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The Circle of Life

The Circle of Life

November 26, 2025

November 26, 2025

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Dear Gonzaga Community,

 

I chose this profession because I love being a student and learning every day. And while many of our students this week are taking their mid-term exams, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to accompany them on their academic journeys as a new member of this incredible Gonzaga family. I’m also grateful to not have any exams this week myself!

 

When Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, spoke during Gonzaga’s inauguration ceremony a few weeks ago, she spoke of loving and serving with gratitude and dedication, and pursuing the common good through collaboration, teamwork, loyalty and transparency. She spoke of friendship as not just important to our students, faculty and staff members, but as a vital aspect of human existence itself.

 

Sister’s words will stay with me, and I’m so thankful for the new friendships evolving from the welcome Gonzaga has given me and my family. And I see the collaboration, teamwork, loyalty and transparency she spoke of every day as we work on this campus together.

 

Dear Gonzaga Community,

 

I chose this profession because I love being a student and learning every day. And while many of our students this week are taking their mid-term exams, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to accompany them on their academic journeys as a new member of this incredible Gonzaga family. I’m also grateful to not have any exams this week myself!

 

When Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, spoke during Gonzaga’s inauguration ceremony a few weeks ago, she spoke of loving and serving with gratitude and dedication, and pursuing the common good through collaboration, teamwork, loyalty and transparency. She spoke of friendship as not just important to our students, faculty and staff members, but as a vital aspect of human existence itself.

 

Sister’s words will stay with me, and I’m so thankful for the new friendships evolving from the welcome Gonzaga has given me and my family. And I see the collaboration, teamwork, loyalty and transparency she spoke of every day as we work on this campus together.

 

With Gratitude To So Many

With Gratitude To So Many

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I must take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making Inauguration Week such a memorable experience, one that truly embraced our themes of “open doors,” “empower potential” and “lead with hope.”

 

I hope you were able to join us for some of the incredible programs organized by our faculty, staff, students and Jesuits, and supported by donors who generously funded Inauguration events. From Zags volunteering at several community organizations to a thoughtful panel discussion on “Voices of Faith” led by Father Sam Sawyer from America Media, from a remarkable “Mission in Motion” showcase of faculty research to a joyful gathering of students on Herak Quad, and so much more.

 

I also want to thank all the Zags who kept the great momentum on campus going after inauguration. From meeting excited alumni on campus for their Zagapalooza reunions to greeting our students' families for a beautiful Fall Family Weekend, the spirit on campus was wonderful. And I'm still speechless from my first Kraziness in the Kennel and FanFest experiences! When it comes to school spirit, our students are truly second to none. 

 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention two remarkable donations made during Inauguration Week that will help us educate students for lives and leadership and service for years to come.

 

Tom (’69) and Nancy Woodley’s transformational gift allows Gonzaga to establish the Woodley Institute for Civil Engagement and Humanistic Dialogue. In increasingly divisive times, giving our students a place to learn about and pursue an elevated civil discourse rooted in our Catholic, Jesuit and humanistic tradition is of vital importance, and a major aspect of our Strategic Plan.

 

A second gift from Scott and Emily Scelfo, parents of Gonzaga alumni, will fuel the ongoing and incredible work of our Center for Community Engagement and programs focused on supporting our neighbors through programs such as Opportunity Northeast and Campus Kitchen.

 

I hope to see the many ways in which the members of our community can be involved with these initiatives.

I must take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making Inauguration Week such a memorable experience, one that truly embraced our themes of “open doors,” “empower potential” and “lead with hope.”

 

I hope you were able to join us for some of the incredible programs organized by our faculty, staff, students and Jesuits, and supported by donors who generously funded Inauguration events. From Zags volunteering at several community organizations to a thoughtful panel discussion on “Voices of Faith” led by Father Sam Sawyer from America Media, from a remarkable “Mission in Motion” showcase of faculty research to a joyful gathering of students on Herak Quad, and so much more.

 

I also want to thank all the Zags who kept the great momentum on campus going after inauguration. From meeting excited alumni on campus for their Zagapalooza reunions to greeting our students' families for a beautiful Fall Family Weekend, the spirit on campus was wonderful. And I'm still speechless from my first Kraziness in the Kennel and FanFest experiences! When it comes to school spirit, our students are truly second to none. 

 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention two remarkable donations made during Inauguration Week that will help us educate students for lives and leadership and service for years to come.

 

Tom (’69) and Nancy Woodley’s transformational gift allows Gonzaga to establish the Woodley Institute for Civil Engagement and Humanistic Dialogue. In increasingly divisive times, giving our students a place to learn about and pursue an elevated civil discourse rooted in our Catholic, Jesuit and humanistic tradition is of vital importance, and a major aspect of our Strategic Plan.

 

A second gift from Scott and Emily Scelfo, parents of Gonzaga alumni, will fuel the ongoing and incredible work of our Center for Community Engagement and programs focused on supporting our neighbors through programs such as Opportunity Northeast and Campus Kitchen.

 

I hope to see the many ways in which the members of our community can be involved with these initiatives.

