Phi Beta Kappa Epsilon of Washington
Chapter Installation and Student Induction Ceremony
A private ceremony was held on Gonzaga’s campus on Sunday, April 27, at 4:00 p.m. in College Hall Chapel to install the chapter and induct founding, chapter, and student members.
Recording Available Below
Foundation Members
J. Donald Curran, ‘60 J.D.
Attorney and Philanthropist
Highly regarded for providing ethical advice to colleagues in the legal profession, Don Curran is a practicing attorney specializing in elder law and estate planning who provides pro bono counsel to Hospice and low-income clients referred by the Spokane Bar Association.
Mr. Curran is recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America, as well as in Spokane. He has served in many leadership roles for the Washington State Bar Association and as a Hearing Officer for the Washington State Association for Justice.
The support of and contributions to Gonzaga are many. In 2008, Don established the Curran Gonzaga Law School faculty chair on Legal Ethics and Professionalism. His leadership to the Board of Trustees spanned from 1996 to 2019, and he is now an active Trustee Emeritus. In 2020 he received the Gonzaga Law School Distinguished Service Award.
Va Lena Curran, ‘58 J.D.
Attorney and Philanthropist
Va Lena Curran is an attorney in private practice with Delay, Curran, Thompson, Pontarolo & Walker, P.S. and served as a Support Enforcement Officer for the State of Washington from 1961 to 1979. She is a past member of the Catholic Charities Board and Catholic Charities Foundation.
In 1978, Va Lena was invited as a Lifetime Member of the Gonzaga Law School Board of Advisors, and her dedication to the success of the Law School has been beyond measure. Her leadership as co-chair of the Law School Capital Campaign resulted in the current building located adjacent to the Spokane River and downtown Spokane area.
Mrs. Curran has been an active member of the Law School Foundation for over 38 years. In 2008, she established with her husband the Law School Faculty Chair on Legal Ethics and Professionalism. In 2020, she received the Distinguished Service Award for Gonzaga Law School.
Anna Ledgerwood, M.D.
Professor of Surgery
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Anna Ledgerwood, M.D. grew up on a farm near Pomeroy, Washington and was educated in small Catholic schools in the region. She chose Gonzaga as a college with a strong desire to become a physician, fueled by supporters to finish her studies in 3 years. An internship at Sacred Heart Hospital and tutoring in reading helped her succeed with the MCAT and be accepted as one of 3 women in a medical school class of 100 at Marquette University.
As a surgical resident at Detroit General Hospital, she partnered with Dr. Charles Lucas and they have continued to work together for over 53 years, with over 300 journal publications on multiple aspects of surgical care. Dr. Ledgerwood has served in many local and state surgical organizations and was the first woman president of two American Associations for surgery professionals.
Dr. Ledgerwood is currently the Director of Trauma services at Detroit Receiving Hospital as well as a tenured professor of Surgery at Wayne State University.
Thayne McCulloh, D.Phil.
President
Gonzaga University
Thayne McCulloh is in his 16th year as president and 32nd consecutive year at Gonzaga University. The primary focus throughout his tenure has been to build upon the legacy of his predecessors by increasing the quality of students’ educational experience, thereby increasing Gonzaga’s reputation of excellence in the region and across the nation.
Over the course of his 16-year presidency, Gonzaga was ranked for the first time among the nation’s top 100 universities, numerous buildings and spaces across campus were constructed or improved, $650 million was raised through philanthropic efforts, the Inland Northwest region was positively impacted with the creation of close to 6,000 jobs and efforts like Opportunity Northeast, Gonzaga Family Haven, and the Tech Hub, students served approximately 100,000 volunteer hours each year (equating to over $2.4 million in direct value), a worldwide pandemic was successfully navigated – and a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter was approved for Gonzaga.
Dr. McCulloh’s presidency has been informed by three priorities: (1) for Gonzaga to be an exemplar of American Jesuit higher education; (2) to support excellence across the curriculum; and (3) a focused commitment on institutional viability and sustainability.
Rev. Robert J. Spitzer, S.J.
President
Magis Center of Reason and Faith
Fr. Robert Spitzer is the author of nineteen books and has authored many scholarly articles on faith and science, metaphysics, happiness and ethics. His academic career began as a professor at Georgetown University where he was recognized with a teaching medal. He moved on to Seattle University where he held the Frank Shrontz Endowed Chair in Professional Ethics and received a medal for teaching. His many academic and professional awards include the Aquinas Medal (for Catholic philosophical scholarship). He has started seven institutes dedicated to faith and reason.
While President of Gonzaga University from 1998 to 2009, he increased the student body by 75%, oversaw the construction of 20 new facilities, and raised $200+ million for scholarships and buildings. He also held the John L. Aram Chair of Business Ethics position, and received the university’s highest award, the De Smet Medal.
