Mission, Vision & Values

Dean's Welcome Message

Welcome to Gonzaga Law School! I invite you to review our core values as they relate to mission, vision, and diversity, which will help you get to know us better as an institution. Gonzaga Law School’s Jesuit identity gives us many unique advantages as well as solemn commitments. We think you’ll find our humanistic, multidimensional approach to legal education equips students to serve as public intellectuals and leaders in law. Across sectors, graduates of Gonzaga Law School help clients navigate life’s complexities in ethical fashion. Their successes are by design. We take pride in turning passion into practice, so our students can ‘go forth and set the world on fire.’

Dean Jacob H. Rooksby

Dean Rooksby

Mission

To provide an excellent legal education informed by our humanistic, Jesuit, and Catholic traditions and values.

Vision

To instill in our graduates the ethical values, substantive knowledge, and practical skills they need to become effective advocates and compassionate counselors. As a humanistic institution, we recognize the essential role of human creativity, intelligence, and initiative in the construction of society and culture. As a Jesuit institution, we are committed to educating the whole person to serve the public good, to engaging in a dialogue with all cultures and religious or ethical traditions, and to pursuing justice. As a Catholic institution, we believe that laws and legal institutions are subject to a moral order which transcends human whim and caprice. As a law school, we are committed to a healthy and respectful environment of free intellectual inquiry and exchange, and the protection of freedom of thought.

Commitment to Diversity

Gonzaga University School of Law is actively engaged in cultivating a vibrant and strong community that values the dignity of all its members and fosters their personal and professional growth. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, honorably discharged veteran or military status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, familial status, immigration status, citizenship, language, or disability in any of our educational programming. As a Jesuit institution, we commit to creating a more just society. We diligently work to provide a respectful and supportive environment that holds a multitude of diverse perspectives that contribute to a meaningful, respectful, and robust learning experience required in the 21st century. We recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion as cornerstones of social and economic justice and we seek to intentionally build a community that welcomes those who have been historically excluded from the legal profession.

Updated February 2020, v. 2.0