Spirit April 2024

April 2024 | Vol. 25 #7

Spirit is Gonzaga's monthly newsletter designed to inform faculty, staff, trustees and regents about what’s new and important at the University.

In This Issue

 
 

Running on a Full Tank

Jackie Van Allen on a sunflower Run.
Director of Sponsored Research and Programs, Jackie Van Allen, is seen here participating in Sun Mountain 25k, Winthrop, Wash., in May 2023.

Director of Sponsored Research and Programs Jackie Van Allen tried to retire a year ago, but was brought back to GU a few months later, and now is helping faculty and staff prepare research grant proposals to bring more money into academic projects on campus.

“It is gratifying to see funding provided for research and programmatic activities that benefit faculty, staff, students and our community,” Van Allen says.

 

Working Their Way Into a Crowded Market

Center For Lifelong Learning Staff.
CLL crew includes Director Rachelle Strawther, Admission Operations’ Audrey Minton, Program Manager Kerri Danowski and Assistant Director Kristin Plouffe.

Founding Director of Gonzaga’s Center for Lifelong Learning Rachelle Strawther and her small staff are building community inroads with community partners and providing specific training for needs in business and industry.

 

890 Years of Service to GU Honored

29 anniversarians being honored for their work.
29 Anniversarians

Twenty-nine Gonzaga employees who reached milestone anniversaries in 2023 of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years serving students and colleagues at this university, were honored by President Thayne McCulloh for their combined 890 years of combined devotion.

 

Systematic and Transformational Changes

Office of Inclusive Excellence Staff on stairs,
 
Since Robin Kelley was hired, then promoted to chief diversity officer in 2020, Gonzaga’s attention to improving its diversity, equity, inclusion and sense of belonging has taken a sharpened focus.

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New Residence Hall Taking Shape

new residence hall in construction.
This $15 million project “is progressing on time and on budget,” Ken Sammons says. Photo by Zack Berlat.

The new residence hall, under construction on the corner of Sharp and Cincinnati, is rapidly taking shape. It will be completed in late fall 2024, with occupancy planned for spring semester 2025, reports Ken Sammons, associate vice president, Plant and Construction Services.

It will house 92 students. This facility has a mix of one, two and four beds per one- and two-room suites, each suite having its own bath. One apartment is set aside for a faculty- in-residence.

The hall is designed as a second-year housing structure and is about 5,000 square feet larger than the earlier versions of Dillon, Goller and Twohy halls, which house the same number of students.

“In designing the spaces inside the building, we wanted to create a space that met the needs of second-year students,” says Matt Lamsma, dean of Student Development. “We’re attempting to accomplish a blend between the need for privacy and community. The common areas throughout the building are designed to draw students out of their room for studying, group work, community building, relaxation and fun.

“The first-floor common area is connected to the common kitchen, which opens to a patio on the south side of the building, where there will be limited parking. The second floor will be outfitted with recreational equipment and be a more 'active' space. The third floor will be more study and group work focused. Each floor has a small study room with large whiteboards and technology for group work,” Lamsma says.

The building houses a classroom for Core classes that are connected to living and learning communities or focused on a student’s second year at Gonzaga.

In January, residents of Alliance, Lincoln and Roncalli halls will move into the new space for second semester. Plans for those vacated residence halls will be detailed later this year.


GU Honored Among Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs

Picture of Gonzaga's student affairs staff outside.
 
Gonzaga was among colleges and universities selected for this honor based upon its focus on staff diversity and practices, compensation and benefits, professional development, family friendliness and other workplace factors.

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Doing the Laundry

Tet lunar new year at the COG, student walking in traditional red dress.
 
Expo ’74 put Spokane on the map long before Gonzaga basketball left its indelible mark on the world. And now, Gonzaga is giving back to Expo+50 through multiple projects on and off our campus celebrating 50 years of impact the world’s fair had on this region. A laundry list!

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Work Values Champion Honored

Work Values Champions April Spirit 2024.

Law school Professor Mary Pat Treuthart and business Professor Molly Pepper are recognized as March Work Value Champions.

These two longstanding academicians affirm their commitment to human dignity and advancing a culture of inclusiveness, coordinator Brian Steverson says.

Treuthart sits with students through difficult transitions and moments in their lives, walking them through life’s hiccups. Her nominator says she never gives up on a student. She is retiring at the end of this year, and “I have no idea how we will be able to fill the gap she will leave,” her nominator adds.

Pepper has championed diversity, equity and inclusion in the School of Business Administration. She was way ahead of her time leading the business school’s inclusiveness efforts, holding strategy sessions, establishing an Inclusive Excellence committee, and working universitywide to advance this cause, her nominator says.


