FEBRUARY 2024
GONZAGA FACULTY AND STAFF NEWSLETTER
VOL. 25 | #5
› New Home in Outdoors
2
› Building Belonging
4
› AI Helpful Hints
5
› Etiquette About Inclusion
6
ON AND OFF THE FIRE LINES: BEN CHU IS AN ECO-SPIRITUALITY SPECIALIST By Kate Vanskike (’22 M.A.) “Caring for our Common Home” is one of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Jesuits, based on Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical, “Laudato Si.” And while all Jesuit universities share a calling to address the realities of climate change and justice, Gonzaga may well be the first to create a full-time position dedicated to this work. Ben Chu (’21 M.A. ORGL) is a specialist for ecological spirituality in University Ministry, a role designed in 2022 to animate Laudato Si and to meet students’ needs and desires to feed their souls in experiences with nature. As such, Ben leads immersive and relational programs – some new, some refreshed versions of older offerings – that take place outdoors. The former Francis Youth Institute directed by Joe Mudd of religious studies is now Gonzaga Explore, a summer immersion for high school students to learn about ecology, theology and leadership. The Wilderness Retreat is an experience of contemplative Christianity where students go camping for three days and two nights and engage in contemplative practices rooted in the Christian tradition, learning from saints and mystics. Creation walks and hikes utilizing the Jesuit model of the Examen with a focus on ecology are, as Ben says, “opportunities to listen to the cries of the earth and the cries of the poor, which are often interconnected.” “The past year and a half has been the most joyful time of my life,” says Chu. “It’s such meaningful work.” That sentiment comes from someone who previously worked in wildland fire response, and who, once he became a parent, started wondering: What kind of world are we leaving for our kids? Chu felt moved to be part of work with a more proactive approach to care of our common home. “I’m inspired by students and their passion for climate justice,” he says. “It’s very hope-giving for me.” Chu is a practicing Catholic. He was inspired by Trappist monk and author Thomas Merton and Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast, know as the grandfather of gratitude. After having discerned with his spiritual director, a Dominican priest, Ben once lived with a Zen
Ben Chu is one with the Earth in almost every part of his life, here with baby Evelyn Jiyoon sharing a nature walk. Buddhist roshi (teacher) and spent a month practicing Zazen (sitting meditation), which he continues to do amid a busy lifestyle of work and raising three kids. As a philosophy major and psychology minor at the University of Oregon, he worked in a neuroscience lab where the Dalai Lama was a subject of scientific study of the impacts of meditation. Those experiences have played an integral role in facilitating retreats for students and navigating challenges.
It really helped to heal the anxiety and disappointment of these first-year students.”
Speaking of Outdoors, read about GU Outdoors’ new space, offerings, page 2
“Back in the day, my dream job was to take people into the woods and grow closer to God. Ten years later, here I am,” Chu says, gratefully. “So many times, I’m praying and thinking, ‘I can’t believe this is my job.’”
Last fall, during the Gonzaga Out of Bounds (GOOB) program, wildfire smoke prevented students from having a typical outdoor excursion. “We were in Schoenberg with 100 students, unsure of what to do, and cortisol was high,” Chu recalls. “We found other things to do – like indoor rock climbing – but also took that opportunity to do yoga and meditation.
This year, he hopes to pilot a new retreat for students in Gonzaga Environmental Organization (GEO) and Fossil-Free Gonzaga, who are experiencing varying degrees of eco-anxiety and eco-grief. He says the goals are to help them regenerate, reconnect and renew their energies for the work of sustainable change. “We’ll help one another move into positions of hope, possibility and courage,” he says.
