Becoming More through Curiosity, Connection and Conviction

As I reflect on my first full year at Gonzaga University, I return to a simple but profound truth: education is not only about what we achieve, but about who we become. This has been a year of listening and learning, of building relationships and gaining new perspectives, and of deepening my appreciation for the people and purpose that define this remarkable University. Through every conversation, encounter, and experience, I have been reminded that Gonzaga's strength lies not only in its accomplishments, but in its unwavering commitment to forming individuals who are prepared to serve others and contribute to the common good.

From my first days on campus, I experienced what so many had already told me: Gonzaga is a place where relationships are at the heart of everything we do. In our classrooms, at athletic events, in moments of prayer and celebration, and through our connections around the world, I have witnessed a community committed to forming the whole person. Rooted in our Jesuit, Catholic tradition, Gonzaga challenges us to grow in knowledge, character, and compassion, and calls us to walk with one another as people for and with others, leading with both intellect and heart.

Listening, Encountering, and Building Trust

During my first few months in Spokane, I met with students, parents, faculty, staff, Jesuits, benefactors, tribal leaders, board members, alumni, and civic leaders.    These conversations were not simply introductory. They were foundational to better understanding the depth of Gonzaga’s community, helping me to discover our shared purpose.

Through engagements, as well as 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. It is my intention to solidify and foster Gonzaga's place among Catholic universities nationally and internationally while ensuring a bright future for GU in places where students have been studying abroad already for many years.

The Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology opened the doors of its new collaborative space in Herak Center in September.

A Mission That Guides Us

The start of each academic year always brings moments that deeply affirm the strength of this community, and this past fall was no different.

Inauguration Week, in particular, was a defining moment to not simply celebrate new leadership, but collectively affirm our shared mission. We explored what it means to open doors, empower potential, and lead with hope and meaningful dialogue about faith and what our society needs today.

During this time, we also received extraordinary generosity. Transformational gifts supported initiatives such as the Woodley     Institute for Civil Engagement and Humanistic Dialogue and expanded community engagement programs. In fact, more than 8,100 donors committed $104 million in fiscal year 2026, setting a new record for philanthropic support and demonstrating extraordinary confidence in Gonzaga's mission  and future. These investments are not only financial. They are grounded in trust and a shared commitment to forming graduates who can engage a complex and divided world with wisdom and compassion.

Strengthening Partnerships and Expanding Opportunity

Throughout the year, the theme of partnership emerged as a central driver of Gonzaga’s impact. Whether with industry leaders, global institutions, or local organizations, these relationships strengthen our ability to serve students and society.

Our growing partnerships with organizations like Microsoft and McKinstry demonstrate what is possible when education and industry align around shared values. These partnerships create pathways for internships, mentorship, and meaningful careers while ensuring that innovation is guided by ethical responsibility.

Facing Challenges with Courage and Care

This year also called us to confront the difficult reality of racism on campus. Reports of racist and harmful behavior on campus demanded a response grounded in the dignity of every person and to work actively toward justice.

To support of our community in this moment, we launched the President’s Task Force on Accompaniment, Safety and Belonging. This effort is not about quick solutions, but about sustained commitment. It requires listening with humility, examining our structures honestly, and acting with integrity.

Moments like this test a community. They ask us whether our values are merely aspirational or truly operational. I am proud that our University is addressing these challenges with honesty, compassion, and determination. The work of building belonging is ongoing, and we remain committed to walking that path together.

Innovation Guided by Human Purpose

Another defining theme of this year has been the intersection of innovation and ethics, particularly in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence (AI). Through the Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology and its Value and Responsibility in AI Conference this past April, Gonzaga continues to lead important conversations about ensuring that emerging technologies remain grounded in human dignity and the common good. This commitment means preparing students not only with the technical expertise needed to succeed in an AI-driven world, but also with the moral clarity, critical thinking, and ethical judgment required to navigate increasingly complex challenges. As Pope Leo notes in his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, the future of artificial intelligence has not yet been written. It is therefore our shared responsibility to help shape that future with wisdom, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to humanity.

