91³Ô¹ÏÍø

March 2024 | Vol. 25 #6

In This Issue

Finding His Way

New Jesuit Superior of the Della Strada community, Fr. Gilbert Sunghera, had only visited 91³Ô¹ÏÍø once before accepting his new role here in January. But he’s getting used to his surroundings in the Great Northwest after growing up and working in urban America.

Tech Hub Proposal Progressing

91³Ô¹ÏÍø University and Lakeside Companies of Post Falls are leading the charge to bring a regional technology and information hub to Spokane, and with it, perhaps as much as $75 million to launch the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Center near Spokane International Airport.

Spotlight on Faculty and Their Stories

Faculty Featured in One-Minute Video Intros 

91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s web content managers and social media specialists have collaborated with faculty members across campus to showcase them in short, fun videos that are shared on 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s social media channels. “With this project, we aim to not only showcase our immensely talented faculty members, but also provide a chance for current and prospective students to learn more about them,” says Erin de Silva, social media specialist who worked with social media partner Grace McElligott.

To view these videos and other faculty print stories, navigate to Faculty Voices collections on 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s website.

“Here you will find the videos that we have created with “Faculty Feature” in the title. If you have a colleague that you would like to nominate to be featured for this project, please send an email with their name, email and department to socialmedia@gonzaga. edu,” de Silva says.

“Featured Collections” Highlight Special Coverage by Topic and In-depth Storytelling

Some stories belong together, and now those stories have a dedicated home on 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s website.

The new “Featured Collections” webpage showcases stories on topics that speak to who we are and where we want to go. Current topics include: Technology & Innovation, Civil Discourse, Faculty Voices, Senior Stories, Artificial Intelligence and 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s “Courage” video series.

These collections can be found under the “News, Events & Stories” section of the website and are available at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø.edu/collections.

Creating Opportunities for Kids

 

Debate Coach Glen Frappier and Giving Back nonprofit's initiative, Giving Debate, is aiming to send students from homeless or low-income families to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Summer Debate Camp, fostering critical skills and a sense of belonging for underserved youth, with hopes to expand into a nonprofit debate league in Spokane.

READ MORE

Learning From a Dark Past

Remember the Aryan Nations compound in North Idaho, which garnered national news during its heyday and in its downfall?

91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Foley Library now has a digital photo archive named after Diana Gissel, the official photographer of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations (KCTFHR) for decades. Her work documents the demise of the Aryan Nations compound in Hayden, Idaho, in 2000, along with myriad activities organized by the KCTFHR to support human rights throughout the region. She and her husband, Norm Gissell, the Task Force attorney, were part of the team that bankrupted the Aryan Nations through a lawsuit with the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“Diana’s quiet and humble presence leaves a lasting contribution that inspires us all with possibilities of how we each can find our own ways to help create more safe and welcoming communities for everyone,” says Kristine Hoover, professor in 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s School of Leadership Studies.

The Diana Gissel Digital Photo Archive is available online, with descriptions providing the appropriate context for each image.

Foley Library archivists say about 20% of the collection is open for viewing without restrictions. The remainder of the collection is restricted to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø campus accounts, and to off-campus scholars who provide a letter of reference from a sponsoring academic institution or organization.

View the collection at .

SAGE Training

 

Teaching sexual and gender equity is not one-size-fits-all. Consider the range of audiences on any college campus, from those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community to students, staff and faculty at varying stages of understanding their own perceptions of what queer life and culture represents. GU’s Matthew Barcus is masterful at replacing confusion with clarity.

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Showcasing Cultural Celebrations

 

91³Ô¹ÏÍø student cultural clubs are growing in number as the diversity of student enrollment broadens. The Vietnamese Student Association and Black Students Union both staged impressive dinner programs in February.

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GU Honors Expo '74 Memories

 

91³Ô¹ÏÍø is one of a dozen Spokane businesses and organizations helping to launch a citywide celebration of the 50th anniversary of Expo ’74, May 4-July 4. Several GU enterprises are participating.

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Rebranding Takes a New Look

In December 2023, the Marketing and Communications department introduced a new brand strategy and guide that thoughtfully reflects our unique identity as Zags and will help position 91³Ô¹ÏÍø within a competitive landscape.

The  serves as a vital resource for all marketers on campus, providing in-depth perspective and guidance to steward a consistent voice in all internal and external communications.

Additionally, a new visual design approach has been developed to present 91³Ô¹ÏÍø in unique and memorable ways, including multiple fonts, a robust color palette and a “supergraphic” design element that draws inspiration from the Spokane River.

The brand guide will continually be revisited and refined to reflect our evolving identity and aspirations. To learn more, go to or for questions, please email brand@gonzaga.edu. – Ashely Martin (’05), senior marketing director

Complex Conversations

 

The relationship between Israel and the Palestinian community was volatile before the Hamas attacks on Israel Oct. 7, and Israel’s ongoing military response that has turned a hotter-than-ever global spotlight on the Middle East conflict. The Provost’s office and others have created a string of campus discussions to dialogue on a variety of intersecting topics this spring.

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It's March: Tracking the Zags

So that you can track the future games of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø women’s and men’s basketball teams through the WCC and NCAA tournaments, following is an outline of both tournaments.