It’s his job 11 months a year anyway. Chu will be back on the ground in fire season, this time as a fire-line EMT. He finds parallels of meaning in that work alongside eco-spirituality – supporting those working in the trenches, responding to climate disasters. It definitely gives new meaning to Care for our Common Home. Page 1
GU Outdoors, Summer Wilderness Program Expand to New Horizons By Lili Cathersal (’25) 2023 was the year of change for Gonzaga Outdoors. Staff members traded their hideaway in the Hemmingson basement for a building of their own with nearly triple the space. The department also has plans to expand its programming as the added room opened more opportunities for outdoor education and guided trips. Tasha Block, director of Outdoor Programs, joined the department in August 2022, just in time to witness the move to the new building, located on Sharp Avenue and Pearl Street. “I think the beautiful thing about it is it serves our needs right now and we have space for continued growth and expansion.” In the past, space constraints required GU Outdoors to prepare for excursions in other areas, like the basement of Madonna. Now, staff can orchestrate multiple trips out of their headquarters without having to haul gear to another location. “Any time we can spend less time on the prep and more time on the programming, that’s a huge win,” said Block. One challenge with the new location is being farther from the student center. “We have to work harder to make sure that incoming students know where we are and to make this space accessible and easy for folks.” So, they’ve added couches and seating areas to encourage students to do homework or hang out, especially while waiting on services like bike repairs. Having the bike shop in the same space helps GU Outdoors truly feel like a more complete community. “I think it’s really neat for office staff to be able to learn about tuning or repairing bikes and for bike shop staff to expand their outdoor knowledge into fixing tents and learning about all these different things,” Block said. Gonzaga in the Wilderness, a month-long summer program almost 10 years strong, is also changing, by rotating the locations and course material for the excursion each summer. In 2023, Gonzaga in the Wilderness set its sights on Glacier National Park in Montana, teaching ethics and a parks, forests and wildlife environmental course. In 2024, students will explore Puget Sound with professors Brook Swanson teaching marine biology and Heather Easterling teaching reading and writing in the Northwest. Greg Gordon, environmental studies, is happy to see the rotation of faculty to offer a variety of experiences.
Page 2
Last spring GU Outdoors coordinated a trip to Moab, where students enjoyed a variety of desert activities: packrafting, hiking and mountain biking. Seen here are students in ZigZag Canyon during a day of guided canyoneering. “The idea that we had all along was to try to create a type of program that combines what GU Outdoors does with educational experiences,” said Gordon. “Students would have the opportunity to do some field studies programs that also required outdoor skills such as backpacking or canoeing.” Gordon believes the program benefits students in more ways than just course credits, however. On the trip, students have no service or access to the internet, which he believes is a boon. “I think kids are dealing with a lot of stress and mental health issues in recent years and the opportunity to get away from things is increasingly rare. I think it’s really helpful for students to just be in their own state of mind, to be able to experience a different way of being in the world.”
For those unable to join in the summer, GU Outdoors can now run two spring-break trips in 2024. The first trip will take students to Walla Walla to participate in an advanced Wilderness First Responder Course. The second will be a winter sampler through the Methow Valley, including cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowshoeing. Through its expansion, GU Outdoors will encourage more students to take part in nature while also preserving it, a belief Block echoes. “I’ve worked with a lot of college-age students, and I think Gonzaga really helps people believe that they do have the power to make change in the world,” Block says.
Staff Assembly Honorees Show “Something Extra” Spark of Spirit Award – Ismael Teshome, ITS Service Experience; Josephine Orlando, Housing & Residence Life
Innovation Award – Brenda Warrington, Hayley Roth and Lindsay Bailey, Instructional Design & Delivery
Mission Award – Rebecca Hoyt, Organizational Development; Drew Rieder, Alumni Relations
Ismael Teshome and Josephine Orlando
Brenda Warrington, Lindsay Bailey and Hayley Roth
Rebecca Hoyt and Drew Rieder
Recipients of Staff Assembly semi-annual awards for Spirit, Innovation and Support of Mission have three things in common – their enthusiasm, care for others and their work, and living Gonzaga’s mission. Spark of Spirit recipients: Josephine Orlando is a natural motivator, consistently positive, enthusiastic and brings a high level of commitment to her work and professional relationships. Ismael Teshome always has a smile, a kind word and offers new ways to
Hoover Newest Recipient of YWCA Award
Chair and Professor of Organizational Leadership Kristine Hoover is honored as a 2024 YWCA Women of Achievement recipient of the Carl Maxey Racial and Kristine Hoover Social Justice Award. She was cited for her work in empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Last year Gonzaga was also represented in the YWCA awards by Law Professor Mary Pat Treuthart for her work in education and social justice. She was cited for her efforts on behalf of Disability Rights Washington, University Legal Assistance Program, and she co-founded a domestic violence mini clinic.
