Commission Co-Chairs
Megan McCabe, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
Dr. Megan McCabe is a Catholic moral theologian focusing on the cultural foundations for sexual violence and moral responsibilities for social transformation. She co-founded and co-led a Theology, Sexuality, and Justice interest group for the Catholic Theological Society of America, co-chairs the “Contextualizing the Catholic Sexual Abuse Crisis” Seminar for the American Academy of Religion, and has been leading a task force for the Department of Religious Studies in response to Catholic sexual abuse.
Michelle Wheatley, D.Min., Vice President for Mission Integration
Dr. Michelle Wheatley has served Gonzaga University for the past fourteen years in a succession of roles within the Mission and University Ministry offices. She currently serves as the chief mission officer and oversees the Mission Integration division, which includes the Offices of Mission and Ministry and Tribal Relations. Her work focuses on the University’s identity and practices as a Sponsored Work of the Society of Jesus, which includes supporting active engagement and shared responsibility for the fulfillment of Gonzaga’s Catholic, Jesuit, and humanistic mission. Her specific areas of interest include Ignatian approaches to leadership, community building, and organizational development.
Commission Members
The following people accepted the invitation of the co-chairs and have generously agreed to dedicate their time and perspective on these issues by serving as Commission members:
Tim Clancy, S.J., B.A. ’80, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Philosophy
Fr. Tim Clancy, S.J., teaches at the intersection of the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of technology. He is also pastor of a small Catholic Parish, Our Lady of the Lake in Suncrest, Washington. He brings to the work of the Commission an interest in using religious ritual as a resource for moving beyond retribution and even restorative justice to the redemption of evils afflicting both victims and perpetrators.
Patrick McCormick, Ph.D., Professor of Religious Studies
Dr. Patrick McCormick received his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University (Rome) and has taught Christian Ethics and Catholic Moral Theology at Gonzaga for 25 years. He is the author of five texts and dozens of articles on Christian Ethics and has served as Chair of the Religious Studies Department, the Flannery Chair and Faculty Director for Assessment.
Fernando Ortiz, ’12, Ph.D., ABPP, Director of Counseling Services
Dr. Fernando Ortiz is the director of Counseling Services at Gonzaga University. He obtained his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Washington State University. He is a licensed psychologist in Washington State and board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He was a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops National Review Board (2013-2017).
Lindsay Panigeo, Gonzaga Class of 2020
Ms. Lindsay Panigeo, a proud Iñupiaq Alaskan, began this work as a senior biology major and is now a Gonzaga graduate. She has been an active member of the Center of American Indian Studies, better known as "The House." She has also participated in several on-campus programs, including Saturday Literacy Tutoring, Advocates 4 Social Justice, and the Zagathon Dance Marathon.
Steven D. Robinson, J.D., ’78, Attorney at Law and Former Chair of the Board of Regents
Mr. Steven D. Robinson is a partner at Karr Tuttle Campbell, a Seattle law firm. He received a B.A. from Gonzaga University in 1978 and a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1982. Before entering private practice, Mr. Robinson served as an aide to Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley. A 2013 graduate of the Northwest Institute for Dispute Resolution, Mr. Robinson is a certified civil mediator. He is a past President of the Seattle Chapter of the Gonzaga University Alumni Association, and a former Chair of the Gonzaga University Board of Regents.
Vincent Salyers, Ed.D, RN, ANEF, Dean of the School of Health Sciences
Dr. Vince Salyers joined Gonzaga University in July of 2019 as the Dean of the School of Health Sciences. He was drawn to the call for expressions of interest to participate on the Commission because he believes now is the time to move forward with healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. He believes it is critical that the hearts and minds of the Gonzaga community be prepared with wisdom, knowledge and revelation about how God would have us respond. He also hopes that his experience as a university leader, registered nurse, and as a man who strongly believes in a God who is just, merciful, compassionate and forgiving will help guide the forthcoming recommendations proposed by the Commission.
Jerri Shepard, Ed.D, Associate Professor, School of Education
Dr. Jerri Shepard graduated from The University of San Francisco with a degree in Counseling Psychology. She has demonstrated a long history of commitment to social justice and human rights at Gonzaga University, having served as the director of the Institute for Action Against Hate (Institute for Hate Studies) for five years. When this work began, she was teaching courses on Cultural Competence Development and Leadership in the School of Education at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Dr. Shepard presented workshops on Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention for over 20 years for educators throughout the state of Washington.
Ed Taylor, Ph.D., (B.A. ’82, M.A. ’83), Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, University of Washington, and Gonzaga Trustee
Dr. Ed Taylor is Dean and Vice Provost of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the University of Washington. A professor in the College of Education at the University of Washington, Ed has worked with education leaders from the United States and South Africa. His areas of teaching and research center around history of education, social context of education, critical and liberation theory in education. His most recent work centers truth, reconciliation and repair in education communities. He earned his undergraduate degrees at Gonzaga University and his doctoral degree at the University of Washington.
Wendy Thompson, Director of Tribal Relations
Wendy Thompson [Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes] is Gonzaga University’s Director of Tribal Relations. Ms. Thompson’s interest in joining the Commission is grounded in her tribal relations work with tribal communities who have been impacted by the clergy sex abuse crises, which includes supporting Native students at Gonzaga who come from those communities. She hopes to bring the voice of these communities to the work of the Commission.
Elizabeth Young, M.Sc., Gonzaga Class of 2015 and University of Washington School of Medicine Class of 2022
Elizabeth Young graduated from Gonzaga in 2015, and is currently a medical student through the University of Washington School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership. Between undergrad and medical school, she earned a Master’s of Science at King’s College London, during which she also completed additional work in ethics and theology. She was drawn to this work by a passion for healing, justice, and protection of the most vulnerable.