October 2023 | Vol. 25 #2
In This Issue
An Ethic of Care and a Vision for Future Success
President Thayne McCulloh addressed faculty and staff on Sept. 13 with a variety of important topics, starting with a story poignantly demonstrating 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s culture.
A Strategic Pause, Then Onward
Provost Sacha Kopp reflected in his address to the Fall Faculty Conference on the tremendous work that has been done this past year, and how grateful he is that we all get to do the work that we do here and teach in a way that is different from other schools.
Alsaker’s Research May Save Lives
with colleagues in Helsinki this past year.
This year, Melody Alsaker, Alphonse A. & Geraldine F. Arnold Distinguished Professor of mathematics, has been places that would stir awe in her younger self. From organizing a conference session on her research specialty in Tokyo to deeper collaborations between colleagues in Helsinki, Alsaker has set the standard for global scholarship in her field.
Finding the Right Mix at Woldson
Sharing 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s “Spirit” for 25 Years
Action Steps to a Successful Strategic Plan
Staff Compensation Redesign Project Outlined
Vice President for Human Resources Ray Kliewer updated a gathering of the Staff Assembly in September on the University’s Staff Compensation Redesign project.
In a nutshell, the new career framework is designed to assist staff employees to navigate their chosen career path and empowers them to better manage their career. It also strengthens 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s ability to retain, attract and inspire talented prospects.
One of the key outcomes will be consistent language and standards to support career pathing. Compensation practices and decisions will be grounded in a market-based approach to better reflect internal equity and competitive best practices.
Staff employees and managers will have a transparent job framework, with clearly and consistently defined jobs, levels and descriptions of their current role. They’ll also be able to see how their job relates to other jobs at GU and be able to explore career development here much more easily.
More robust market-based data will better inform development of salary ranges for attracting and retaining talent, as well as more equitably compensating GU’s existing talent. No job salaries will be decreased as a result of this Staff Compensation project, Kliewer reinforced.
He offered a timeline:
- Transition job descriptions to new job profiles utilizing survey benchmarks by the end 2023
- By this time next year update titles, profiles and pay ranges, enabling staff employees to call up all jobs below the AVP level and see job descriptions and position pay ranges
- For more information, visit the Career Framework page on myGU.
Fall Enrollment 2023
Following is the official enrollment headcount for Fall 2023, certified on Sept. 29.
- Total Enrollment.................................7,306
- Undergraduate...................................5,163
- First-year...................................1,254
- Post-Baccalaureate............................9
- Graduate (master’s)...........................1,321
- Doctoral...............................................259
- Law.......................................................554
Snapshot of the Incoming Class of 2027
- 33% identify as Black, Indigenous or students of color From Near and Far
- GU’s first-year students and new transfer students come to campus from 37 states, several tribal nations and countries including: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Croatia, France, Germany, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Vietnam. Leadership Quality
- 15 former student body presidents
- 75 class presidents and officers
- 570 students who were involved in leadership activities in high school. Caring for Others
- 877 arrive with significant volunteering experience A Way with Words
- 70 involved in speech and debate in high school. A Song in Their Hearts
- 324 musicians Bound for the Stage
- 181 actors or dancers Earth Friendly
- 141 ecology/sustainability enthusiasts Always Ready for a Game
- 981 athletes and/or outdoor hobbyists Worker Bees
- 755 have real-world work experience
Around Campus
»» 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Dance’s annual 60x60 show features 60 works, each running 60 seconds long. Music and choreography by students, faculty members or alumni, Oct. 6, 6 p.m., Woldson Performing Arts Center, $8-$10.
»» In “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] [Again],” three actors summarize all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays condensed to 100 minutes, Oct. 7, 6 p.m., Magnuson Theatre, $10.
»» Foley Library will be honored at the 24th annual Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations human rights banquet Oct. 7 for housing and presenting for public viewing all the documents of the KCTFHR covering 42 years of the human rights group.
»» Women and Gender Studies has a new name: Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
»» Recent 91³Ô¹ÏÍø National Rankings: U.S. News & World Report ranks GU #93 among National Universities, #10 for service learning, #13 for undergraduate teaching, #23 for undergraduate engineering/non-doctorate, and #86 for undergraduate nursing. GU lands among the 389 best colleges by Princeton Review, ranking #17 for most engaged community service, #22 for college newspaper, #23 for politically active students and #25 for students who study most. Forbes Advisor lists GU among the top 10 universities in the nation for online master’s in organizational leadership.
»» National Coming Out Day Celebration is Oct. 11, all day at Lincoln LGBTQ+ Resource Center in Hemmingson, featuring treats, swag and other events. Lavender Mass is 12:15 p.m. in the University Chapel. »» Pints and Politics, a free Spokesman-Review Northwest Passages community forum on issues that matter most to Spokane, will feature City Council and mayoral candidates in conversation, Oct. 11, 6 p.m., Woldson Performing Arts Center.
»» Red Mass of the Legal Profession is Oct. 12, 5:30 p.m. in St. Aloysius Church. All are welcome. Mass will feature presentation of the 2023 Distinguished Legal Service Award. A reception will follow at Cataldo Hall.
»» “Can We Solve the Climate Crisis and Protect Wild Spaces?” will feature two attorneys from the Western Environmental Law Center and GU Professor Greg Gordon, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. in Hemmingson Auditorium. Register for this event.
»» The annual Benefits/Wellness Fair is Oct. 17-18 in the Hemmingson Ballroom. Vendor engagement, flu shots and benefit seminars listed on the myGU Training site, will be offered.
»» This year’s Provost Lecture Series focused on faculty wellness will feature Counselor Education Associate Professor Addy Wissel leading a workshop “Reclaiming and Retaining Joy,” Oct. 18, noon, Globe Room/Cataldo Hall.