Mary Pat Treuthart
Both have been active in GU’s Institute for Hate Studies, Hoover directing that operation for several years.
make daily work better. His laughter, smiles and work ethic have improved office morale. Innovation recipients: The team of Brenda Warrington, Hayley Roth and Lindsay Bailey conducted extensive research, shepherded collaborative planning and conducted rigorous testing to implement the Canvas Learning Management System to enhance GU’s educational environment by automating administrative tasks.
Support of Mission: Rebecca Hoyt’s impact on the greater GU community is that of a shepherd, guiding others to be their best. She has created resources and processes that are enduring, developmentally based and holistic. Drew Rieder models what it means to walk alongside others on their journey. He strives to create community and inclusion, and humbly leads others by demonstrating collaboration, resilience and excitement for innovation.
New Staff Assembly President Hits Ground Running For newly elected Staff Assembly President Matt Eastman, project manager in ITS, there are immediate things to take care of: Election of his new executive council in April, Matt Eastman an Open Meeting featuring President Thayne McCulloh, Vice President Ray Kliewer and Associate Provost Julie McCulloh on Feb. 8, and meetings to schedule with incoming Faculty Assembly President Tom McKenzie, Staff Assembly administrative liaison Charlita Shelton and President McCulloh. The Open Meeting will feature McCulloh’s university recap on the state of the university, Kliewer’s update on HR projects and the associate provost’s enrollment outlook. Eastman, who succeeds Whitney Franklin as leader of the Staff Assembly, expressed his appreciation for the progress Franklin, Jim Simon and Rachelle Strawther have made in transforming Staff Assembly over the past six or seven years. “We’ve moved from a place where we were asking for a seat at the table
to being invited to the table,” Eastman says. He talked advancements that have brought staff together and recognized their important efforts: Initiation of the new Spark of Spirit award, a free December meal in the COG, coffee and donut hours and Open Meetings that continue to draw increased attendance with viable programming. In coming months Eastman hopes to gain a greater understanding of shared governance and continue building stronger relationships with other governing bodies, like GSBA and Faculty Assembly. Eastman served the past two years as Staff Assembly vice president. He has mechanical engineering (‘14) and M.ORGL (‘18) degrees from GU. He has worked in technology and software for both Gonzaga and Seattle U over the past nine years. “I’ve kept returning to Gonzaga, and now I’m here to stay,” he says. “My desire is to create an environment where staff members feel valued and they belong.”
Page 3
Helping Build a Culture of Belonging Editor’s Note: As a prelude to a March Spirit story on the Office of Inclusive Excellence, its vision, priorities and goals, here is a feature on Chief Diversity Officer Robin Kelley’s two staff members who are largely responsible for outreach to students, faculty and staff across campus. Associate Chief Diversity Officer Kristin Finch and Assistant CDO Shawn Washington found their way to Gonzaga on different paths. Washington’s is not a new face. He knew this place from a previous stint working in Student Life, coordinating the Act Six Scholarship Program, serving as a frequent speaker, bringing cultural awareness to campus, mentoring students and staging student workshops on diversity, equity and inclusion. Finch, with a Ph.D. in chemistry from University of Illinois and post-doctoral work at St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital, branched into DEI work as associate director at the Center for STEM Diversity at Tufts University in Boston, then as associate dean for diversity and inclusion in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. She found Spokane and Gonzaga after her partner, Erin Tucker, became Eastern Washington University’s director of track and field and cross-country last spring. She moved to Spokane and took the job at GU to be with him last summer. Finch and Washington have spent their time collaborating with students, staff and faculty on all things relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and social justice. Finch works primarily with faculty. She developed a workshop this fall to train them to conduct faculty searches. “This workshop is for all faculty who take part in faculty searches,” says Finch. “We want them to realize how our own biases can emerge, and to use processes that are fair and equitable. Using the best practices, policies and procedures help us alleviate anxieties that applicants can feel.” She also partners with Washington, now one year on the job, in bias intervention training. “People will witness some form of bias occurring and not know how best to react,” Finch says. “How to intervene or even do something after the fact is important in making campus feel safe and allowing people to be heard.”
Page 4
Shawn Washington and Kristin Finch making DEI inroads with students, faculty and staff all over campus.
Washington, who holds a master’s degree from GU and an Ed.D. in higher education from Concordia in Portland, collaborates with students and staff to help build capacity of thought with leadership across campus. He and Finch encourage office and department heads to reach out to OIE to schedule training in this area.
