March 2024 | Vol. 25 #6
In This Issue
Finding His Way
New Jesuit Superior of the Della Strada community, Fr. Gilbert Sunghera, had only visited Gonzaga once before accepting his new role here in January. But he’s getting used to his surroundings in the Great Northwest after growing up and working in urban America.
Tech Hub Proposal Progressing
Gonzaga University and Lakeside Companies of Post Falls are leading the charge to bring a regional technology and information hub to Spokane, and with it, perhaps as much as $75 million to launch the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center near Spokane International Airport.
Spotlight on Faculty and Their Stories
Faculty Featured in One-Minute Video Intros
Gonzaga’s web content managers and social media specialists have collaborated with faculty members across campus to showcase them in short, fun videos that are shared on Gonzaga’s social media channels. “With this project, we aim to not only showcase our immensely talented faculty members, but also provide a chance for current and prospective students to learn more about them,” says Erin de Silva, social media specialist who worked with social media partner Grace McElligott.
To view these videos and other faculty print stories, navigate to Faculty Voices collections on Gonzaga’s website.
“Here you will find the videos that we have created with “Faculty Feature” in the title. If you have a colleague that you would like to nominate to be featured for this project, please send an email with their name, email and department to socialmedia@gonzaga. edu,” de Silva says.
“Featured Collections” Highlight Special Coverage by Topic and In-depth Storytelling
Some stories belong together, and now those stories have a dedicated home on Gonzaga’s website.
The new “Featured Collections” webpage showcases stories on topics that speak to who we are and where we want to go. Current topics include: Technology & Innovation, Civil Discourse, Faculty Voices, Senior Stories, Artificial Intelligence and Gonzaga’s “Courage” video series.
These collections can be found under the “News, Events & Stories” section of the website and are available at Gonzaga.edu/collections.
Creating Opportunities for Kids
Learning From a Dark Past
Remember the Aryan Nations compound in North Idaho, which garnered national news during its heyday and in its downfall?
Gonzaga’s Foley Library now has a digital photo archive named after Diana Gissel, the official photographer of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR) for decades. Her work documents the demise of the Aryan Nations compound in Hayden, Idaho, in 2000, along with myriad activities organized by the KCTFHR to support human rights throughout the region. She and her husband, Norm Gissell, the Task Force attorney, were part of the team that bankrupted the Aryan Nations through a lawsuit with the Southern Poverty Law Center.
“Diana’s quiet and humble presence leaves a lasting contribution that inspires us all with possibilities of how we each can find our own ways to help create more safe and welcoming communities for everyone,” says Kristine Hoover, professor in Gonzaga’s School of Leadership Studies.
The Diana Gissel Digital Photo Archive is available online, with descriptions providing the appropriate context for each image.
Foley Library archivists say about 20% of the collection is open for viewing without restrictions. The remainder of the collection is restricted to Gonzaga campus accounts, and to off-campus scholars who provide a letter of reference from a sponsoring academic institution or organization.
View the collection at www.gonzaga.edu/gissel-archive.
SAGE Training
Showcasing Cultural Celebrations
GU Honors Expo '74 Memories
Rebranding Takes a New Look
In December 2023, the Marketing and Communications department introduced a new brand strategy and guide that thoughtfully reflects our unique identity as Zags and will help position Gonzaga within a competitive landscape.
The new brand messaging platform serves as a vital resource for all marketers on campus, providing in-depth perspective and guidance to steward a consistent voice in all internal and external communications.
Additionally, a new visual design approach has been developed to present Gonzaga in unique and memorable ways, including multiple fonts, a robust color palette and a “supergraphic” design element that draws inspiration from the Spokane River.
The brand guide will continually be revisited and refined to reflect our evolving identity and aspirations. To learn more, go to my.gonzaga.edu/branddownloads or for questions, please email brand@gonzaga.edu. – Ashely Martin (’05), senior marketing director
Complex Conversations
It's March: Tracking the Zags
So that you can track the future games of Gonzaga women’s and men’s basketball teams through the WCC and NCAA tournaments, following is an outline of both tournaments.
West Coast Conference Tournament
NCAA Tournament
The First Four and the first and second rounds of the women’s tournaments are hosted by the top 16 seeded teams. Gonzaga is in the hunt for one of those host spots. The First Four is March 20-21. The first and second rounds are March 22-25. Regional tournaments at Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon, feature the Sweet 16 games on March 29 and 30, and the Elite Eight games on March 31 and April 1. The Final Four is April 5 and 7 in Cleveland.
