Forging Forward: A Message from the President

As I reflect on my first full year as president of Gonzaga University, I return to a simple but profound truth: higher education is not just about the degrees we obtain, but who we become. This has been a year of listening and learning, of building relationships, gaining new perspectives, and of deepening my appreciation and understanding for the people and purpose that define this remarkable University. Through every conversation with faculty, staff, alumni and students, I am reminded that Gonzaga’s strength lies not just in its accomplishments and reputation, but in its unwavering commitment to the formation of individuals prepared to serve others and contribute to the common good.

Following are some highlights of this work in action:

Transformational philanthropic support initiatives such as the foundation of the Woodley Institute for Civil Engagement and Humanistic Dialogue and expanded community engagement programs. See page 6 for the ways 8,100 donors committed $104 million in fiscal year 2026, setting a new record for philanthropic giving.

Partnerships established with industry leaders, global institutions and local organizations to strengthen our ability to serve students and society. Collaborations with Microsoft and McKinstry created pathways for internships, hands-on learning opportunities, mentorship and meaningful careers.

Courage and care were central to confronting the difficult reality of racist incidents on and off campus. We launched the President’s Task Force on Accompaniment, Safety and Belonging for sustained commitment to examining our institutional structures and acting with integrity to show care for all students.

Innovation and ethics have guided our response to the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI). Through efforts like the Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology’s Value and Responsibility in AI Conference last April, Gonzaga led important conversations grounded in human dignity and the common good. We are leading with the concept that technology is meant to serve humans and to be trustworthy.

Mission experiences such as meeting with tribal leaders from Coeur d’Alene, Colville and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes who invited me to visit their communities were incredibly meaningful to me, considering the deeply complex history with the Jesuit mission and Gonzaga. We shared candid conversations about Gonzaga’s responsibility to building enduring relationships.

Caring for Our Common Home was evident through our engagement with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform, and work was further elevated through the Presidential Speaker Series with scholar Wayne Visser, higher education leader Isabel Braga da Cruz and through our own Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment.

The Zag Network showed its strength through the Forging Forward event series where I had the opportunity to connect with thousands of alumni and friends across the country including stops in Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Seattle, Washington D.C., and Montana, among others. These gatherings reminded us that Gonzaga is not only a place, but a lifelong relationship.

Students became leaders as we commissioned more than 2,050 students from undergraduate, graduate, and law commencement ceremonies in May. The joy, resilience and sense of purpose was evident throughout Commencement weekend and reflected the very best of our Catholic, Jesuit tradition. I was deeply moved to see so many multi-generational Zags at the ceremonies.

Looking Forward: Strengthening Relationships, Advancing Mission

As we look ahead to a new year, the path before us is both challenging and filled with promise. Higher education continues to face significant pressures, from financial constraints to governmental pressures to evolving student expectations for outcomes after graduation. Yet these realities also present an opportunity to reaffirm who we are and what we are called to do.

As we move forward together, I believe Gonzaga is called to become more. More curious about how we engage with an increasingly interconnected, yet complex world. Richer in our understanding of cultures, perspectives, and experiences. More intentional in connecting and integrating knowledge across disciplines and generations to address society’s most pressing challenges. And more committed to cultivating both the competence and conviction needed to turn knowledge into meaningful action for the betterment of humanity.

Through our global partners in Catholic, Jesuit higher education, I know how Gonzaga’s relationships already span continents and cultures. From gatherings with the International Association of Jesuit Universities to the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the message was clear: Gonzaga is both rooted locally and called globally. We are rooted in Spokane but our Zag family is strong worldwide. We have an opportunity to solidify and foster Gonzaga’s place among Catholic universities nationally and internationally while ensuring a bright future in places where students have been studying abroad already for many years.

We will continue to foster a community where intellectual rigor and the human dignity of every person go hand in hand, and where faith and reason work together to deepen understanding and inspire us to serve others. We will strengthen partnerships, broaden opportunities for our students, and continue forming graduates who are prepared to succeed and lead with purpose, compassion, and courage.

I am deeply grateful and humbled by all who have welcomed me so generously and joined in this shared journey. We will continue building a university defined by curiosity and cultural richness, strengthened through the connection and integration of knowledge and inspired by the competence and conviction to make a positive difference in the world. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together.