President
Grand Canyon University
Scottsdale, AZ
Dr. Kathy Player joined Grand Canyon University in 1998 and has served in several leadership roles culminating in her appointment as President of the University on August 1, 2008. Previously, she served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer, a promotion she received in July 2007. Dr. Player also served as the Dean of the Ken Blanchard College of Business and the College of Entrepreneurship.
Dr. Player is responsible for all of the academic and related administrative functions of the University. She provides the leadership and vision for advancing the University’s commitment to providing quality academic programs leading to competitive preparation for the workforce of today and tomorrow. In addition, she brings an outstanding level of scholarship and professionalism to the role as president. She has numerous publications in both journals and books including, Words of Wisdom from Pivotal Nurse Leaders (Sept 2008) and Pivotal Moments in Nursing: Leaders Who Changed a Path of a Profession, Volume I and Volume II (2004 & 2007) to name a few.
Dr. Player was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer to Arizona’s Commission for Post Secondary Education. Since 2009, she has served as a Peer Reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and serves on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s (NCSBN) Journal of Nursing Research, is a board member for Scottsdale Hospital healthcare system, and St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Hospital. In addition, she chairs the board for the Independent Colleges and Universities in Arizona (ICUA) representing private accredited institutions throughout the state. Dr. Player was the second Vice President for the American Nurses Association (2006-2007), and served as a board member for the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (2006-2007), Arizona Nurses’ Foundation (2006-2011), and was past president of the Arizona Nurses’ Association (2001-2005).
Dr. Player was named Arizona’s Who’s Who in Business - # 2 Ranked Woman in Education 2011, awarded a RWJ Executive Nursing Fellowship in Leadership (2002-2005) and is an invited member of the Global Nursing Exchange. She also served as the past Vice President of Nu Upsilon chapter of Sigma Theta Tau and is a current member of the Beta Mu chapter of Sigma Theta Tau.
Dr. Player has an earned Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University (formerly known as University of Sarasota) (Florida); an MBA from Grand Canyon University (Arizona); a Masters of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University (Arizona); a Master of Science in Counseling from Nova Southeastern University (Florida); and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Jose