Distinguished Commencement Speakers Announced

Students in Wolf Auditorium, listening to guest speaker.
 
University of Washington Vice Provost Edward Taylor, Native Forward Scholars Fund CEO Angelique Albert and former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Robert Gates will be featured speakers and honorees at the 131st commencement ceremonies May 11-12.

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Around Campus

» Gonzaga has extended the confirmation date for newly accepted undergraduate students to June 1. Recognizing the concern students and families face in making timely college decisions, GU is also offering an Estimated Financial Aid Offer for accepted students to help them assess their options. These two initiatives come in response to delays in the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process that has hindered students and families nationwide from completing the form used to determine eligibility for financial aid.

» Events in the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center: PAMYUA (Inuit music), April 12, 7:30 p.m.; Sing the World Awake! An Evening with Moira Smiley & Gonzaga Choirs, April 13, 7:30 p.m.; Cello & Piano Recital featuring Kevin Hekmatpanah & Yoon-Wha Roh, April 14, 4 p.m.; Pulitzer-Prize winning author Edward Humes, April 18, 7:30 p.m.; Emerging Artists Series, April 19, 7:30 p.m.; Spring Dance Concert, April 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; vocalist Erin O’Meally and pianist Priscilla Novarro, April 28, 2 p.m.; Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra featuring guitar soloist Pepe Romero, April 29, 7:30 p.m.; Wind Ensemble Concert, May 1, 7:30 p.m.; Spring Choral Celebration, May 5, 2 p.m.; Las Cafeteras, May 8, 7:30 p.m.

» EXPO '74: 50 years of Environmental Justice in the Inland Northwest, April 12, all day, Barbieri Courtroom/Law School.

» Student Choreography Concert, April 12, 7 p.m., Magnuson Theatre.

» Palestinian Refugees and the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza, April 15, 5 p.m., Zoom webinar sponsored by the Provost’s office. Register here.  

» Fentanyl Crisis in Spokane County, April 16, 4 p.m., Jepson Wolff Auditorium.

» Sports: A Guerrilla Strategy for Shifting Gender Norms Globally, featuring Sarah Murray, executive director of Free to Run, April 17, noon, Jundt Auditorium.

» Law and its Center for Civil & Human Rights will host With Pride: 2024 LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy in Legal Education Summit, April 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the law school. $60 Summit registration fee.

» “Without Them I am Lost,” a full-length documentary on American writer Damon Falke’s migration to the northernmost coastline of Norway and the people who thrive there, directed by GU Theatre Arts Professor Charlie Pepiton, April 23, 6 p.m., Hemmingson Auditorium.

» Senior Design Expo, May 1, Foley Lawn, noon-2 p.m., featuring 41 projects by GU engineering and computer science students.

» The Academic Honors Convocation is combining with the Student Magis Award presentations this year, on May 10, 11 a.m. in the Hemmingson Ballroom.

» A separate event to celebrate faculty award winners and retiring faculty is scheduled May 3, 3-5 p.m., Globe Room in Cataldo Hall.


Noteworthy 

New Hires

Amber Stastny, paralegal/social justice issues, Law; Dominique McBroome, manager/ dean’s suite & faculty support, Law; Dorian Beckner, custodian, Plant; Evana Abrams, custodian, Plant; Heather Casey, clerk, Mail Services; Kevin Schenk, asst women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Lonni Marlow, budget asst, Community Engagement; SarahAnn Bennett, program asst III, Global Engagement

Position Changes/ Promotions

Lea Hart, specialist/academic budget & personnel, Provost; Lucas Schwind, leadership annual gift officer, University Advancement

Goodbyes

Anastacia Lee, asst director, Health & Wellness; David Alsept, painter, Plant; Jeffrey Marcum, electrician, Plant; Jeffrey Gilbert, SARL tech, Engineering; Lindsey Conley, sr recruiter, Human Resources; Martin Northcroft, asst athletic director/marketing & creative services, Athletics; Nicola Mannetter, director, New Student & Family Programs; Patricia Deines, benefits & leave specialist, Human Res; Peter Chastain, groundskeeper, Plant

Anniversaries

30 Heather Teshome, sr assoc registrar, Registrar

15  Vipul Saxena, CRM tech architect, ITS

10 Reme Bruesch, program asst II, Education; Lori Jennings, administrative asst, Arts & Sciences; Jordan Green, asst women’s basketball coach, Athletics

5 Mike Nelson, director/facilities operations, Athletics