Highlights of the 2025-26 Year

From a historic presidential inauguration and global attention during the FIFA World Cup to groundbreaking research investments and innovative partnerships, 2025-26 was an impactful year at Gonzaga. The following are just some of the highlights.

Momentum and Impact

The inauguration of Gonzaga’s 27th president, Katia Passerini, centered on the theme “Open Doors, Empower Potential, Lead with Hope” and featured a visit by Sr. Raffaella Petrini, the highest-ranking woman in the Catholic Church. The weeklong celebration included academic showcases and community service.

The Woodley Institute for Civil Engagement and Humanistic Dialogue came to life through the generosity of Tom (’69) and Nancy Woodley, to connect students with Ignatian practices of listening, discernment and seeking the common good.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup came to Spokane as GU and the city were the Team Base Camp Training Site for Team Egypt, bringing the Pharaohs to train on Luger Field.

AI technologies as tools for human flourishing were the focus of efforts across campus, many led by Gonzaga’s Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology.

Global experts in climate change, sustainability and social inequities came to campus in the first Presidential Speaker Series event under President Passerini.

A $1M gift led to the dedication of the Patrick Ferro Center for Materials Research, a new Inland Northwest hub for interdisciplinary innovation, campus/industry partnerships and STEM workforce development.

The School of Health Sciences expanded its Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) and simulation learning spaces in the UW-GU Health Partnership Building.

Strategic Partnerships

A partnership with Microsoft built on two decades of alumni leadership to expand career pathways and mentorship.

Clean energy developer McKinstry and Hotstart Thermal Management collaborations with GU provided students with unparalleled access to relevant workplace experience.

Academic Highlights

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts & Sciences advanced interdisciplinary research and student success through several key initiatives. In partnership with the School of Engineering & Applied Science, the College expanded the Center for Materials Research with support from a $1 million federal investment. The College also launched the Gonzaga Global Career Accelerator, offering students hands-on projects with major companies such as Airbnb, Netflix and L’Oréal.

The School of Education achieved a major milestone as Gonzaga’s Kinesiology program earned initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of the Exercise Sciences (CoAES), recognizing the program’s quality in preparing students for careers in health, fitness and exercise science. The School also demonstrated its commitment to community engagement, with students contributing approximately 125,882 service hours during the 2025-26 academic year.

School of Engineering & Applied Sciences

The School of Engineering & Applied Science celebrated the opening of the Patrick Ferro Center for Materials Research, a collaborative hub shared with the College of Arts & Sciences. SEAS also secured more than $2 million in major grants, including its first NSF CAREER Award, funding for a new Construction Management Professor of Practice, and support for additional equipment for the Patrick Ferro Center for Materials. The school also hosted several events featuring industry partners tocelebrate both the Structural High Bay Lab Mural and the completion of a student-designed Precast Concrete Demonstration Structure.

School of Health Sciences

The School of Health Sciences, which includes human physiology, public health and nursing programs, continued to grow, reaching 1,129 students, a 15% increase since 2023, with undergraduate enrollment up 12% in the past year. Graduate enrollment is also strong. The Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program, the only DNAP program in Washington, expanded to 28 seats amid record demand and is now located in the UW-GU Health Partnership Building. The school also enhanced simulation-based learning through new facilities and technology.

School of Law

The School of Law enrolled one of the largest first-year classes in Gonzaga history, welcoming 239 students from 22 states and provinces with a median LSAT score of 156. Gonzaga Law also saw strong outcomes for graduates, with 91% of the Class of 2025 employed or pursuing advanced legal education. In addition, the Gonzaga Law School Foundation raised a record $3.9 million during the 2025-26 academic year to support students, academic programs and facility improvements.

School of Leadership Studies

The School of Leadership Studies deepened its international engagement through a new five-year partnership with West University in Romania, creating opportunities for international academic collaboration and scholar exchanges through the Erasmus+ program. The school also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Women Lead, launching new conferences, one entirely in Spanish and another at Gonzaga’s Florence campus, to broaden access to leadership development and further its mission of empowering leaders across cultures and communities.