The Men’s Tournament Schedule includes Spokane Arena hosting the first and second rounds.
| March 19 & 20 | The First Four | Dayton, Ohio |
| March 21 & 23 | First and Second Rounds | Salt Lake City, Charlotte, Omaha, Pittsburgh |
|
March 22 & 24 |
First and Second Rounds | Brooklyn, Memphis, Spokane, Indianapolis |
| March 28 & 30 | Regionals | Boston |
| March 29 & 31 | Regionals | Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles |
| April 6 & 8 | Final Four | Glendale, Arizona |
Around Campus
» GU’s Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment, partnering with the City of Spokane, Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency and the University of Washington, received a $1.1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to support the Smoke Ready Spokane project.
» Accounting Professor Andrew Brajcich’s G-Suite podcast has recorded 12 episodes on topics ranging from accounting to entrepreneurship, tax and all things “Zag business,” available with other GU podcasts on the Gonzaga Podcast Network at gonzaga.edu/podcasts.
» Gonzaga ranks 11th for best undergraduate study abroad participation (43.3%) in the 2023 edition of the Institute of International Education Open Doors annual report. More information here.
» U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Online Programs rank GU’s online master’s program in nursing for veteran students No. 19, and the online master’s in nursing program No. 54, both jumps from last year.
» Daniel Vimont (’96), professor of climate sciences at the University of Wisconsin, will discuss “A Community-Building Approach to Understanding and Addressing Climate Change Impacts,” March 4, 6 p.m., Hemmingson Auditorium, in a free and public presentation.
» UC-Berkeley law school Dean Erwin Chemerinsky presents “Reforming the Supreme Court,” March 7, 6 p.m., Barbieri Courtroom.
» Zags Give Day is March 7, a day to celebrate and encourage support for students and the scholarships that make a GU education possible. Additional funds will be donated once each academic area has at least one donor, once a donation from every state has been received, once 250 faculty/staff have given, and for every 100 first-time donors. Go to: www.gonzaga.edu/zgd to learn more and to give.
» Gonzaga Spring Break runs March 9-17.
» The Visitors Writing Series brings former Spokane poet laureate, educator and author Laura Read (’92), along with the student winners of the 2023-24 Gurian Writing Awards, to College Commons in the Humanities Building, March 21, 4 p.m.
» In the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center: Pianist Yerin Kim and cellist Kevin Hekmatpanah perform a recital, March 23, 2 p.m.; DakhaBrakha, a Kyiv quartet featuring pop-punk to traditional Ukrainian sounds, is March 26, 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets here.
» The print works of artist and Art Assistant Professor Reinaldo Gil Zambrano are on display at the Museum of Arts and Culture through April 20.
Noteworthy
New Hires
Annika Rose-Person, post-doctoral researcher, Arts & Sciences; Beth Moore, marketing manager, Arts & Sciences; Brandi Foster, director, Integrated Academic Advising/Student Academic Success; Christopher Almgren, facilities coordinator I, Auxiliary Services; Eric Miller, IT support tech, Law; Haile Watson, case manager, Cura Personalis; Greg Collinge, lecturer, Chemistry; Jacqueline Swanson, graphic designer, Marketing & Communications; Joshua True, HVAC yech, Plant; Katie Brandi, lecturer, Sociology; Miguel Guante, asst women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Richard Keroack, budget/personnel officers, Engineering; Ryan Townsend, lecturer, Nursing; Sandra Vargas, career development facilitator, Career & Professional Development; Sarah Matousek, lecturer, Public Health; Savannah Champion, program asst III, Arts & Sciences; Ron Prindle, lecturer, Integrated Media; Ryan McWilliams, lecturer, English; Sarah Kersey, lecturer, English; Zachary McMahon, lecturer Communications Studies
Position Changes/ Promotions
Courtney Simmons, program asst III, Arts & Sciences; Ellen Dame-Griff, instructional technologist, Instructional Design & Delivery; Emily Turner, sr specialist/academic budget & personnel, Provost; Kathryn Benz, women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Madison Cooley, asst women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Rosa Velasco Quevedo, mentoring program manager, UMEC
Goodbyes
Anniversaries
55 Ken Sammons, asst vice president, Plant & Construction Services
40 Allen Albano, locksmith, Plant
10 Audrey Minton, sr operations specialist, Admission Operations; Darci Bierman, program asst III, Arts & Sciences; Michael Thompson, payroll director, Controller; Amy Smith, CRM business analyst, ITS; Emily Turner, sr specialist academic budget, Provost
5 Tori Lawlor, events manager, GUEST