the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in 2003, along with two other university presidents. At the conclusion of Mr. Andorfer’s service at the Indiana Institute of Technology in 2003, “Andorfer Commons” (the newest and largest building on the campus) was dedicated in his honor, remembering him as a man of character and excellence.

Mr. Andorfer earned his Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Education from Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana). In addition, he has completed graduate work in finance and administration.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. He holds FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP), USAF Aircraft Maintenance, and Command & Control licenses/certifications. 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.

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..

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.

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. Additionally, 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."

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.