April 2026 | Volume 27 No. 6
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
Presidential Speaker Series
Gonzaga’s 2026 Presidential Speaker Series brings global sustainability leaders Wayne Visser and Isabel Braga da Cruz to campus for a panel on how Catholic universities can turn local action into meaningful global impact.
Hello, Growing Season!
It's officially Spring! Which also means it's time to start prepping your garden. Read this quick, easy planting guide full of tips and local resources to make your garden bloom.
Educating Tomorrow's Teachers
An inside look at Gonzaga’s immersive on‑campus preschool, where education majors gain real‑world teaching experience through inclusive classrooms, hands‑on lesson cycles, and data‑driven practice.
Spotlight on Excellence
Kent Porterfield (middle), vice provost for student affairs, received the prestigious 2026 Reverend Victor R. Yanitelli, S.J. Award at the Jesuit Association of Student Personnel Administrators (JASPA) annual conference.
Joan Iva Fawcett (right), dean for social justice, leadership, & community empowerment, received the Asian Pacific Islander Knowledge Community VIP Award at the 2026 National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) annual conference.
Sierra Pancoast (left), assistant director of housing & residence life, received the Northwest Association of College and University Housing Officers ( NWACUHO) Diversity and Inclusion Award.
Shared Mission, Shared Momentum
Gonzaga University and Microsoft have formalized a long‑standing, alumni‑driven partnership to expand mentorship, strengthen career pathways, and create new opportunities for students in the rapidly evolving tech sector.
Dessert of the Month: Lemon Sugar Cookies
Adapted from Sarah Kieffer’s Vanilla Bean Blog
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
12 Tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 ½ cups granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
2 Tbsp lemon zest, from 2 to 3 lemons
¾ tsp salt
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 ½ tsp lemon extract
½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Step 1 Adjust an oven rack to the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2 In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and baking soda.
Step 3 In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the sugar, lemon zest and salt and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 4 Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the egg, yolk, lemon extract and vanilla extract, mixing on low speed until combined. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated.
Step 5 Put about ½ cup granulated sugar in a small bowl. Form the dough into balls and roll in the sugar. The cookies will spread on the pan quite a bit, so make sure to leave space between them.
Step 6 Bake the cookies, rotating the pan halfway through baking. After 10 minutes, give the pan a slight tap in the oven and continue baking until the sides of the cookies are pale golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes more.
Step 7 Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let the cookies cool to room temperature on the pan.
If you try the Lemon Sugar Cookies or another Dessert of the Month, send a picture!
Earth Month Events
April 7, 4 p.m. “A Conversation with Terry Tempest Williams” – The award‑winning writer and environmental activist shares a reading and dialogue on climate justice, imagination and ecological restoration | Hemmingson Ballroom (Climate Institute and Visiting Writer Series)
April 9, 7 p.m. “Closing the Loop” documentary screening and discussion | Hemmingson Auditorium
April 13, 5 p.m. “Divestment as Mission Fidelity” is a virtual presentation on the theological and ethical foundations of Catholic fossil‑fuel divestment, featuring Daniel DiLeo and Erin Lothes | Zoom (Office of Mission Integration and Climate Institute)
April 17, 12:15–1:15 p.m. Watch “Let My People Go Skiing” and stick around after for a Q&A with the film’s creator Ellen Bradley (’20), an Indigenous skier, scientist, and storyteller | Wolff Auditorium (Office of Sustainability)
April 18, 1-3 p.m. Help prepare the Centennial Trail for the Spring season at the “Unveil the Trail” Cleanup. Clean, weed and remove debris to keep one of Spokane’s best outdoor resources in tip-top shape.
April 20, 6 p.m. “AI, Climate Change & Energy Demand” is a public panel on whether society can meet decarbonization goals while managing the rising energy needs of AI data centers | Hemmingson Ballroom (Climate Institute and Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology)
April 24, 3-6 p.m. “Rock the Planet,” the annual concert hosted by the Gonzaga Environmental Organization to end Earth Week, will be filled with live music from students and other local artists | Jundt Amphitheater (Office of Sustainability)
April 25, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Get your hands dirty at EarthFest! This hands‑on volunteer day features seedling potting, fence removal, tree thinning for wildfire defense, partner outreach tables and a keynote by author Jack Nisbet | Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Around Campus
April 10-11, 7 p.m. Witness original works by Gonzaga students at the “Student Choreography Showcase,” highlighting contemporary, jazz, tap and interdisciplinary movement | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
April 12, 2 p.m. Celebrate academic excellence at the Phi Beta Kappa Induction Ceremony and help Gonzaga welcome its newest PBK members | Hemmingson Ballroom
April 16, 5:30 p.m. In “The Philosophy of Humor & Pop Culture,” Elizabeth Cantalamessa explores how memes, irony and satire reshape our shared norms of responsibility and accountability | Hemmingson Ballroom
April 16, 7 p.m. Attend the inaugural Woodley Institute Lecture featuring Tom Woodley (’69) and a panel discussion about the rights and responsibilities of free speech and how they shape campus life today | Hemmingson Auditorium
April 17-18, 7:30 p.m. Join the Boone Street Hooligans for a lively evening of student‑written sketch comedy and performance | Magnuson Theatre
April 18, 7:30 p.m. Take 6, the 10‑time GRAMMY‑winning a cappella group brings its signature blend of gospel, jazz and soul | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
April 22, 12:15–8 p.m. The Student Achievement Showcase Symposium is a campus‑wide celebration of undergraduate research, creative inquiry and academic excellence
April 24 Diversity & Social Justice in Education Conference is a community conversation on dialogue, justice and building shared understanding across differences | Hemmingson Ballroom
April 24, 7-8 p.m. “We Share Our Futures With You” with Laurie Arnold, director of Native American Studies, explores the meaning of shared histories and shared futures, and invites us to recognize our bonds as neighbors in these shared homelands | Hemmingson Ballroom
April 24-25, 7:30 p.m. Spring Dance Concert – Featuring faculty and guest‑artist choreography across contemporary, ballet and global dance forms | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
April 27, 7:30 p.m. Attend the Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra featuring Pascal Rogé and Elena Font | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
April 29, 12–2 p.m. Senior Design Expo – Engineering and computer science seniors present capstone innovations to industry partners and the community | Hemmingson Ballroom
April 29, 12:15-1:25 p.m. Ever wondered how a university raises tens of millions of dollars to build new facilities, renovate residence halls or refinance debt? Attend “The Story of GU’s 2026 Bonds” to find out more | Wolff Auditorium
Noteworthy
Anniversaries
5 Ashley Davis, director, International Students and Scholar Services; Candace Williams, coordinator II, Mission and Ministry; Kaylen Carlson, program coordinator, HR Learning and Development
10 Audra Henkins, custodian, Plant; Cathy Santangelo, assignments coordinator, Housing Operations; Randall Castleman, general maintenance, Plant
15 Laurie Ferguson, custodian specialist, Plant