Phoenix, AZ (November 19, 2025) – Grand Canyon University has received a five-year $10.6 million grant from the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation to significantly expand the Canyon Center for Character Education (CCCE). The initiative will weave Christ-like character formation into the fabric of academic programs, co-curricular activities and leadership development across the campus.
The grant builds upon the success of the College of Education’s CCCE, which, through a previous three-year Kern Family Foundation grant, enhanced character formation in K-12 classrooms across the country. With this new funding, the GCU Center will extend its reach across all GCU colleges and departments while continuing to grow influence nationally through the College of Education’s network of faculty, students and partners.
“Cultivating a compassionate Christian community is central to GCU’s mission, and you instantly feel that vibrant culture the moment you step onto our campus,” said GCU President Brian Mueller. “Applying the principles of Christian character formation university-wide will strengthen that mission, further solidify GCU as a national leader in Christian higher education and help equip students not only academically but by developing their entire person. We are grateful to the Kern Family Foundation for its vision and continued support.”
“Equipping students to live flourishing lives and contribute to a flourishing society requires an education that goes beyond knowledge acquisition and technical skill development,” said Kern Family Foundation President James Rahn. “Learners must be anchored in their faith and given regular opportunities in the classroom, via co-curricular activities, and through community engagement to develop and practice their character. We celebrate GCU’s dedication to realizing this vision across the university.”
Character education, which gained attention in the early 1990s, has expanded rapidly over the past 20 years as educators seek holistic approaches to student development. GCU’s CCCE model emphasizes the cultivation of Christian virtue and integrity, preparing students to become principled leaders who serve society with wisdom and compassion. This work builds on the university’s commitment to help students discover their God-given purpose and pursue their vocational callings with excellence.
As part of the grant, Dr. Peter Anderson has been named Executive Director of the CCCE. Currently the Assistant Dean of GCU’s College of Theology, Dr. Anderson will lead the GCU Center in creating a centralized infrastructure to coordinate Christian character initiatives across the university.
“There’s already remarkable work occurring across campus,” Anderson said. “Our role at the CCCE is to connect and strengthen those efforts so the movement gains momentum. The Kern Family Foundation has been an incredible partner in that mission — providing not just resources but ongoing encouragement and support.”
In addition to building a university-wide framework, the CCCE will engage student groups, student government leaders and student athletes through specialized training, mentoring opportunities and college-specific speaker series focused on Christian character formation.
The Kern Family Foundation has a long-standing relationship with GCU, including a $3.2 million grant in 2019 to launch an accelerated pastoral training program. GCU is also a proud member of the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN).