July 13, 2025
Dear Gonzaga Community Members,
Tomorrow, July 14th, marks the conclusion of my time as your president. But before the last letters are signed and the baton is formally passed, I want to express my thanks to each of you, for the many ways you have worked to make Gonzaga the amazing place it is, and the many ways you have supported me personally in this role over the past sixteen years.
Referencing a recent address given by Jesuit General Fr. Arturo Sosa, change in higher education is mirroring the broader epochal movements of the culture: profound shifts in attitude on the part of the nation regarding the purpose and value of all institutions; significant changes in beliefs about the importance of human dignity, integrity, and the rule of law; renewed questions about the virtue of scientific inquiry and the value of fact-based decision making; and the relative importance of human intelligence in the era of nascent, but widely-available tools of artificial intelligence. When combined with existential threats such as global warming, the rise of nationalism and xenophobia, and broadening geopolitical instability, the chaos of this time may well be a harbinger of a new and very different era of human existence. It is a challenging time, but for the intrepid explorers of the intellectual sphere, it also represents a time of tremendous excitement and opportunity – if we are willing to embrace and shape it.
It is fortunate, then, that at this moment Gonzaga is welcoming an incredible new leader in President Katia Passerini. My experience of working with Dr. Passerini over these past six months has been a wonderful opportunity to bear witness to her professional and academic expertise, positive energy and enthusiasm, her joy at meeting people, her sensitivity to culture, her mission-based focus and her passion for the higher education project. Even before formally starting her work at Gonzaga, she had already invested hundreds of hours in meetings, interviews, and immersing herself in learning about this university. It is my hope that this community will respond in kind, by moving quickly to meet and support her as she works to learn, lead and serve Gonzaga in the months and years to come. (On that note: a reminder about the Welcome Reception our office is hosting for President Passerini on Monday, July 14th from 2:00 – 4:00pm at the Volkar Center.)
I offer my very best wishes to each of you. In the words of a longtime and beloved Jesuit, Fr. Steve Kuder: “the main thing is to know the main thing, and to keep the main thing, the main thing!” May the Holy Spirit bless this amazing community and continue to help Gonzaga collectively discern and remain focused on “the main thing.” To be continued!
Sincerely yours,
Thayne M. McCulloh, D.Phil.
President