Colleen McLean Named SEAS Outstanding Colleague of October

Colleen McLean, Dean’s Office Manager and Assistant to the Dean, is recognized as the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS) Outstanding Colleague for October 2026. In just over a year with SEAS, she has become an essential member of the Dean’s Office and a trusted colleague across the School.

Colleen’s exceptional organization was especially evident during the recent ABET accreditation visit. She coordinated schedules, meetings, materials, and countless details that helped the visit run smoothly. Visiting team members praised its organization, with several describing it as the most organized ABET visit they had experienced. Colleen also supports faculty searches and SEAS Advisory Council meetings, bringing care and precision to every task.

Her contributions extend well beyond day-to-day operations. Colleen proposed a more inclusive Senior Design Banquet that celebrates students and brings the broader SEAS community together. She helped organize ribbon cuttings for the Patrick Ferro Center for Materials Research and the Precast Concrete Demonstration Structure, as well as the campus-wide Structural High Bay mural contest. She is always looking for ways to make SEAS events more welcoming and meaningful.

Colleen draws on more than 14 years of experience at Gonzaga to connect people and move work forward. She also serves the University through Staff Assembly and Mission activities. Colleagues value her calm under pressure, thoughtful ideas, humor, and genuine concern for others. As one nominator wrote, “She provides a sense of calmness, stability, and competence in all that she does.” At one staff meeting, Colleen asked how colleagues could better support one another, a simple question that reflects the spirit of cura personalis she brings to SEAS every day.