The Circle of Life

The Circle of Life

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It was great to have several members of the Board of Trustees and alumni in the Washington D.C. area join me for the NIAF 50th Anniversary celebration.

It was great to have several members of the Board of Trustees and alumni in the Washington D.C. area join me for the NIAF 50th Anniversary celebration.

This weekend, I was taken back to my years as a student at a ceremony held by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) in Washington, D.C. I was humbled to be honored alongside several global leaders in business, technology, engineering, management, entertainment and health care, and proud to represent education as the organization celebrated 50 years.

 

The experience reminded me of my arrival in Washington, D.C. as an international student. I felt so welcome, and the city was full of embassies and international organizations. It reminded me a little bit of Rome, but even more international than Rome perhaps. Back in 1996, I received a scholarship from NIAF that was so meaningful to my success as a student, being as a new resident of the United States and still enjoying the embrace of my native culture supporting me to succeed in my adopted new country.

 

This weekend’s festivities emphasized how important it is to keep building bridges for international students to become part of the Gonzaga community, and for our American students to expand their horizons through Study Abroad programs and service projects around the world. Not only did it take me full circle back to my first days as an international student in America; it took me back just a few weeks to an event hosted by our Center for Global Engagement and the International Education Council during Inauguration Week, our units that are enabling one of every two students to pursue their study abroad journeys.

 

Gonzaga faculty, visiting scholars, guests and students came together to celebrate the many ways Gonzaga is advancing global engagement through its teaching, research and collaborations. It’s such important work, and the relationships we build across cultures and across campus will fortify us as we "go forth and set the world on fire.”

This weekend, I was taken back to my years as a student at a ceremony held by the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) in Washington, D.C. I was humbled to be honored alongside several global leaders in business, technology, engineering, management, entertainment and health care, and proud to represent education as the organization celebrated 50 years.

 

The experience reminded me of my arrival in Washington, D.C. as an international student. I felt so welcome, and the city was full of embassies and international organizations. It reminded me a little bit of Rome, but even more international than Rome perhaps. Back in 1996, I received a scholarship from NIAF that was so meaningful to my success as a student, being as a new resident of the United States and still enjoying the embrace of my native culture supporting me to succeed in my adopted new country.

 

This weekend’s festivities emphasized how important it is to keep building bridges for international students to become part of the Gonzaga community, and for our American students to expand their horizons through Study Abroad programs and service projects around the world. Not only did it take me full circle back to my first days as an international student in America; it took me back just a few weeks to an event hosted by our Center for Global Engagement and the International Education Council during Inauguration Week, our units that are enabling one of every two students to pursue their study abroad journeys.

 

Gonzaga faculty, visiting scholars, guests and students came together to celebrate the many ways Gonzaga is advancing global engagement through its teaching, research and collaborations. It’s such important work, and the relationships we build across cultures and across campus will fortify us as we "go forth and set the world on fire.”

In faith and partnership,

In faith and partnership,

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Katia Passerini, Ph.D.
President, Gonzaga University

Katia Passerini, Ph.D.
President, Gonzaga University

 
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Highlights

Highlights

I want to highlight some of the excellent work being done by the Gonzaga community that shows what a special place this is, and exemplifies our work and our Mission:

I want to highlight some of the excellent work being done by the Gonzaga community that shows what a special place this is, and exemplifies our work and our Mission:

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Living Our Mission

Living Our Mission

Engineering students working in the Biomedical Design Lab helped create a better wheelchair for people navigating difficult terrain, a true illustration of serving others.

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Engineering students working in the Biomedical Design Lab helped create a better wheelchair for people navigating difficult terrain, a true illustration of serving others.

Read more »

 
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Meeting Community Needs

Meeting Community Needs

Gonzaga’s partnership with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center to deliver advanced education for anesthesia providers is finding room to grow.

 

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Gonzaga’s partnership with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center to deliver advanced education for anesthesia providers is finding room to grow.

 

Read more »

 
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Innovation Recognized

Innovation Recognized

U.S. News & World Report’s rankings listed Gonzaga as one of the nation’s most innovative national universities, an excellent recognition of the work across campus to prepare our students for the future.

 

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U.S. News & World Report’s rankings listed Gonzaga as one of the nation’s most innovative national universities, an excellent recognition of the work across campus to prepare our students for the future.

 

Read more »

 
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Incredible Support

Incredible Support

The generosity of the Gonzaga community is inspiring, supporting the holistic formation of our students in myriad ways. More than 10,500 individual donors made last year a record-breaking one for philanthropic support of our University.

 

Read more »

The generosity of the Gonzaga community is inspiring, supporting the holistic formation of our students in myriad ways. More than 10,500 individual donors made last year a record-breaking one for philanthropic support of our University.

 

Read more »

 
 

Keep up with President Passerini on her social media accounts.

Keep up with President Passerini on her social media accounts.

 
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This email was sent to heimbigner@gonzaga.edu from

 

Gonzaga University

502 East Boone Avenue • Spokane, WA 99258 • (800) 986-9585

 

Website •  Privacy Policy  •Forward to a Friend  •  Unsubscribe