Gonzaga Giving Summer 2013 Newsletter

Summer 2013

GonzagaGiving

Research and resourcefulness in psychology When it came time to conduct an experiment for her advanced research methods course, senior Kate Jones dreamed about “cool toys” that could help her make exciting discoveries in the field of psychology. Unfortunately, cool was in short supply. Luckily, she possessed extra resourcefulness.

Jones and classmate Chris Galeucia, pictured above, introduced an experiment measuring a human’s nervous system response to familiarity utilizing a common (for the research world) skin conductance meter. The sympathetic nervous system controls sweat glands, and the moisturelevel variances result in skin conductance, which indicates psychological or physiological arousal.

Jones and Galeucia compiled a set of pictures of individual chimpanzee faces, inspired by their time serving and studying in Zambezi, Zambia. The human test subjects, hooked up to the skin-conductance meter, were shown 20 faces in succession, followed by another set of 20 faces. The second set, however, included 10 faces from the first round and 10 new chimp faces. The resulting skin-conductance reactions informed Jones and Galeucia that their subjects had a marked response when exposed to a familiar face.

The methodology and results of the study were strong enough that Jones recently presented the findings at the May convention of the

Campus Life

Q&A

Planned Giving

By the Numbers

Biggest Gonzaga project ever

Jesuit education and business ethics

Estate gift keeps giving

Gonzaga grads get jobs

Research and resourcefulness in psychology (continued) Association for Psychological Science in Washington, D.C. “Research experience is so important,” Galeucia said. “If you haven’t published or presented your research at some point, it really hurts your chances for grad school.

It’s basically your résumé.”

Jones and Galeucia are both Class of 2013 graduates. Galeucia has returned to Zambia for the summer, but will pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Notre Dame when he returns. Jones hopes to matriculate at the University of Colorado-Boulder for a doctorate. Their research, they say, is a big reason why they are able to attend such rigorous and competitive schools.

Despite this success, the research experience at Gonzaga would improve,

Jones and Galeucia say, with the addition of video editing software, contemporary electroencephalography (EEG) caps and spinal analysis machines, modern computers and portable equipment that can move easily between the lab and classroom.

Gonzaga psychology professor Gary Thorne recognizes the critical need for an improved laboratory environment — and he is making a difference. He recently donated funds to the department, specifically for student research equipment.

“These are real learning opportunities when they can do the research themselves,” Thorne said. “It helps the students and gives them such an advantage when it comes to graduate school.”

By the numbers Gonzaga Career Services

604

internships posted this year

2,555 full time jobs available to grads

More than

37%

of Gonzaga’s class of 2013

secured employment before graduation

The gift that keeps on giving

with companies such as Amazon, Boeing, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Lululemon Corporate, McKinstry, NBA, Salseforce.com and more

Harry L. Williams, a 1915 graduate of Gonzaga and classmate of one of the University’s most recognizable alumni, Bing Crosby, established a charitable remainder unitrust through a provision in his will, which was eventually funded in 1978. He wanted to ensure his daughter, Harriet, financial security by providing her annual income payments for life.

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Harriet continued the giving, and with her passing in September, the proceeds Harry L. Williams, circled above, with the 1913-14 junior class. remaining in the unitrust created the Harry L. Williams Scholarship. This scholarship, established Oct. 16, 2012, is now living on in perpetuity, aiding electrical engineering students at Gonzaga.

Planned Giving 2012-13 21 alumni and friends joined Gonzaga’s Heritage Society by including the University in their estate plans 93% of the bequests and IRA distributions Gonzaga received this past year were designated for scholarship support

$2.18 million was received from

Planned gifts by source:

Retirement Assets Charitable Remainder Unitrusts

60%

2%

Charitable Gift Annuities

employers attended the year’s five career fairs

Annual Campaign [Update]

Forty-five percent of Gonzaga’s donors are alumni – but that also means that 55 percent are parents, friends and firms. Thank you to everyone in the Zag Nation!

Total donors by fiscal year* FY13

13,975

FY12

13,790

FY11

12,981

FY10

12,712

8% 30%

Bequests

various estate gifts

To learn more about estate gifts or gifts that provide life income, contact Gonzaga’s Office of Planned Giving at (800) 388-0881 or plannedgiving@gonzaga.edu.

*Gonzaga’s fiscal year runs from June 1 - May 31

[Meet Dr. Brian Steverson, John L. Aram Chair in Business Ethics]

Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program’s class of 2013, eight of whom attended the Seattle excursion. [Photo by Rajah Bose.]

Excursion about more than jobs In February, Chris Stevens, director of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, led a group of Gonzaga students to Seattle for a business opportunity. But this was not a job-seeking venture. If a student received an offer, that was a bonus.

