Richard Keroack Named SEAS Outstanding Colleague of November

We are proud to recognize Richard Keroack, Budget and Personnel Officer, as the School of Engineering & Applied Science (SEAS) Outstanding Colleague for November 2026. Since joining SEAS and Gonzaga at the beginning of 2024, Richard has divided his time between SEAS and the Foley Center Library, serving as Budget and Personnel Officer for both units. He manages the demands of two offices in two locations with remarkable accuracy and ease.

Budget officers are essential to the operation of an academic unit, and the work is vast and complicated. When Richard joined SEAS, he “jumped right in with seemingly no learning curve,” as one nominator noted. He keeps requests, payments, and questions moving, and he does it so quietly and correctly that, in the words of one colleague, “we tend to forget about how truly important he is!”  Richard works closely with all Department Chairs on managing their budgets and ordering materials to support courses and labs.

Richard’s work touches nearly everyone in SEAS. It puts instructors in the classroom, supports student clubs, makes Senior Design projects possible, and makes conference travel and professional development easier for faculty and staff. He is an analytical thinker and problem solver who anticipates needs before they arise. He often catches details others miss, such as a less expensive option or a faster delivery date, and he follows up until an order is complete. As a trusted member of the SEAS Leadership team, he is proactive and self-directed, and his work greatly facilitates the Dean’s Office.

In less than three years, Richard has become someone colleagues across SEAS rely on. They value his calm, steady approach to budget challenges and his positive attitude. As one nominator wrote, “His work ethic is admirable and inspirational.” Another simply noted, “He is always ready to serve,” even offering to pick up an order on his way to work. Outside the office, Richard is a dedicated family man and a fine athlete.