Past Events of Pedagogy of Hope

This year, our team organized and supported a range of events for both the Gonzaga and Spokane communities. From our well-attended Lunch & Learn series to interactive workshops and large-scale conferences, each gathering was intentionally designed to bring people together in pursuit of fostering hope through practical, meaningful action.

All our events were offered free of charge and open to the public, reflecting our commitment to centering and uplifting diverse voices. The following page showcase several of our successful events, each demonstrating the strength of collaboration with partners across and beyond the university. Together, these efforts continue to move our mission of putting hope into practice forward.

Two women stand in front of a screen presenting to a group of people

How to Encourage Political Classroom Dialogue: A Team-Taught Pilot Study

September 2025

Speaker: Dr. Sarah James Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science & Dr. Rebecca Donaway, Assistant Professor, Department of Communication Studies

Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, and Students

In September, Dr. Sarah James and Dr. Rebecca Donaway shared results of their Spring 2025 COM 100/POLS 101 Paired Class Dialogue Project. Audience members heard student participant perspectives, and learned how to develop a model for dialogue in their own courses.

Man sits on stage with microphone with a group of students

League of Education Voters: Youth Advocacy Summit

October 2025

Speakers: Community-Based Organizations

Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, and Students, Spokane Community Members

The 2025 Youth Advocacy Summit, spearheaded by the League of Education Voters (LEV) Foundation and supported by the Pedagogy of Hope (PoH), brought over 100 participants to Gonzaga University for a student-led day of advocacy and leadership. Co-designed by students, the event empowered youth, especially from marginalized communities, to use their voices and engage in meaningful community action.

Lunch & Learn: The Science of Storytelling in Practice

January 2026

Speaker: Dr. Mary Kate Koch, Department of Psychology

Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty and Staff

In this interactive session with Dr. Mary Kate Koch, participants explored the science behind narrative identity and its power to create inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms and research environments. They then rolled up their sleeves and designed their own storytelling activities to bring these ideas to life in their teaching, research, or professional practice.

Cultivating Classroom Engagement: Insights from Dr. Beronda Montgomery

February 2026

Speaker: Dr. Beronda Montgomery

Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty

The Office of a Pedagogy of Hope proudly hosted Dr. Beronda Montgomery for a powerful and timely workshop on classroom engagement. Dr. Montgomery led faculty in a reflective and practical conversation about classroom engagement. The session focused on sharing and examining faculty expectations for student participation, exploring the assumptions that shaped these expectations, and discussing strategies for creating inclusive and supportive environments that encouraged active involvement.

Woman stands on a stage and leans on a podium while holding a microphone

Intentional Mentorship: Nurturing Opportunity and Success

February 2026

Speaker: Dr. Beronda Montgomery

Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, Students & Spokane Community Partners

Participants attended a session on building meaningful mentoring relationships that foster growth and inclusion, led by Dr. Montgomery. She guided discussion on the differences between mentoring and advising, emphasizing the relational and developmental nature of mentorship. The session also explored ways to define success in mentoring and highlighted strategies for promoting equitable opportunities, while offering practical approaches for creating inclusive and supportive mentoring environments.

Woman stands next to poster board and smiles as she presents to another student

3rd Annual Diversity & Social Justice Conference

April 2026

Speaker: Students, Staff, and Faculty presenters from across the university!

Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, and Students

This year, we were excited to again collaborate with the School of Education Diversity and Social Justice Committee to host the 3rd Annual Diversity and Social Justice in Education Conference! Designed with students in mind yet open to the broader community, the conference featured close to 50 student presenters who shared their work through both scholarly posters and creative pieces. Topics reflected a wide range of critical issues, including poverty, disability advocacy, interventions for academic and behavioral challenges, and approaches to supporting student mental health.

Nearly 200 attendees from across Gonzaga’s students, faculty, and staff participated in the event, engaging with presenters in an encouraging and dynamic environment. The conference created a meaningful platform for students to showcase their work, and three presenters were recognized with $100 awards in honor of their exceptional contributions.