“It is nice to find a lot of people who are passionate about this work and willing to partner with us,” Finch notes. “There is lots of good initiative in the academy, within the Provost’s Office and with different units across campus. One of the biggest needs is having someone who can fully commit to this work. That’s my role.
Washington meets with office groups and departments to educate others on the importance of this campus community fully engaging in DEI work. He is also working with Student Affairs in developing a framework around mentoring students in the new Unity Scholars Program.
“And Shawn is an amazing partner to work with,” she adds.
Washington chairs the Bias Incident Assessment and Support team. It is comprised of six faculty members and six staff members. “We track information on bias incident reports across campus and offer support to those who are impacted,” Washington says. These two have a positive, engaging spirit about them. It’s clear they complement each other. Both are grateful for their work here.
For Washington, Gonzaga is a major part of his own story. “I met my wife Morgan Flowers-Washington here. She is a Gonzaga graduate a couple of times over and previously worked in housing and residence life.” According to Washington “DEI and social justice are thought partners. If offices, units or divisions need help and training, please contact OIE and we’re here to serve you.”
Research Librarians Describe Many Ways to Use
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE By Lucy Klebeck (‘23) The growth of Gonzaga’s library from College Hall to Crosby Center to the Foley Center mirrors in some way the evolution of technology, from the first computer in 1966, the internet and now, Artificial Intelligence. A constant has been the presence of the librarian. Foley library is home to a number of librarians, including specific liaisons for each department to provide assistance to faculty and students. Among them are Anthony Tardiff, instruction and first-year engagement librarian, Candise Branum, health sciences librarian, and Nicole Gustavsen, STEM specialist librarian. Dissecting and helping others use AI has become a specialty of these three. For now they say AI is just like the internet and social media: Simply another tool that is helpful in aiding research when used correctly. A variety of AI platforms are available for use, including ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing Chat, and Google’s Bard. When asked “how do research librarians use AI to help faculty and students?” in Bard’s platform, the AI summarized a list of ways in which research librarians, such as Tardiff, Branum and Gustavsen, use AI regarding research. Improving search results, recommending resources, providing personalized assistance and teaching and training were the four categories Bard outlined.
Improving search results All three librarians agree that AI aids research by simplifying the research process and allowing more time for analysis, synthesis and discovery. For example, Gustavsen says that a chatbot such as ChatGPT “can help you craft good search strings that you can use in a database,” which Tardiff mentions helps to “simplify the search process and make it generally accessible by allowing users to find useful results through natural language searching.” Essentially, AI can help users by developing search terms that are more likely to get the results they want, and it can help search engines better understand the type of answer a user is looking for.
Recommending resources AI is already embedded in many of the tools we use, such as auto-suggestion when typing or browsing the web and unlocking technology with facial recognition. Features such as auto-suggestion help users by providing them with options of what they might look up next or correcting an error with suggestions of what they most likely meant to write.
Candise Branum, Anthony Tardiff and Nicole Gustavsen warn that AI has no conscience of its own and it’s difficult to be free of bias. There is no replacement for human research.
Branum, Gustavsen and Tardiff point to other AI tools that can help faculty and students find resources. Tardiff describes the Consensus app, as “the first AI tool that I have found genuinely useful for research. Tools like this, in which the AI is not generating information but is instead surfacing it via the discovery of humanwritten academic articles, have the potential to be very valuable when they mature.” The Consensus app is relatively new and prone to errors, particularly as it is pulling from a small number of resources to deliver results. While Consensus does not replace research, it can be helpful in making the research process more effective, recommending and synthesizing sources for researchers.
Providing personalized assistance One of AI’s best features is that it can help prepare students for further research. Branum says that AI can be helpful in brainstorming ideas, creating outlines and highlighting areas that can be further investigated. Tardiff adds that AI can suggest new lines of thought and can even help to strengthen one’s argument by providing opposing viewpoints. This can be helpful for students developing research topics and arguments. ChatGPT can be supportive in offering basic definitions, providing synonyms and helping to build a platform from which to conduct research. Gustavsen says that a chatbot can be useful while reading a literature review or academic article, providing unknown terms or mentioned studies and figures. Chatbots like ChatGPT also save the conversation, which allows users to go back and see the steps that led them to their results.