»» 91³Ô¹ÏÍø has unveiled a new Unity Scholars program as the successor to the Act Six program. The program is explained more here. »» The film “Queer Classic Cinema: But I’m a Cheerleader,” will be followed by a discussion on the films’ impact and application to current LGBTQ+ issues, Oct. 22, 7 p.m. in the Lincoln LGBTQ+ Resource Center in Hemmingson.
»» Cura Personalis Retreat for all employees is Oct. 23 at Bozarth, sponsored by Mission Engagement. Personal reflection, meaningful conversation, great meals. Overnight lodging on Oct. 22 optional. Contact Lauren at hackman-Brooks@gonzaga.edu. For more info:
»» The Spokesman-Review’s free Northwest Passages features author Tom Mueller and his book “How to Make a Killing: Blood, Death and Dollars in American Medicine,” Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Woldson Performing Arts Center.
»» An Evening with Sabrina Imbler, a writer and science journalist from Brooklyn, is Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m., recital hall at Woldson Performing Arts Center. This free event will feature, among other topics, the author’s fascination with the mystery of the sea.
»» Women Lead Fall Luncheon Oct. 25, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hemmingson Ballroom, centers on “Gender & Social Constructs: How to be an Ally in a Divided World.” Cost is $49. Register by email at womenlead@gonzaga.edu.
»» The 2023 Regis Lecture features Cynthia Cooper, named one of Time Magazine’s Persons of the Year for her role in unraveling the fraud at WorldCom, Oct. 27, 5 p.m., Hemmingson Ballroom. Register with AJ Hawk Rehn at hawka2@gonzaga.edu.
»» Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Storage Technologies: A Primer is Oct. 27, noon in Hemmingson Auditorium or online. Register at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Climate Center
Noteworthy
New Hires
Astrid Le Roy, program asst III, President; Blaine Atkins, Tech III, ITS; Brianna Burnette, student services outboarding specialist, Grad Enrollment Mgt; Brittany Slegers, BSN clinical placement manager, Nursing; Cory Wagner, asst director, Rudolf Fitness Center; Emily Hunter, residence director, Housing & Residence Life; James Ward, student services specialist, Grad Enrollment Mgt; Jenn Crowder, administration & operations manager, Student Affairs; Kelli Thompson, Hogan program coordinator, Business; Kendyl Kmetic, academic adviser I, Provost; Margarette Aalgaard, program asst II, Business; Maria Saladino, visiting asst professor, Law; Marie Romano, program asst, University Advancement; Mary Margrave, data & system coordinator, Human Resources; Michael Cecil, visiting asst professor, Law; Molly Shumaker, curriculum & certification specialist, Registrar; Mychal Ferger, academic adviser I, Provost; Nicholas Davis, director, ESL; Olawale Ogunmodimu, visiting asst professor, Law; Robert Olsen, visiting asst professor, Law; Sara Spaner, coordinator, ESL; Traci Logan-Demus, HR partner, Human Resources; Trisha Nash, director student mental health services, Athletics; Vanessa Montoya, staff attorney, Law Clinic; Zach Norvell, asst men’s basketball coach; Adrian Reyes, case management director, Cura Personalis; Daniel Pringle, asst professor, Foley; Jason Allread, custodian, Plant
Position Changes/ Promotions
Angela Ruff, communications & events manager, Provost; Brandi Estrada, faculty support coordinator, Law; Bridget Dagg, executive asst/ office manager, General Counsel; Herb Shah, program asst III, Arts & Sciences; Janeen Steer, co-director, University Ministry; Jaron Fugile, tech II, ITS; Joe Clark, emergency manager, Risk Mgt; Kristin Telin, assoc director, Lifelong Learning; Lilian Morrill, event manager/offcampus facilities, GUEST; Mackenzie Pavlik, sr study abroad adviser, Global Engagement; Marci Walker, clinical experiences director, Education; Mary Pelland, admin asst, Student Affairs; Pamela Ames, lead communications officer, Campus Security; Phillip Tyler, assoc director, Campus Security; Rudy Morrow, business manager, Housing & Residence Life; Siera Pancoast, interim asst director, Housing & Residence Life; Theresa Conley, faculty asst, Law; Timothy Hill, security officer, Campus SecurityGoodbyes
Benjamin Czapla, HVAC control tech, Plant; Carrie Del Pizzo, asst to dean/office manager, Engineering; Karen O’Shaughnessey, program asst III, Foley; Kari Elgee Sanders, client services director, Human Resources; Marcy Candland, youth programs asst director, Community Engagement; Maria Fallstrom, custodian specialist trainer, Plant; Mary Joan Hahn, sr director community relations, Marketing & Communications; Sarah Thurston, marketing manager, Woldson; Sonia Dhaliwal, lecturer/ post-grad fellow, Foley; Vanessa Lyman, development asst, University AdvancementAnniversaries
30 Mike Grabowski, asst. computer operations specialist, Registrar; Molly McFadden, user services assoc, Foley
15 Jeff Geldien, asst VP, University Advancement; Greg McGuire, operations manager, GUEST; Melissa Waite, assoc director, data & systems, Human Resources
10 Melissa McNair-Davis, budget & research specialist, Career Center; Travis Knight, strength & conditioning coach, Men’s Basketball; Cameron Vulles, custodial shift supervisor, Plant
5 Matt Cornwell, groundskeeper, Plant; Elvir Huremovic, maintenance tech, Plant; Alison Merchant, development director, Athletics; Brad Matthies, assoc dean, Foley; Jacob Galindo, custodian, Plant; Richard Fallstrom, infrastructure administrator, ITS; Patrick Pajak, event manager, GUEST; Tara McAloon, director of operations, Arts & Sciences