West Coast Conference Tournament

NCAA Tournament

The First Four and the first and second rounds of the women’s tournaments are hosted by the top 16 seeded teams. 91³Ô¹ÏÍø is in the hunt for one of those host spots. The First Four is March 20-21. The first and second rounds are March 22-25. Regional tournaments at Albany, New York, and Portland, Oregon, feature the Sweet 16 games on March 29 and 30, and the Elite Eight games on March 31 and April 1. The Final Four is April 5 and 7 in Cleveland.

The Men’s Tournament Schedule includes Spokane Arena hosting the first and second rounds.

Around Campus

» GU’s Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment, partnering with the City of Spokane, Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency and the University of Washington, received a $1.1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to support the Smoke Ready Spokane project.

» Accounting Professor Andrew Brajcich’s G-Suite podcast has recorded 12 episodes on topics ranging from accounting to entrepreneurship, tax and all things “Zag business,” available with other GU podcasts on the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Podcast Network at gonzaga.edu/podcasts.

» 91³Ô¹ÏÍø ranks 11th for best undergraduate study abroad participation (43.3%) in the 2023 edition of the Institute of International Education Open Doors annual report. More information .

» U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Online Programs rank GU’s online master’s program in nursing for veteran students No. 19, and the online master’s in nursing program No. 54, both jumps from last year.

» Daniel Vimont (’96), professor of climate sciences at the University of Wisconsin, will discuss “A Community-Building Approach to Understanding and Addressing Climate Change Impacts,” March 4, 6 p.m., Hemmingson Auditorium, in a free and public presentation.    

» UC-Berkeley law school Dean Erwin Chemerinsky presents “Reforming the Supreme Court,” March 7, 6 p.m., Barbieri Courtroom.

» Zags Give Day is March 7, a day to celebrate and encourage support for students and the scholarships that make a GU education possible. Additional funds will be donated once each academic area has at least one donor, once a donation from every state has been received, once 250 faculty/staff have given, and for every 100 first-time donors. Go to: to learn more and to give.

» 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Spring Break runs March 9-17.

» The Visitors Writing Series brings former Spokane poet laureate, educator and author Laura Read (’92), along with the student winners of the 2023-24 Gurian Writing Awards, to College Commons in the Humanities Building, March 21, 4 p.m. 

» In the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center: Pianist Yerin Kim and cellist Kevin Hekmatpanah perform a recital, March 23, 2 p.m.; DakhaBrakha, a Kyiv quartet featuring pop-punk to traditional Ukrainian sounds, is March 26, 7:30 p.m. .

» The print works of artist and Art Assistant Professor ¸é±ð¾±²Ô²¹±ô»å´Ç G¾±±ô Z²¹³¾²ú°ù²¹²Ô´Ç are on display at the Museum of Arts and Culture through April 20.

Noteworthy 

New Hires

Annika Rose-Person, post-doctoral researcher, Arts & Sciences; Beth Moore, marketing manager, Arts & Sciences; Brandi Foster, director, Integrated Academic Advising/Student Academic Success; Christopher Almgren, facilities coordinator I, Auxiliary Services; Eric Miller, IT support tech, Law; Haile Watson, case manager, Cura Personalis; Greg Collinge, lecturer, Chemistry; Jacqueline Swanson, graphic designer, Marketing & Communications; Joshua True, HVAC yech, Plant; Katie Brandi, lecturer, Sociology; Miguel Guante, asst women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Richard Keroack, budget/personnel officers, Engineering; Ryan Townsend, lecturer, Nursing; Sandra Vargas, career development facilitator, Career & Professional Development; Sarah Matousek, lecturer, Public Health; Savannah Champion, program asst III, Arts & Sciences; Ron Prindle, lecturer, Integrated Media; Ryan McWilliams, lecturer, English; Sarah Kersey, lecturer, English; Zachary McMahon, lecturer Communications Studies

Position Changes/ Promotions

Courtney Simmons, program asst III, Arts & Sciences; Ellen Dame-Griff, instructional technologist, Instructional Design & Delivery; Emily Turner, sr specialist/academic budget & personnel, Provost; Kathryn Benz, women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Madison Cooley, asst women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Rosa Velasco Quevedo, mentoring program manager, UMEC

Goodbyes

Christina Thomas, Title IX coordinator, Inclusive Excellence; Fredrick Lueder, HVAC control tech, Plant; Hannah Green, admissions specialist, Graduate Enrollment Mgt; Hayden Caraway, program coordinator, Student Involvement; LeAnn Bjerken, communications specialist, ITS; Max Sharp, HVAC tech, Plant; Megan Ballard, professor, Law; Melissa McNair-Davis, budget & research specialist, Career & Professional Development; Michael Grabowski, asst compliance operations specialist, Registrar

Anniversaries

55 Ken Sammons, asst vice president, Plant & Construction Services

40 Allen Albano, locksmith, Plant

10 Audrey Minton, sr operations specialist, Admission Operations; Darci Bierman, program asst III, Arts & Sciences; Michael Thompson, payroll director, Controller; Amy Smith, CRM business analyst, ITS; Emily Turner, sr specialist academic budget, Provost

5 Tori Lawlor, events manager, GUEST