“This was more about what it means to be a professional, to make meaning in the world,” Stevens said. “It was learning about the value of relationships, the value of mentoring and the value of experience.”

The Hogan program is a competitive, cross-curricular honors program.

Ten of the program’s top students, eight seniors and two juniors, participated in the sojourn to Seattle. They spent two days meeting with mid-level and senior executives at 10 firms in the city.

The goal was to have the It’s really a testament executives serve as mentors, sharing their wisdom and to the power of the developing relationships with alumni network when the students to facilitate better it’s used effectively. career decisions. Stevens wanted students to develop soft - Chris Stevens skills and learn what is necessary to be successful in a particular field.

Stevens used Gonzaga’s extensive Seattle alumni base to organize the excursion.

“It’s really a testament to the power of the alumni network when it’s used effectively,” Stevens said.

The Dore Foundation funded the trip, which did end with job offers for two students. The Dore Foundation, a loyal benefactor to GU’s School of Business Administration, is a non-profit organization based out of Seattle that seeks to enhance educational opportunities for students.

In addition to Seattle, Stevens would like to set up a similar experience in Spokane. He would also like to expand the excursion to 20 students.

Want to read more on what Hogan students are doing?

Visit blogs.gonzaga.edu/gonzagagiving/Hogan.

Why is the Aram Chair important to Gonzaga and, in particular, your work?

The Aram Chair provides a relatively high profile way of promoting the fact that, as every Jesuit school of business should, GU’s School of Business Administration has the inculcation of ethics in its students as one of its top priorities.

How do you live Gonzaga’s mission and incorporate it in your teaching?

Every class that I teach is centered on the basic Jesuit commitment to further the common good.

Whether it is a general business ethics course, a course on entrepreneurial leadership, or even a course on finance ethics, my pedagogical purpose is to draw students to the realization that all of our specific economic endeavors, no matter how trivial they might appear to be, are to be treated as opportunities for individuals and collectives to allow for goodness to appear in the world.

How can business become more ethical?

By being populated by more virtuous persons.

Organizations are created by persons. I may be naïve on this point, but I think, “more virtuous business leaders, more virtuous business organizations.”

What is the prevalence of ethics in today’s business climate?

People tend not to be forthcoming about the absence of ethics in their own business behavior. What is discouraging is the social tendency to allow those with the power and opportunity to disrupt and harm the common good. Society has the right to demand of business leaders what we seek from their activities and they, as social servants, are bound to oblige.

Like what Dr. Steverson is saying?

There’s more ... including Disco as his favorite music, at blogs.gonzaga.edu/gonzagagiving/QA

Snapshot

[Campus Life]

Gonzaga students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends signed the COG during the Kiss Our COG Goodbye event on May 8 before the building was demolished to make way for the new University Center. [Photo by Rajah Bose.]

Redefining campus, Jesuit education Construction has begun on the new University Center, jumpstarted by the largest gift in Gonzaga’s history. This visionary space will redefine and animate the center of Gonzaga’s campus like no structure since College Hall.

The ultra-modern facility will serve as a portal to the world, utilizing cutting-edge technology to engage each other and collaborate on activities that promote social, academic and spiritual growth. From University Ministry and student government to the Center for Global Engagement and dining services, the University Center will support essential activities native to a residential campus in support of a Jesuit education. It will do so through a series of

flexible spaces, large or small, which have the ability to respond to changing needs and resources.

Clearly, the realization of such a bold facility is only possible with the inspiration, generosity and dedication of the Gonzaga family. But we are just getting started.

Your support, critical as ever, will play an integral role in Gonzaga’s ability to deliver a contemporary Jesuit education, one that is relevant and rigorous in today’s complex world. For additional updates on University Center progress, naming opportunities and fundraising, contact Pat Reese, director of campaign, at (509) 313-6134 or reese@gonzaga.edu.

Renderings of the University Center are online at gonzaga.edu/universitycenter.

Upcoming Events Gonzaga-in-Florence (G-I-F) All-Class Reunion Spokane, Wash.

Oct. 18-20, 2013 Experience wine tasting, visit former classmates and attend a class taught by a Florence faculty member.

Florence, Italy April 24-27, 2014 Relive the best memories of the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the Museum of San Marco and favorite old stomping grounds in Florence.

Alumni Reunion Spokane, Wash.

Oct. 18-20, 2013 Reunite and reconnect with your class of ’63, ’73, ’83, ’93 and ’03 and Gold Club Members.

Fall Family Weekend Spokane, Wash.

Oct. 25-27, 2013 Join your GU student on campus for a fun-filled weekend of activities for mind, body and spirit.

Development Office, Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99258-0098, (800) 463-6925

gonzaga.edu/supportgu