October 2024 | Vol. 26 #2
In This Issue
Transparency, Care & Hope
At the fall faculty and staff assemblies, Interim Provost Mia Bertagnolli and President Thayne McCulloh shared candidly about the stress of transitions, challenges in higher education and a collective hope for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s continued work in providing a remarkable Jesuit education.
McCulloh spoke about the increase in competition for students all schools face at a time when many in our nation are questioning the worth of higher education. Additionally, the many delays and challenges associated with this year’s rollout and processing of the Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) caused an immense amount of stress not only for staff, but for parents and students trying to understand what was happening and how they could move ahead despite uncertainty.
The way 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Enrollment Management, Admission and Financial Aid staff handled it was markedly different than many other schools. As a testament to this, one parent approached McCulloh on move-in weekend and said, “I just want you to understand how different it was to think about our student attending 91³Ô¹ÏÍø versus the experience we had with other schools.” The difference, they said, was having staff respond to questions personally.
Presidential Priorities
- Work to better define the meaning of shared governance for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
- Evaluate the impact of budget reductions
- Raise money to expand the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø in Florence campus
- Prepare for and effectively support onboarding of the new president
McCulloh on move-in weekend and said, “I just want you to understand how different it was to think about our student attending 91³Ô¹ÏÍø versus the experience we had with other schools.” The difference, they said, was having staff respond to questions personally.
“The ways in which our colleagues engage with people makes a huge difference,” McCulloh said. “Many colleges missed their enrollment this fall. Partly, the result comes down to whether people are getting the help they need.”
McCulloh said demonstrating we care about our students and families – and about each other – is “fundamentally important to who we are and our success.”
Bertagnolli shared her 31-year history at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø and the realization that accepting her new appointment as interim provost is responding to “a calling to go where I can be of most help during times of significant transition for our academic leaders and opportunities to learn engage with colleagues across campus.”
She continued: “While I never imagined that I would ever be provost, I am so honored and believe this is what I am supposed to be doing at this moment in my professional journey and in this moment at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø when we face significant leadership transitions.”
In addition to McCulloh, two other leaders of 30-year-plus tenures retire next summer: Jolanta Weber, vice provost for Academic Affairs Administration, and Julie McCulloh, vice provost for Enrollment Management.
What does a provost do?
The provost oversees much of the academic enterprise, including:
- Our six professional schools (Business, Education, Health Sciences, Law, Leadership and SEAS), the College of Arts and Sciences, Foley Library, and 91³Ô¹ÏÍø in Florence
- All Student Affairs and Enrollment Management areas
- Career and Professional Development, Institutional Research, Registrar’s Office, Instructional Design and Delivery, assessment and accreditation
- Honors, the Core, Sponsored Research, Global Engagement, Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology; Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment and many more.
“Anticipating change can be hard. Uncertainty makes us anxious. We worry about what kind of leaders we will get next,” Bertagnolli said. “But I know that we are going to be OK. How do I know? As someone who has been through lots of transitions, I can use my experience, knowledge and love of this place to serve as a bridge to help us move from our past and present to our future. More importantly, I know we are going to be OK because of all of you who will continue to do excellent work and care for our students in the many ways that you do.”
She proceeded to list the many roles across campus that serve the Mission in different ways and said, “I want to be of help to all of you.”
Bertagnolli continued: “As with any family or team, there can be tension between individuals as well as units. Now more than ever we need to be willing to address these tensions and create opportunities for learning about the value of all the work that we do. … Let’s expect the best from each other and also hold each other accountable to our work values.”
“This is a great community,” Bertagnolli said. “I am proud to be here, I stand ready to support you and I am excited to see what we can do together.”
Introducing... Your New Spirit Editor, Thea Skokan
Thea Skokan’s byline appeared on 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s website and in 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Magazine before she even accepted the role of communications specialist in Marketing & Communications, filling a spot vacated by the retirement of Dale Goodwin. She was a student writer in the department back in 2020-21, penning alumni features and senior spotlights.
