About the Office of the Provost

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Dr. Bertagnolli, Professor of Biology, was appointed as Interim Provost in July, 2024. She has taught at Gonzaga and held several administrative roles since 1993. A graduate of Gonzaga, she earned her PhD in biology from the University of Utah (Dr. Mary Beckerle, mentor) and was fortunate to return to Gonzaga to begin her teaching career.

Dr. Bertagnolli was jointly appointed to the Biology and Chemistry Departments and taught for both departments for many years as the Clare Boothe Luce Professor of Biochemistry before moving fully to the Biology Department. She has since served as chair the Biology Department (2011-2017), Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry (2019-2020), and the Director of the Center for Teaching and Advising (2020-2022). She also spent several years as an Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences and served as Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs January 2023-July 2024. Throughout her career, Dr. Bertagnolli has helped departments develop clear guidelines for reappointment, promotion and tenure, developed resources and training that support faculty development and promote equitable and inclusive hiring practices as well as pedagogy, provided leadership training for department chairs and other academic administrators, and mentored/coached faculty at Gonzaga and other institutions. She has also been co-directing a multi-institutional ADVANCE Partnership grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) focused on creating peer mentoring networks that encourage and support equity and diversity and promote the advancement and retention of women in STEM disciplines. In addition, she is Co-PI on an NSF ADVANCE Partnership project with Seattle University and St. Louis University to help align faculty advancement with mission values and increase the inclusivity of faculty promotions processes.

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Dr. Kent Porterfield was appointed Vice Provost for Student Affairs in July, 2020. He is responsible for overseeing the Student Affairs Division and promotes an educational experience that emphasizes the development of the whole student – intellectual, spiritual, cultural, physical, and emotional. 

Kent’s career in higher education spans three decades, including nearly 23 years as a senior student affairs officer. In his previous role, Dr. Porterfield served as Vice President for Student Development at Saint Louis University, a Jesuit Catholic research university in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to that he served as Vice President for Student Affairs at Northwest Missouri State University. Kent is a national leader in the student affairs field, having served as President of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) in 2014-2015. He is also a past President of the Missouri College Personnel Association. Kent is a recipient of ACPA’s Annuit Coeptis Senior Professional Award, Diamond Honoree recognition for outstanding contributions in the field of student affairs, and the Outstanding State Division President Award.

Kent’s professional presentations and publications have engaged a range of student affairs topics including leadership; diversity, equity and inclusion; rethinking student affairs practice; student learning; retention and student success. In his career, he has overseen many areas of student life, including athletics, campus ministry, campus recreation, cross-cultural center, career services, dean of students office, health and counseling services, housing and residence life, international services, multicultural affairs, service and community engagement, disability services, student union/center, student academic success, student conduct, student involvement, parent and family programs, and auxiliary services.

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Julie McCulloh joined Gonzaga’s Office of Admission in the summer of 1993 as a receptionist while pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration.  From her early years, Julie worked in various aspects of admission work including transfer counseling and credit evaluation, records management, admission recruiting and counseling, and administration.  She was appointed Dean of Admission in 2003 and served continuously in that role until 2019, when she was appointed to Associate Provost of Enrollment Management and promoted to Vice Provost of Enrollment Management in 2022.  Throughout her time with Gonzaga, she has been involved in various professional organizations including PNACAC, the College Board, ACT, and the Washington Council.

Currently, Julie oversees Center for Lifelong Learning, Undergraduate Admission, Graduate Enrollment Management, Admission Operations, and Student Financial Services. 

Julie’s areas of interest in higher education include equity and access, and she works to make a Gonzaga education accessible for those seeking exemplary education for lives of leadership and service for the common good.

Dr. Jeffs’ portfolio includes Accreditation, the Honors program, Institutional Assessment, and University Core.

The accreditation responsibilities involves coordinating the ongoing campus efforts to complete the annual reports, mid-cycle review, and 7-year review with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

Dr. Jeffs began teaching and directing at Gonzaga University in 2012, and is a Professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at Gonzaga University, where she has also served as department chair.  She holds a BA in English and Spanish from the University of San Francisco, and a MPhil and DPhil from the University of Oxford, where she also held a postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Jeffs is known at Gonzaga for her leadership in the performing arts, as the Director of the University Core since Fall 2021, and most recently for chairing the Equity in Registration Task Force. 

