Federal visit follows resolution of disputes
GCU President Brian Mueller hosted McMahon for student conversations, lunch and tours of the university's business incubator and manufacturing facilities. U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, who represents Arizona's 8th Congressional District, joined the visit, GCU News reported.
"I'm coming away from Grand Canyon really understanding servant leadership," McMahon said. She also praised what she described as "a very Christ-centered theme that you hear throughout the university, which I think is incredibly refreshing."
The visit followed the resolution of GCU's long-running disputes with the Department of Education. In May 2025, the department rescinded, with prejudice, a proposed $37.7 million fine concerning alleged misrepresentation of doctoral-program costs. The case was dismissed with no findings or penalties. That December, the department formally recognized GCU as a nonprofit, closing a six-year dispute over its status that began in 2019.
McMahon said she had visited 47 states and many schools and universities. Separately, the department describes her ongoing "Returning Education to the States Tour" as an effort to visit all 50 states, hear from teachers, parents, students and community leaders, and assemble a toolkit of best practices. Its tour page lists stops including Minnesota, West Virginia, Missouri and North Dakota.
Workforce training and student businesses
McMahon highlighted GCU's work preparing students for nursing, teaching, construction, semiconductor, manufacturing and electrical careers. She linked that work to national shortages and the need for affordable college options.
"We certainly want to make sure that more and more colleges are affordable, and that we really are addressing the needs of the country," she said, citing shortages of teachers, nurses and skilled workers.
The visit included a look inside Building 66, home to Canyon Ventures and Lux Precision Manufacturing. Mueller drove the group there by cart as students waved along the way. McMahon also toured CityServe.
Canyon Ventures Director Connor Vicary, CityServe Director Nathan Cooper and Lux Precision Manufacturing founder and CEO Weston Smith explained the incubator's work. Student-founded companies there have produced millions in revenue while giving students opportunities to work in the businesses. At Lux Precision, manufacturing continued during the tour.
Vicary recalled McMahon responding, "Wow, this is so impressive." He said the visit offered a chance to demonstrate the strength of the American economy through businesses operating at GCU.
The university is also expanding its academic offerings. In August 2026, it announced plans for a College of Law and a College of Construction and Industrial Technologies, which will become its 11th and 12th colleges. Projected 2026 enrollment reached a record of about 141,000 students, including roughly 24,000 on campus.
Students share their experience
At lunch, deans and students discussed their programs with McMahon and described how academic study connects with practical experience. The gathering took place in the glass-walled lobby of the nearly completed Sheila and Mike Ingram Honors College building.
GCU News described the building as a renovated, three-story facility with 51,000 square feet at the center of campus. Completion was expected by fall 2026. The Honors College had about 2,998 students as of February 2026.
Student body president Judah Floyd and honors student Jordan Ward emphasized a campus community that combines ambition with collaboration and support for others' success.
Students had also helped welcome McMahon at Global Credit Union Arena. GCU cheerleaders and the Thundering Herd Pep Band greeted her on campus, and the band played the national anthem as she entered the arena with Mueller and Hamadeh.
McMahon joined in when Critical Mass led "God Bless America." A video then traced the university's beginnings and growth over the past 15 years. She asked Mueller questions while watching, gave the students two thumbs up and called out "Bravo."
Campus leaders welcome the recognition
Mueller called the visit "reinforcing," saying it allowed McMahon to experience the university's growth and impact in ways a conversation from Washington could not convey. He said that impression would travel back to Washington, D.C., and the White House.
"You can't explain that to people when you're 2,000 miles away. You have to be here, and you have to experience that," Mueller said.
Dana Drew Shaw, GCU's vice president of government relations, said the recognition carried particular weight because McMahon had seen the university's work herself and understood higher education's national role.
McMahon spoke with students and faculty and shook hands before leaving. She wished she could have stayed longer to sing with Critical Mass, and she closed with praise for the institution: "Thank you very, very much for being an example for other universities throughout the country and throughout the world."
