Ascend With GCU

Ashley Brandon received her EdD in Curriculum and Instruction from Northcentral University. Her doctoral and master’s work focused on serving English language learners in the K-12 environment. Dr. Brandon holds master’s degrees in character education and in leadership and teaching English as a second language. She also holds two associate degrees, one in elementary education and one in general studies, and her bachelor’s is in elementary education.

Dr. Brandon is the assistant director for the Canyon Center for Character Education at GCU. In this role, she serves leaders, educators and students in cultivating a flourishing society through virtue formation and the development of practical wisdom. Dr. Brandon was a primary education teacher for more than seven years, teaching grades K-6. She has also served as a higher education instructor for more than 12 years, supporting students across a variety of education courses. She is passionate about education and making a meaningful difference in the lives of students.

Dr. Moss is an author, nurse researcher and independent consultant who speaks internationally to improve communication and teamwork in healthcare systems. She uses her experience as an organization development specialist to provide strategic management guidance to established nurse executives, as well as professional development pathways and career coaching to emerging leader candidates.

With a primary focus on intergenerational dynamics, Dr. Moss offers contemporary and practical management strategies suitable for engaging and retaining the age-diverse workforce. She advocates globally for a fresh and purposeful approach to management to abate the intensifying stresses of modern-day leadership.

Emily Farkas has more than 20 years of experience in education, including work as a middle school English language arts teacher in Title I schools, instruction of first grade through college-aged students abroad through a Fulbright Teacher Exchange and undergraduate teacher preparation at GCU.

She has extended her love of education through her work in GCU’s College of Education as the program director for the Canyon Center for Character Education and by mentoring student teachers as a faculty supervisor. Emily recently completed a Master of Arts in Character Education at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and is intrigued by the enormous potential impact character education can have. She is passionate about making positive impacts in the lives of others and mentoring individuals to pursue both academic and personal growth.

Lindi Hash, MSSW, LCSW, is a graduate of the University of Texas and a licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience in healthcare social work, private practice counseling, telehealth and higher education. She has held management and leadership roles in all her practice and educational settings. Lindi has successfully maintained retention rates of more than 98% with both in-person and remote workgroups. She adheres to the "Three Rs" method — recruitment, reward and recognition — to achieve long-term employee retention and organizational success.

Lindsi Harris is a clinical educator at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, where she facilitates the new graduate nurse residency program and provides clinical education to staff members. She has worked in diverse settings and roles, including cardiovascular and medical intensive care units, U.S. Embassy health unit nurse and patient safety program coordinator.