Office of the Provost

Interim Provost

Mia Bertagnolli
 

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Phone: (509) 313-6687
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Degrees: Ph.D. in Biology, University of Utah; B.S. in Biology, Gonzaga University
With Gonzaga since: 1993


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.

 

Leadership

Jolanta Weber, Ph.D.
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Degrees: Ph.D. Leadership Studies, Gonzaga University; M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Gonzaga University;
B.A. Psychology and Spanish, Gonzaga University
With Gonzaga since: 1988

 


Dr. Weber has been at Gonzaga University since 1987, when she enrolled as an undergraduate student. She became a full-time employee in 1988 and has since served Gonzaga in various roles. Currently, Dr. Weber is the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Administration. As the primary assistant to the Provost, Dr. Weber oversees and facilitates the creation, implementation, and enforcement of academic policies and initiatives to enhance the academic experience of students and support the work of the faculty. She assists the Provost with academic policy appeals and academically-related student concerns and serves as the Provost’s liaison to University Advancement, Athletics, Marketing and Communication, Human Resources, Finance, and other areas supporting the University’s academic mission.

Vice Provost Weber oversees the offices of the University Registrar, Career and Professional Development, and Instructional Design & Delivery. She supervises the work involved with delivering Summer Sessions, facilitates the work of the Academic Council (Gonzaga’s primary academic policy informing body), coordinates efforts related to academic program data production and financial analysis, including efforts related to academic planning and budgeting, and supports the Institute for Informatics & Applied Technology.

Her dissertation explored the impact of adjunctive faculty on freshman-to-sophomore retention.

 
Kent Porterfield
 

Email: Email Dr. Porterfield
Phone: (509) 313-4100
Hometown: Hopkins, MO
Degrees: Ed.D. Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, University of Missouri – Columbia; M.S.Ed. Educational Administration, Northwest Missouri State University; B.S.Ed. History & Physical Education, Northwest Missouri State University
With Gonzaga since: 2020


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.

 
 

Email: Email the Office of Enrollment Management
Phone: (509) 313-6591
Hometown: Helena, MT
Degrees: M.B.A. Gonzaga University; B.A. Psychology, Gonzaga University.
With Gonzaga since: 1993


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.

 
Kathleen Jeffs
 

Email: Email Dr. Jeffs
Phone: (509) 313-5506
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Degrees: D.Phil. University of Oxford, M.Phil. University of Oxford, BA English and Spanish, University of San Francisco
With Gonzaga since: 2012

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


 
Portrait of Christina Isabelli, Ph.D., Associate Provost for Global Engagement
 

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Phone: (509) 313-6723
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
Degrees: Ph.D. University of Texas-Austin, Ibero-Romance Philology and Linguistics, M.A. University of Iowa, Spanish Literature and Linguistics, BA Illinois State University, Spanish and Mathematics
With Gonzaga since: 2017


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.

 
Jolanta Weber
Email Dr. Poxleitner
Phone: (509) 313-5547
Degrees:
MBA
Gonzaga University School of Business; Postdoctoral University of California, Berkeley, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology;
Ph.D. Washington State University, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Plant Sciences;
M.S. Colorado State University, Department of Horticulture;
B.S. Colorado State University, Department of Horticulture, Graduated Magna cum laude in Scientific Horticulture, Botany

 


Dr. Poxleitner joined the Provost leadership team in August 2024 to oversee research initiatives. She is also a Professor of Biology, sharing a passion for science with students, fostering an understanding of what is known and encouraging curiosity of what is unknown. Her main areas of science inquiry include the study of bacteriophage, viruses that kill bacteria, and genetic modifications of conifer trees to enhance natural characteristics.

 
S. Jay Yang, Ph.D.
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Phone: (509) 313-6478
Degrees:
Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin, Electrical and Computer Engineering
M.S., The University of Texas at Austin, Electrical and Computer Engineering

 


 

Dr. Shanchieh Jay Yang joined the Gonzaga community in August 2024 as the inaugural David and Cathleen Reisenauer Family Director of the Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology. Dr. Yang, is an esteemed scholar and leader in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.

With a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Yang has an extensive background in statistical models and computer networks. Throughout his career, he has contributed numerous research advances and pedagogy innovations on the intersect between AI and cybersecurity, among other interdisciplinary discoveries.

Dr. Yang collaborates with deans and faculty in developing an AI-centered and Jesuit values-based learning and innovation environment, and develops strategic industry partnerships to solve complex problems.

 

Academic Budget and Personnel

Amanda Rhodes 

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Phone: (509) 313-6109
Office Location: College Hall 232B
Hometown: Richland, WA
With Gonzaga since: 2014-2017, 2022


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.
 
Gina Thomas
 

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Phone: (509) 313-5304
Hometown: Walla Walla, WA
Degrees: M.B.A. Gonzaga University; B.A. Business Administration, Eastern Washington University
With Gonzaga since: 1989


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.

 
Emily Turner 

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Phone: (509) 313-5756
Office Location: College Hall 232
Hometown:
Spokane, Washington
Degrees: BA History and Political Science, Gonzaga University, '13; MBA, Gonzaga University, '21
With Gonzaga since: 2014


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.

 
Livingston 

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Phone: (509) 313-5146
Office Location: College Hall 232C
Hometown: Post Falls, Idaho
With Gonzaga since: 2012


Born and raised in North Idaho, Lea joined Gonzaga University in 2012, initially working in Plant Services in various roles, with the most recent position being the Budget & Personnel Officer. In February 2024, Lea transitioned to the Academic Budget & Personnel Office, where she continues to support the university’s mission of developing the whole person. Lea values being an active part of the Gonzaga community and enjoys contributing to the university's continued success.
 

Provost Administrative Staff

MaryAnn Rinderle
 

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Phone: (509) 313-6503
Hometown: MaryAnn grew up in the Midwest.  She enjoys calling the Pacific Northwest home.
Degrees: B.S. Business and Management, University of Maryland
With Gonzaga since: 2005


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.

 
Photo of Amy Shadd 

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Phone: (509) 313-6474
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada (moved to Washington state in 2008)
Degrees: B.S. Business Administration, Marketing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
With Gonzaga since: 2023


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.

 
Mary Mealey
 

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Phone: (509) 313-5604
Hometown: Spokane, WA
With Gonzaga since: 2016


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. 

 
Angela Ruff, Communications & Events Manager 

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Phone: (509) 313-3572
Hometown: Finley, Washington
Degrees: B. General Studies
With Gonzaga since:1988


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.

 
Bonnie Harper, Web and Admin Specialist 

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Phone: (509) 313-6648
Hometown: Spokane, Washington
Degrees: B.B.A. Business, MIS Concentration, Gonzaga University
With Gonzaga since: 2012


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.

 

Contact the Office of the Provost

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502 E. Boone Ave
Spokane, WA 99258
College Hall, Room 218