Teaching and training Branum says AI is already frequently used in the medical field in education and practice, such as through virtual simulations and communication skills development. AI is used to look at health records to find trends, make predictions and identify outbreaks. AI is used in other fields as well, such as tracking climate patterns, developing quantum computing frameworks, coding and doing advanced math. Outside the workplace and academics, AI can be used for basic learning and quick topic searches. Gustavsen likes the conversational aspect of AI chatbots and how they help us to learn better than reading a Wikipedia article or digging through websites.
I’m a text-based AI, and that is outside of my capabilities. While Gonzaga’s librarians point out the helpfulness of AI, they also caution against many of its shortcomings. Branum points out that right now, AI is talked about in a flashy way in the media, but Chat GPT is simply a text generator, and no AI can take the place of a human conducting research in a traditional research database at this time. ChatGPT is bad at retrieving academic articles and “cannot replicate the skills and discernment required in building a search strategy, conducting a search database and selecting evidence that fits with your research topic,” Branum states. Continued on Page 6 Page 5
DINNER ETIQUETTE LESSONS: MORE THAN FORKS AND SPOONS competent in anything they do career-wise,” he says. Then, etiquette practice moves beyond the dinner table and into interviews, Zoom meetings, conference rooms and more.
By Sydney Fluker (’24) Each spring, Gonzaga’s Career & Professional Development team sets about 100 placemats on tables to provide a formal dinner simulation.
The annual two-hour dinner program is free and open to all students. The process of hosting a dinner is costly, so the department relies on student interest to determine whether to host one in any given year.
These etiquette dinners – as they are known in colleges throughout the country – serve to instruct students on the intricacies of the professional dining experience so as to help them feel more comfortable and confident in any dining setting, whether in a person’s home or in a restaurant. “Etiquette sometimes is misunderstood,” says Ray Angle, assistant vice president for Career & Professional Development. “People perceive it as being elitist, only for high society, but it’s not. Etiquette is a series of decisions we make in a variety of situations that relate to the context and culture of any situation. There are etiquette guidelines for how you behave at a theater or at a museum, so while some people would say this perpetuates elitism, my firm belief is that etiquette, at its heart, is about inclusion and making people feel a sense of belonging.” In his 33 years of working in university-level career services, Angle has hosted his fair share of etiquette dinners, and finds them to be an important part in helping students feel more ready to enter the workforce. He holds
Students can expect to learn the basics of a table setting, such as which glass is theirs, and why utensils are placed where they are, and making conversation, which is important. Each table has a Gonzaga employee or human resources representative serving as a table host whose job is to make sure everything runs smoothly. Ray Angle says “Etiquette, at its heart, is about inclusion and making people feel a sense of belonging.” certification from the Etiquette Institute, a business he partnered with for many years before acquiring the institute during the pandemic. Outside work hours, Angle teaches in the certificate program. “If I understand the guidelines about eating a dinner, then I’ll feel more comfortable, and we want our students to feel confident and
“How I got interested in etiquette is directly related to helping students prepare for their careers,” Angle says. “We’re about helping students clarify and attain their career and educational goals, and if knowing how to eat a meal is the way to help you get there, we want to do it.” This year’s etiquette dinner, “Dine & Shine: Mastering Table Manners While Making Conversation,” will be held April 24 at 6 p.m. in the Hemmingson Ballroom. Interested students should watch for promotions in Morning Mail to RSVP.
Useful Tips for Using AI continued from page 5 Gustavsen warns against using ChatGPT for citations, bibliographies, further reading suggestions or PDF summaries due to its lack of knowledge of recent events, information on topics outside of Western mainstream media and other rampant inaccuracies. The information that AI systems uncover can be useful but needs to be checked by the user before being deemed an adequate source. All three librarians point out that AI has no knowledge of its own and is not a conscious entity. AI is difficult (if not impossible) to be free of bias. While people want to believe technology is bias-free, Branum notes that humans, who are inherently biased, build, train and use AI, which results in biased technology. Page 6
“It will always be the researcher’s responsibility to determine biases... and to recognize how their own biases shape a response to what they are reading, viewing and hearing,” Gustavsen says. “AI is advancing at a rapid pace, and I think we’ll find inventive ways to use it to our advantage, but database research still requires a human hand,” Branum says.