Thea graduated in 2022 with majors in international relations and Spanish, and a minor in entrepreneurship. She and two fellow students won second place in the Inland Northwest Entrepreneur Competition with their submission, Piece of Cake, which highlighted Thea’s love for baking.
The Seattle grad has deep family ties to GU, with about seven relatives sharing the Zag title, from her great-grandfather (’42 Don Evavold) who worked for 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Law as an assistant to the dean, a grandpa (’66, ’77, ‘87 Jon Evavold) who was adjunct faculty in the School of Education and played basketball, her parents (’90 Joe Skokan and ’91 Jonna Evavold Skokan), and down the line to her sister (a current senior) and cousin (a sophomore).
Thea studied abroad in Spain, played club volleyball, was a Bulletin news editor, served as an ambassador and instructed spin cycling classes in the Rudolf Fitness Center.
She’s returning to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø after two years as a producer at KREM-2, where she honed her writing and editing skills, reporting on breaking news and taking a day’s worth of stories and condensing them into a 10-minute recap for the 10 p.m. news. She also wrote for The Inlander, telling the stories of new businesses in the community.
Thea’s enthusiasm for returning to her alma mater and to a department where she honed her writing chops is evident in every encounter.
A hearty welcome back, Thea!
Julia Bjordahl Honored by Trustees
Twenty “Wonderful” Years
Hoops & Hopes with Jay Yang
Tim Smetana is Opening Doors
Tips to Ease Election Anxiety
The Future of Foley
By Ace Ballera-Balicoco ('26)
When Heather James became the dean of Foley Library the goal was clear: Ensure Foley’s facilities and services continue to match the needs of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s students and faculty.
James served as interim dean for 10 months before moving into the position full-time last August. She joined Foley in September 2020 as an associate dean for Scholarly Resources.
James stressed the importance of continuing the work former Dean Paul Bracke laid out before leaving the role but also wants staff and faculty to know, “the library is not only about the student experience.”
Foley can assist faculty members with research or accessing resources they may need for course materials.
“My door is very open,” she says, while emphasizing that the library serves the entire University.
“The real vision is that the library matches the growth of the campus,” James says. “The library has to be connected and responsive to the other units of the campus so we can all achieve our mission together.”
Around Campus
Upcoming Events
Oct. 6, 6 p.m. Zags Night at the Zephyrs. It’s 91³Ô¹ÏÍø night with the new pro soccer team, featuring two Zags | ONE Spokane Stadium
Oct. 7, 7 p.m. Prof. Emeritus Brian Clayton presents “I See Dead People: Spiritual Quests in the Films of M. Night Shyamalan” | Wolff Auditorium
Oct. 9, 6-8 p.m. How Close are we to a Breast Cancer Vaccine? UW’s Nora Disis, M.D., shares the latest research at the Next Generation Medicine Lecture, presented by the UW-GU Health Partnership | Hemmingson Ballroom
Oct. 11, 7 p.m. Prof. Duane Armitage presents “The Displacement of the Sacred in Modern Film: From Nietzsche and Heidegger to Barbie and Deadpool” | Wolff Auditorium
Oct. 11-12 Lincoln LGBTQ Center 20th Anniversary celebrations
Oct. 15, 12-6 p.m., Oct. 16, 7:30 a.m - 2 p.m. The annual benefits fair will feature flu shots, biometric screenings and a chance to meet benefit vendors.
Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Red Mass of the Legal Profession | St. Al’s
Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m.  BODYTRAFFIC, an internationally touring dance company dedicated to contemporary movement and positive change | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
Oct. 22, 5:30 p.m. President Thayne McCulloh keynotes the Aram Lecture on Business Ethics: “If You Only Knew: Ethical Leadership and the University Presidency” | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
Oct. 22, 6 p.m. Prof. Greg Gorden presents “Rewilding the Urban Frontier: River Conservation in the Anthropocene” | Hemmingson Auditorium
Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m. Visiting Writers Series features poet Quenton Baker | Humanities Commons
Spotlight
Latinos in Heritage Conservation, a nonprofit co-founded by Ray Rast (History), received a $4 million grant from Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support efforts to preserve Latinx culture and history.
