Honoring Anniversarians

20 faculty, staff and administrators honored for decades of service

The 2026 Anniversarian Dinner gathered colleagues and loved ones for an evening honoring the remarkable dedication of Gonzaga employees celebrating 25, 30, 35, and 45 years of service. President Katia Passerini opened the event for the first time by expressing her gratitude for the “tremendous and significant years of service in support of the Mission of Gonzaga University,” noting their work continues longstanding commitment to preparing people to make a difference in the world.

Thank you to this year’s honorees for their enduring contributions that strengthen Gonzaga’s Mission and community!

25 Years

Maureen Duclos, School of Business
Thomas Buck, ITS
Rick Smith, Plant
Ann Murphy, School of Law
Kevin Chambers, College of Arts and Sciences
Joseph Haydock, College of Arts and Sciences
Shannon Strahl, Athletics
Kelly O’Brien-Jenks, Foley Library

30 Years

Colleen Goodwin, Mathematics
Cheryl Mitchell, University Advancement
Louisa Diana, Financial Aid
Pat Reese, University Advancement
Gary Weber, School of Business Administration
Nancy Yamaura, Plant

35 Years

Thayne McCulloh, Office of the President
Douglas Kries, College of Arts and Sciences
Carl Bozman, School of Business Administration
Paul De Palma, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Lori Leonard, GUEST

45 Years

Larry Perkins, ITS

Dessert of the Month: Brown Butter Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adapted from Bon Appetit

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
⅓ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 chocolate toffee bars (like Skor), chopped into ¼" pieces
1½ cups chocolate chips
Flaky sea salt

Directions

Step 1 Cook butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often until it foams, then browns, about 5–8 minutes. Scrape into a large bowl and let cool slightly, until cool enough to touch (like the temperature of a warm bath), about 10 minutes.

Step 2 Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

Step 3 Add dark brown sugar and granulated sugar to the browned butter. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until incorporated, about 1 minute. Add eggs and vanilla extract and increase mixer speed to medium-high. Beat until mixture lightens and begins to thicken, about 1 minute. Reduce mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients. Beat until just combined. Mix in chocolate toffee bars and chocolate chips with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Let dough sit in the mixing bowl at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to allow flour to hydrate. Dough will look very loose at first but will thicken as it sits.

Step 4 Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and scoop out balls of dough, placing on the prepared baking sheet. Do not flatten; the cookies will spread as they bake. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

Step 5 Bake cookies until edges are golden brown and firm but centers are still soft, 9–11 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets f10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough, using a cool baking sheet lined with fresh parchment paper.

Around Campus

Mar. 11 Women Lead Spring Conference — an annual gathering for women in leadership, featuring speakers, workshops and networking | Hemmingson Center

Mar. 14, 7:30 p.m. Spokane Jazz Orchestra presents “Blake Braley Sings the Music of Prince” – a high‑energy big‑band tribute to Prince | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center

Mar. 20–30, various times “The Tempest” is Shakespeare’s final play brought to life by Gonzaga Theatre, directed by Prof. Blake Edwards | Magnuson Theatre, College Hall

Mar. 22, 7:30 p.m. Ballet Hispánico performs CARMEN.maquia, an electrifying contemporary reimagining of Bizet’s iconic tale | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center

Mar. 23, 6–7:30 p.m. Housing Affordability & Homelessness in Spokane: A public panel exploring data and policies shaping the region’s housing landscape | Wolff Auditorium

Mar. 26, 6 p.m. “Structural Design of Lightweight Architecture” is a talk on sustainable, adaptive building design and the future of the built environment | Hemmingson Auditorium

Mar. 28, 11 a.m. The Okee Dokee Brothers bring their Grammy‑winning, family‑friendly folk adventure songs to campus | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center

Mar. 29, 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m. Zag Alumni & Friends Easter Egg Hunt is a family‑friendly spring celebration with treats and community fun | Herak Quad

April 2, 6–7:30 p.m. “The New Science of Weight Loss: From Brain Biology to GLP‑1s” — Ellen Schur explores how brain inflammation offers context on today’s weight‑loss medications | Wolff Auditorium

April 8, 6–7:30 p.m. “From the Spokane River to Our Common Planet” — A conversation with global sustainability leaders Wayne Visser and Isabel Braga da Cruz on how universities can drive environmental impact | Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center

Apr. 23 Value & Responsibility in AI Technologies Conference — Gonzaga’s second annual gathering of 300+ scholars, students, industry partners and global tech leaders exploring how AI is reshaping education and the future of work

Noteworthy 

Goodbyes

Amber Stastny, social justice initiatives, School of Law; Benjamin Chu, specialist I for ecological spiritual engagement, University Ministry; Herbert Shah, program asst III, College of Arts and Sciences; Mary Hunt, administrative asst, Chief Financial Officer; Ryan Malarkey, enrollment operations specialist I, Admissions

Anniversaries

5 Brittany Copeland, asst to the vice provost, Student Affairs; Doug Vandenboom, director of strategic sourcing and procure to pay, Controller’s Office; Hannah Cylkowski, business analyst, ITS; Tammy Everts, program asst III, Sports Management; Robert Hernandez, custodian, Plant; James Taylor, mail services lead, Mail Service and Delivery

10 Brittany Harmon, assoc director of course design, Instructional Design and Delivery; Jason Houston, assoc professor of modern languages, College of Arts and Sciences

15 Kareena Byrd, career services manager, Career Center; Ryan Forim, asst registrar, Registrar's Office

20 Nesiba Besic, manager of custodial and special services, Plant

30 Jane Tiedt, professor of nursing, School of Health Sciences