For now, AI is a helpful tool that when used correctly, can aid students and faculty in streamlining their research process, help to uncover new resources and teach others about concepts across a variety of academic disciplines.
NEW WOMEN, GENDER AND SEXUALITY STUDIES MAJOR A Long Time In the Making
By Sydney Fluker (’24) When Sara Díaz accepted a position as assistant professor in Gonzaga University’s women’s and gender studies department, she received one major task: Build the minor into a major.
“Cross-listed courses are always going to be a part of WGST, but I’m really excited to create more of that community feel and to enable our classes to pursue deeper topics in relation to feminism, queer theory and trans studies,” Díaz says. “That, for me, is really exciting.”
Sara Diaz
Twelve years later and she can finally check that box, as the women, gender and sexuality studies department will welcome its first cohort of majors this fall. “We laid a lot of groundwork to be able to build enrollments in our classes and do some curricular work to flesh out standalone courses,” Díaz says. “What’s really exciting about being able to finally see the fruits of all that labor is that we will be able to go deeper in the curriculum with students in a way we can’t with a minor.” Díaz, now an associate professor and chair of the department, hopes the addition of upperdivision courses will help the cohort of majors feel more like a community as they progress together.
Creating a major required the development of more standalone classes, like a WGST intro, feminist genealogies and feminism and intersectionality. Feminist genealogies is the first standalone 400-level theory course focusing on the tradition of feminist and queer theory among people of color in the United States and transnationally. It will be offered beginning in spring 2025. Feminism and intersectionality is a 300-level course required for all majors, taught by Díaz this spring, exploring intersectionality theory used in activism and justice movements. The capstone course will have a mix of majors and minors over the next few years. While minors will no longer be required to complete it, majors will continue to use it for studentdriven, project-based ways to express what they have learned. Diaz hopes students will use the opportunity to tailor their project to
their future goals, such as graduate school work samples or for job applications. Alongside adding a major, the department added sexuality studies to its name. Díaz said sexuality studies have always been included in their courses, but naming it will identify it as a thread running through all of the coursework. Though Díaz was brought on to create the major, she said the work couldn’t have been done without those who have worked in and supported the department since its creation in 1991. “It’s been a long, long process and a lot of different people have contributed along the way to getting us here,” Díaz says. “Dr. Noralis Rodriguez and I helped push it over the line, but we really just continued to follow the path that was laid out before us. It’s taken time. We got interrupted by a pandemic, we helped found critical race and ethnic studies along the way. We’ve had all kinds of detours to get here, but we’re here and it’s really exciting.”
January Work Values Champions
Four Recognized for Commitment to Human Dignity Work Values champions for January exemplify a commitment to human dignity, says Brian Steverson, Work Values chair. Nominators suggest Amber Pangborn, program coordinator in Health Sciences, adeptly assists students in navigating clinical compliance, ensuring adherence to requirements while validating the worth and inherent dignity
of each student. One staff member said Director of Law Admissions Luke Cairney helps his colleagues navigate the complexities of graduate school, purchasing their new home or transitioning to new roles with a compassionate hand. Now Assistant to the Dean of Leadership Studies, Mandy Baird (not pictured) has seen several new hires in the
time she has also served as project manager, and has trained many of them in a thorough, patient and encouraging way, helping new folks to stretch and grow. SR, assistant director at UMEC, is not afraid of difficult discussions. SR listens well, uses inclusive language and supports students through their journeys in professional development.