Noteworthy
New Hires
Abigail Johansen, program asst III disability access, Center for Student Academic Success; Amy Cosgrove, international student advisor, Center for Global Engagement; Andrew Connolly, asst. women’s tennis coach, Athletics; Austin Sauer, AV specialist, Information Technology Services; Becca Ediger, program assistant I, Center for Student Involvement; Christopher Fairbanks, custodian, Plant Services; Cody Dehn, operations coordinator, Fitness Center; Dave Bowers, custodian, Plant Services; Davin Thomsen Tang, coordinator II, Mission and Ministry; Erica Goldberg, professor, School of Law; Hannah Johanson, admission specialist, Graduate Enrollment Management; Hiu Nam Wong, asst. athletic trainer, Athletics; Jennifer Warren, case manager, Center for Cura Personalis; Justin Jacobs, assistant baseball coach, director of operations, Athletics; Katherine Tidwell, operations coordinator, Fitness Center; Kristina Campbell, professor, School of Law; Kylie Pybus, director, Office of Health Promotion, Health & Counseling Services; Sarah Glass, asst. volleyball coach and director of volleyball operations, Athletics; Shanchieh Jay Yang, director, Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology; Sheana Kleist, asst. director of academic support and bar programs, School of Law
Position Changes/ Promotions
Agnieszka McPeak, professor, School of Law; Aubrey Susens, systems analyst and asst. to the AVP, Auxiliary Enterprises; Carmen dela Cruz, program manager for mentoring, UMEC; Daniel St. George, endpoint lead, Information Technology Services; Floyd Grillo, manufacturing support manager, School of Engineering and Applied Science; Heather James, dean, Foley Library; Joshua True, HVAC control technician, Plant Services; Joslyn Carley, asst. director of student accounts, Student Financial Services; Madison Omdal, head athletic trainer, Athletics; Matthew Davis, ERP lead, Information Technology Services; Sean Cochrane, network lead, Information Technology Services; Tyler Spilker, cloud lead, Information Technology Services; Wade Croft, electronics technician, School of Engineering and Applied Science; Allison Clapp, coordinator II, Mission and Ministry; Ayaka Dohi, director, Payne Center for Leadership Development; George Critchlow, distinguished visiting professor, School of Law; Robert Barnes, custodian, Plant Services; Robert Lyons, S.J., university chaplain, Mission and Ministry
Goodbyes
Amy Mateyka, brand manager and graphic design, Instructional Design and Delivery; Andrew Gardner, life skills coordinator, Athletics; Brandon Demute, custodian, Plant Services; Deena Gonzalez, senior university fellow and professor of history, President; Evan Wells, asst. baseball coach and director of operations, Athletics; Ivan Kozyan, groundskeeper, Plant Services; Kendall Smitley, head athletic trainer, Athletics; Mackenzie Pavlik, senior study abroad advisor, Center for Global Engagement; Michael Roth, special projects for the president, President; Michael Taylor, strength and conditioning coach, Athletics; Patrick McCormick, professor of religious studies, College of Arts and Sciences; Rebecca Hoyt, senior organization development consultant, Human Resources; Ryan Chun, admissions specialist, Graduate Enrollment Management; Sara Bernard-Hoverstad, senior specialist, faculty and staff formation, Mission and Ministry
Anniversaries
40 Keith Gauthier, working maintenance supervisor, Plant Services
20 John King, HVAC technician, Plant Services; Joshua Armstrong, associate professor, Comprehensive Leadership Program
15 Andrey Cherni, custodian specialist, Plant Services
10 Jeffery Bafus, mental health counselor III, Health and Counseling Services; Barrett Henderson, asst. athletic director, Athletics; Seth Tyler, associate director of Rudolph Fitness Center, Fitness Center Operations
5 Yemisi Awotoye, associate professor, Management; Cherie Christ, associate CIO, Strategy and Engagement; Alysha Terrell, administrative asst. and office manager, Human Resources; Jan Keiser, senior international employment partner, Client Services; Tracy Hayes, asst. professor, Communications and Leadership; Dung Tran, associate professor, Organizational Leadership