Click here to read more about Dr. Jeffs

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Dr. Christina (Tina) Isabelli serves as the Associate Provost for Global Engagement. In this role, she leads internationalization at Gonzaga, providing leadership for the university’s globalization strategies, and leadership and administration for the Center for Global Engagement personnel and programs, the International Student & Scholar Services, Study Abroad, and the ESL program. She works closely with the Dean of Gonzaga in Florence, Gonzaga’s academic deans, associate and vice provosts, and Gonzaga Global. The Associate Provost for Global Engagement facilitates and oversees the work of the International Education Council and the International Leadership Committee. The Associate Provost for Global Engagement leads the university’s effort to cultivate, develop, deliver, and assess global education as a fundamental institutional goal as part of Gonzaga’s Jesuit, Catholic, and humanistic identity.

Amanda Rhodes oversees and manages the Provost Division budget with respect to personnel and operations-related processes and serves as a primary advisor to the Provost on budget-related matters. She serves as the principal personnel and budget liaison between the Provost’s Office and all Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment Management units, and other areas of the University. Amanda is proud to be a member of the Gonzaga community and contribute to the collective mission of caring for and developing the whole person.

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Mrs. Thomas joined the Student Accounts Office in 1989 and transferred to the Office of the Provost in 1998. For 20 years, she was responsible for academic budgeting and personnel. In 2019, her focus shifted to primarily academic personnel issues and processes to address current and future-oriented needs. She now serves in a support role for the Office of the Provost for budget and personnel processes. She believes Gonzaga provides a wonderful education and experience for our students and enjoys doing what she can to support the mission of the University.

Ms. Turner joined the Gonzaga Registrar’s Office team in 2014 after earning her bachelor’s degree at Gonzaga and working in the Registrar’s Office as a student worker. She worked in the Registrar’s Office, Degree Evaluation Office, and School of Engineering and Applied Science before transferring to the Office of the Provost in 2022. Emily supports the academic budget and personnel functions in the Office of the Provost. Her favorite aspects about Gonzaga include the close community atmosphere and rich history of the institution. She is a Gonzaga basketball fan and loves spending time outdoors in Spokane.

 

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Ms. Rinderle provides administrative support to the Provost. She manages the process for faculty reappointment, promotion, tenure, and sabbatical. She serves as a department liaison to the President, deans, faculty, students, administration, and others.

Her favorite things about Gonzaga are the people it attracts—people committed to its mission, the environment of cura personalis, and seeing the sun stream through the stained glass windows in College Hall.  She enjoys looking for treasures at thrift stores and rummage sales.

Ms. Shadd provides administrative support for the Office of the Provost. Her primary areas of responsibility include assisting the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Administration, the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, and the Associate Provost for Assessment, Accreditation, and Programs. In her role, she also facilitates petitions for excess credit tuition waivers and provides administrative support for Academic Council proceedings. Amy is honored to be part of the Gonzaga community and proud to support the University’s mission through the work of the provost’s office.

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Ms. Mealey is responsible for assisting the University Core Director, the Center for Teaching and Advising, and the Faculty Senate. She is a Gonzaga alumna, growing up in the neighborhood attending St. Aloysius Elementary, Holy Names Academy and Gonzaga Preparatory School, before attending Gonzaga University. 

Ms. Ruff works in partnership with Ms. Bonnie Harper to successfully execute Provost-sponsored events, lead the Commencement project, and manage communication needs for the Office of the Provost. She graduated from Gonzaga in 2001. Some highlights of her prior service to the University include nearly a decade of leading the commencement project, administrative and event support for the Office of the President, leading the annual Presidential Speaker Series project, facilitating celebration of the 19th amendment centennial throughout campus, coordinating campus COVID-19 clinics and communications activities, supporting the 125th Anniversary celebration events, leading the logistics and hospitality aspects of the Opus Prize project, directing early initiatives for non-credit continuing education programs, managing off-campus cohort programs in the School of Education, and being the first trainer when the integrated software system (BANNER) was newly implemented. Ms. Ruff has also served as an advisor for student clubs over several years -- the Big Bing Theory and International Justice Mission, and is a strong agent for utilizing student employment as an aspect of formation and development for engaged students.

Ms. Harper provides web content management, event and administrative support for the Office of the Provost, reporting to Angela Ruff, Communications & Event Manager. She is a Gonzaga University alumna, graduated in 2017. She also supports the Honors Program. Bonnie worked with the Mathematics and Physics Departments and the Faculty Senate before to transferring to the Office of the Provost. Prior to coming to Gonzaga, Bonnie worked in both the non-profit sector and the legal field.