Amber Pangborn
Luke Cairney
SR Page 7
VIEW ONLINE:
www.gonzaga.edu/spirit Dale Goodwin, Editor
Story Ideas/Feedback: Spirit@gonzaga.edu
NOTEWORTHY NEW HIRES Cara Abel, program asst, University Advancement; Carrie Holtan, elder law paralegal, Law; Casey Lokken-Baker, program asst II, Education; Heather Platt, program asst II, Arts & Sciences; Kerri Danowski, program manager, Lifelong Learning; Kristina Poffenroth, gender-based violence prevention education specialist, Inclusive Excellence; Lindsey Conley, sr recruiter, Human Resources; Lori Williams, program asst II, Education; Sarah Lawrence, custodian, Plant; Veronica Fincher, study abroad applications coordinator, Global Engagement; Catherine Peissig, application specialist, Admission; Aidan Crane, custodian, Plant; Alissa Underhill, lecturer, Human Physiology; Vy Bizhao, asst professor, Political Science; Carissa Basile, asst professor, Special Education; Dale Reimer, manager, environmental health and safety, Risk Management; Diana Thornburg, psychiatric health nurse practitioner, Health Center; Do-Houn Kim, asst professor, Human Physiology; Douglas Addleman, asst professor, Psychology; Elizabeth Tyson, lecturer, Chemistry; Evan Lasuteria, lecturer, Sociology; Hala Elsayed, lecturer, Biology; Janel Anderson, asst professor, Educational Leadership & Administration; Jennifer Seo, asst professor, Art; Kenlee Guss, program coordinator, Health Sciences; Kristen Arnold, asst professor, School Psychology; Kristen Maefsky, lecturer, Nursing; Madeleine Sweeney-Demezas, asst professor, Chemistry & Environmental Sciences; Masimuna Akter, asst professor, Finance; Matthew DeGarmo, lecturer, Sociology; Matthew Marcec, lecturer, Biology; McCall Sarrett, asst professor, Psychology; Megan Lewis, asst professor, Human Physiology; Michael Kropf, asst professor, Music; Rene Buell, lecturer, Chemistry; Ryan Merckle, lecturer, Psychology; Salena Beaumont Hill, lecturer/teaching fellow, Leadership Studies; Samantha Munson, lecturer, Environmental Studies; Sriya Shekhar, asst professor, Finance; William Haberman, program coordinator, Auxiliary Enterprises; Yongju Hwang, lecturer, Kinesiology & Sport Mgt; Brooke Hoving, lecturer, Nursing; Emma Ariyo, asst professor, Kinesiology & Sport Mgt; Jennifer Davis, lecturer, Integrated Media; Jennifer Evans, lecturer, Nursing; Jessica Brooke, lecturer, Modern Languages & Literature; Joel Stafstrom, lecturer, Biology; Kimberly Cline, lecturer, Nursing; Kristopher Hill, lecturer, Integrated Media; Luke Johnson, instructor, Computer Science; Marcella Staaben, lecturer, Nursing; Naomi Hagen, lecturer, Teacher Education; Roisin Lally, asst professor, Leadership Studies; Samantha Todd, lecturer, Nursing; Shirley Dawn Magee, lecturer, Nursing; Sylvia Madrid Jaramillo, lecturer, Math; Tera Tveit, lecturer, Nursing
POSITION CHANGES/PROMOTIONS Dori Sonntag, assoc vice president/chief operating officer, University Advancement; Elyssa Reichert, systems analyst/asst to assoc vice president, Auxiliary Enterprises; Kelly Wentz, director, Financial Aid; Lacey Skalsky, budget & personnel officer, ITS; Matthew Gerdes, Clery compliance officer/ parking & transportation admin, Security; Addison Cavanaugh, business solutions & systems analyst, Controller; Adriane Leithauser, sr lecturer, Business Ethics; Amanda Baird, program manager, Leadership Studies; Amber Pangborn, clinical compliance specialist, Health Sciences; Andrew Brajcich, professor, Accounting; Carolyn Cunningham, professor, Communication & Leadership; Charlie Pepiton, professor, Theatre and Dance; Dung Tran, assoc professor, Organizational Leadership; Betsy Bancroft, professor, Biology and Environmental Studies; Eric Hogle, asst professor, Math; Gerhard Barone, professor, Accounting; Ilatei Bellefeuille, asst to the dean, Education; Jennifer Neyman,
Page 8
sr lecturer, Special Education; Jeremy Gordon, assoc professor, Communications Studies; John Traynor, professor, Teacher Education; Joshua Boche, broadcast engineer/KAGU operations manager, Broadcast Studies; Juliane Mora, assoc professor, Communications Studies; Kelley Bishop, sr lecturer, Modern Languages & Literature; Laurie Arnold, professor, History & director, Native American Studies; Mark Muszynski, professor, Civil Engineering; Mathew Rude, professor, Art; Matt McCormick, assoc professor, Integrated Media & Art; Matthew Eolton, professor, English; Meiromg Zhang, assoc professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Nathan Axel, HVAC technician, Plant; Phoebe Oosterhuis, asst director, Community Engagement; Rebecca Stephanis, professor, Modern Languages & Literature; Richard Callahan, assoc professor, Religious Studies; Richard Vann, assoc professor, Marketing; Robert McKinney, assoc professor, Counselor Education; Ryan Turcott, assoc professor, Kinesiology & Sport Mgt; Sarah Powers, sr lecturer, Math; Yanping Zhang, professor, Computer Science
GOODBYES (Entries include some September goodbyes that were not previously noted.)
