CEA Directory

As the Director of Enrollment, Gina delivers continuous support and guidance across the entire enrollment team. Knowing that our CEA students and staff come first, Gina brings talent and drive to provide superior assistance and leadership within this organization. Gina has been working in education for over 15 years, with experience in admissions and enrollment, learning and educational development, and industrial and organizational improvements. Gina also took her passion for education a step further by co-authoring and designing a college textbook, which is used at colleges across the United States.

Gina earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Washington and Jefferson College in 2003 and began her admissions and enrollment career in 2006 back in Pittsburgh, PA. Since then, Gina relocated to Phoenix, AZ, earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis on Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She remains a member of the Psi Chi International Honor Society.

Gina recognizes the value of higher education and encourages all potential students she meets to pursue their educational goals and dreams!

Ashley Groves, born and raised in Phoenix and currently resides in Chandler, AZ. She is a graduate of Colorado Technical University with a Bachelor of Science in Management. She brings over 15 years of experience within the Higher Education Financial Services Industry.

Ashley has previous leadership experience from Grand Canyon University as Finance Team Lead. As well as experience from Delta Career Education in the Training Department and as a Financial Services Helpdesk Analyst. Her greatest achievement is being a mother to her son, Ty. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, cooking with her best friend, Pilates, and yoga.

Friluftsliv is the motto I have tried to live my life by since I learned about the concept during my study abroad trip to Norway in 2013. Friluftsliv is a Scandinavian concept that directly translates to something like, "open air life". My time abroad was not only my first time to Norway, but my first time traveling outside of the United States and little did I know it was just the beginning of my journey to experience places, people, and cultures from all over the world. This concept of friluftsliv teaches you to stop and see, feel, and experience all that is around you — reminds you to keep your spirit of adventure alive — and being able to share that kind of passion for experiencing difference, self-reflection, and knowledge is my favorite part of working with our students.

I grew up near Chicago, Illinois and went away to Minnesota State University for my Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Scandinavian Studies which is when I chose to study abroad during my junior year. After graduating with my BA, I attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and received my Masters of Education in Counseling and Student Affairs. During my time at NAU, I interned with the Center for International Education and was able to have so many amazing experiences during my two years there. I co-taught a class for incoming international students, hosted programs, co-founded an international student club, facilitated multiple cultural outings throughout the state of Arizona and much more. I chose to work specifically with our international student population at NAU to complete my counseling practicum hours for my graduate degree and those were some of the most profound memories I have from my time there.

After graduating from NAU, I wanted to experience a part of the U.S. that I'd never experienced — so I moved to the Northeastern most state, Maine. I lived and worked in higher education in Maine for four years at the University of Maine before heading to Ohio for the next two years. I have been lucky enough to work in higher education, specifically Residential Life, at a multitude of Colleges/Universities for eight years. But, Arizona has truly had my heart since my time in Flagstaff and I am so thrilled to call this place my home once again.

When I'm not at work, I spend my time traveling with my husband, two kids, and our pup — consuming new foods, meeting new people, and learning how to say, "I'll take your largest coffee possible" in as many languages as I can because Friluftsliv!