In April, I traveled with Wendy Thompson, Gonzaga’s director of Tribal Relations to Idaho and Montana to meet with tribal leaders whose histories are deeply intertwined with the Jesuit mission and Gonzaga University’s history,  continuing a dialogue begun at my inauguration  . This trip was deeply meaningful to me. We visited the Old Mission at Cataldo in Idaho and the St. Ignatius Mission on the Flathead Reservation, sites that reflect both the educational roots of the Jesuits in the Northwest and the complex legacy of colonial harm experienced by Native communities. We shared candid conversations about history, memory, and trust. Grounded in humility and respect, the trip reaffirmed Gonzaga’s responsibility to engage truthfully with its past while building enduring relationships.

Caring for Our Common Home and Each Other  

Our commitment to care for one another and for the world we share has been evident throughout the year. Gonzaga’s leadership in sustainability, including our engagement with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform, reflects our belief that environmental stewardship is both a scientific responsibility and a moral imperative. April’s   Sustainability Week brought our campus community together to explore these commitments through learning, dialogue, and action, highlighting the many ways we can contribute to a more sustainable future.

These themes were further elevated through the Presidential Speaker Series, where we welcomed internationally recognized sustainability scholar Dr. Wayne Visser and higher education leader Isabel Braga da Cruz for a conversation on Caring for Our Common Home: Turning Local Action into Global Impact. Their insights reinforced the important role universities play in advancing social and environmental transformation and preparing students to lead with purpose in addressing global challenges.

The Annual Magis Student Award Ceremony celebrates student leaders exemplifying the Gonzaga Mission.

Through the work of the Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment, Gonzaga continues to foster meaningful dialogue on how to respond to complex environmental and societal challenges with innovation, collaboration, and hope. These efforts are grounded in interdisciplinary partnerships with institutions and communities that share our commitment to building a more just, sustainable, and humane future.

Similarly, our ongoing partnerships across Spokane, including service programs, community-engaged learning, and civic initiatives, reinforce Gonzaga’s longstanding legacy of leadership and involvement in our region. These efforts reflect our commitment to listen, to serve, and to learn alongside the communities we are privileged to call partners.

The Power of the Zag Network

One of the most inspiring aspects of this year has been witnessing the strength of the Zag network. Through our Forging Forward event series, I had the opportunity to connect with thousands of alumni and friends  across the country, listening to their stories, their hopes, and their continued commitment to Gonzaga.

These gatherings have been expressions of a network that extends far beyond Spokane. They remind us that Gonzaga is not only a place, but a lifelong relationship.

The spirit of Zags helping Zags, seen in mentorship, career support, and shared service, is a powerful force. It reflects a deep sense of belonging and responsibility that continues long after graduation.

Commencement as Reflection and Renewal

My first Commencement at Gonzaga was a deeply moving experience and a source of tremendous pride as we commissioned more than 2,050 graduates from undergraduate, graduate, and law, to go forth as leaders, servants, and people committed to the common good. Standing alongside our students, their families, faculty, and staff, I was reminded of a theme I have encountered throughout my first year at Gonzaga: education is transformative not only because of what students learn, but because of who they become. The joy, resilience, and sense of purpose evident throughout Commencement weekend reflected the very best of our Catholic, Jesuit tradition and the enduring promise of a Gonzaga education.

The message delivered by Undergraduate Commencement speaker and women's basketball head coach Lisa Fortier reinforced this calling. Drawing from her own experience overcoming adversity, she reminded graduates that "the world you are walking into doesn't need more division. It needs more people who know how to connect, how to respect different paths, how to show up for others, not because they are the same but because they matter." She also encouraged graduates to embrace life's challenges with confidence, reminding them that they are "more capable than you think." Those words capture the hope we have for every Gonzaga graduate: that they will lead with courage, build bridges across differences, and use their gifts in service of a more just and humane world.

Looking Forward: Strengthening Relationships, Advancing Mission

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

The lessons of this year have reinforced what has always been at the heart of Gonzaga. Our strength lies in the people who make up this community. Our mission calls us to educate the whole person, pursue truth, and to be persons for and with others. In a rapidly changing world, those commitments are more important than ever.

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

We will continue to foster a community where intellectual rigor and human dignity go hand in hand, where innovation is guided by ethical responsibility, and where faith and reason work together to deepen understanding and inspire service. We will strengthen partnerships, broaden opportunities for our students, and continue forming graduates who are prepared not only to succeed, but to lead with purpose, compassion, and courage.

I am deeply grateful to all who have welcomed me so generously and joined in this shared journey. Together, 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. The future is bright, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish.

Katia Passerini, Ph.D.

President, Gonzaga University