Gonzaga - McKinstry Partnership Addresses Talent and Workforce Strength

Gonzaga University and McKinstry announced a landmark partnership designed to accelerate innovation, expand the region’s engineering workforce and create a new model of collaboration between higher education and industry. The partnership strengthens Gonzaga’s position as a regional talent engine while advancing McKinstry’s long-term commitment to developing purpose-driven professionals across Washington and the broader Inland Northwest.

Scholarship and Research Support

As one of Gonzaga’s top corporate partners and a national leader in the built-environment and clean-energy sector, McKinstry is investing in a comprehensive model that directly links academic preparation to in-demand workforce needs. The partnership includes expanded benefaction from Dean Allen and the McKinstry Charitable Foundation — long-time champions of Gonzaga students through student scholarships, senior design projects in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the McKinstry Fellows research program — with new scholarship commitments honoring Gonzaga President Emeritus Thayne McCulloh and additional support for undergraduate research. 

“We are proud to deepen our long-standing relationship with Gonzaga,” says McKinstry CEO Dean Allen. “Gonzaga students and graduates bring talent, curiosity and purpose to the work ahead, and this partnership creates clear, meaningful pathways from the classroom to industry, reflecting McKinstry and Gonzaga’s shared commitments to the future of this region.”

Student Pathways to Engineering Careers and Innovation Opportunities

A cornerstone of the partnership is a new School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)–aligned career pipeline that offers select students the opportunity for paid internships, integrated industry mentorship, and a pathway to full-time employment at McKinstry upon graduation (read more here). Developed in close collaboration between Gonzaga and McKinstry, this model provides students with unparalleled access to real-world engineering experience while addressing critical talent needs across Washington’s growing clean-energy and infrastructure sectors. To advance alignment at every stage, a McKinstry leader will serve on the SEAS Dean’s Advisory Council, ensuring the partnership remains tightly connected to industry trends and employer demand. 

Furthermore, the partnership provides opportunities for Gonzaga students to study, work and create in McKinstry’s “living labs” environments. Students are provided opportunities, where appropriate and safe, to engage in real-world learning alongside industry professionals, supporting innovation and partnership between higher education and industry. 

“This partnership reflects Gonzaga’s commitment to preparing globally minded engineers who are ready to lead in a rapidly evolving industry,” says Gonzaga President Katia Passerini, Ph.D. “McKinstry’s investment expands opportunity while aligning academic excellence with workforce needs, demonstrating how higher education and employers can work together to strengthen regional competitiveness and serve the common good."

Action for Impact

Built environment industries face a critical talent gap. There is a clear need for more highly trained technical workers to design, build, operate and maintain buildings and energy infrastructure – especially engineers across mechanical, electrical and other disciplines. Building that workforce is a core tenet of McKinstry’s five-year Action for Impact strategy. Working with partners like Gonzaga University creates a OneTeam approach for career-connected learning programs that close the workforce gap and ensure a robust talent pipeline for generations to come. 

Template for New Partnership Collaborations

This partnership underscores Gonzaga’s expanding commitment to innovative, high-impact collaborations that connect students with purpose-driven employers and advance the region’s economic vitality. With dozens of Gonzaga alumni already thriving across McKinstry teams, the expanded partnership represents a natural evolution of shared values, talent and mission. Together, Gonzaga and McKinstry are establishing a replicable model of industry-university alignment that creates long-term value for students, employers and communities.

Learn more

For more information on Gonzaga and corporate/industry partnerships, contact Assistant Vice President of Development Jeff Geldien, Ph.D.
geldien@gonzaga.edu | (509) 313-6213