Andrea Cadriel, leadership annual gift officer, University Advancement; Emily Eakins, receptionist, Health Center; Francisca Lara, specialist academic budget & personnel, Provost; Jamie Rock, asst professor, Nursing; Taylor Aichel, director, Sponsored Research; Vivi Windsor, sr event manager, GUEST; Mychal Ferger, academic adviser I, Student Academic Success; Ryan Kellogg, academic director, design & entrepreneurship, Engineering; Seth Cleminson, custodian, Plant; Sierra Pancoast, interim asst director, Housing & Residence Life; Whitney Pitalo, asst women’s soccer coach, Athletics; Will Anderson, custodian, Plant; Yasaman Naraghi, lecturer, English; Alayma Biersdroff, academic adviser, Student Academic Success; Annette Davis; director planned giving, University Advancement; Azra Rasic, grant & contract officer II, Sponsored Research; Dave Sonntag, assoc vice president, Marketing & Communications; Eli Jenkins, counselor, Admission; Jenna Larson, specialist II/international military rep, Graduate Enrollment Mgt; Jennifer Towers, asst dean, Health Sciences; Paula Smith, asst dean of students/care, advocacy and resolution, Student Wellbeing; Richard Rasmussen, TES assoc director, ITS
ANNIVERSARIES:
Edin, asst director, Custodial Services; 20 Justin Rizah Kahrimanovic, custodian, Plant Ramirez, professor, Nursing; Sarah 15 Jeff Siegel, sr lecturer, Chemistry Jones, sr development strategist 10 Holly & writer, University Advancement; Lisa Schwartzenburg, asst vice president/ benefits, Human Resources
5
Jillian LaBelle, lecturer, Accounting; Patty Hetu-Tkacik, public sector career development faculty, Career Center; Jon Carlson, production manager, Woldson Performing Arts Center; Chris Crago, lecturer, Law; Mary Jean Spadafora, CRM project manager, ITS; Elaine Savage, communications officer, Security; Sergey Didenko, custodian, Plant; Les Atwood, painter, Plant; Brianna Fisher, custodian, Plant; Julianne Jay, custodian, Plant
Around Campus » GU has adopted a mile along the Centennial Trail for regular cleanup between the east end of the Kardong Bridge northeast to Mission Park. Community Engagement is coordinating. » Coming to the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center: The Sound of (Black) Music, hip-hop, funk, soul and jazz, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., purchase tickets; Aram Lecture on Business Ethics features former President Robert J. Spitzer S.J., on “What’s Missing in Contemporary Approaches to Business Ethics?” Feb. 7, 7 p.m., free, RSVP is requested; Screendance Film Festival, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., donate what you can; Pacific Northwest Ballet performs Feb. 16‑17, 7:30 p.m., for 10% employee discount Click here. Spokane Symphony Chorale celebrates the music of Duke Ellington, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., Get tickets » Staff Assembly open meeting is Feb. 8, 8:30-11 a.m., in Hemmingson Ballroom or via Zoom, featuring Thayne McCulloh, Ray Kliewer and Julie McCulloh. » The Revolutionists: A Staged Reading is a comedy about four women in the French Revolution, Feb. 8-9, 7:30 p.m., Magnuson Theatre. » Gonzaga Group Night at the Spokane Chiefs, arranged by Staff Assembly, is Feb. 9, 7 p.m., section 106 at Spokane Arena. Information and tickets here. » The Core of the College: AI & the Common Good, a panel discussion on what we learn in the classroom and how it applies to ethical questions of artificial intelligence’s impact on the Common Good, Feb. 13, 4:30 p.m., Globe Room. Panelists are author Joseph Flores, and faculty members Bi Zhao, Cassie DameGriff, Chase Bollig, and Fr. Tim Clancy, S.J. » CTA Workshop: Using Canvas for Effective Academic Advising, Feb. 21, noon, Foley 105A or Zoom. Click here for more information