Elevating Academic Excellence: Gonzaga Hosts Research Workshop to Support Faculty and Students

close up of a person pointing at a chart on a wall.
Supporting and expanding research is a integral part of the University’s strategic plan

January 28, 2025
Thea Skokan

To bolster academic reputations at Gonzaga, for both faculty and students, the University hosted the Northwest Primarily Undergraduate Institutions Research Nexus Workshop in October. It’s part of the University’s Strategic Plan to expand research this year, which states:

“Academic excellence thrives when skilled and accomplished teacher-scholars and aspiring students come together to explore human knowledge…”

Dean Jacqueline Van Hoomissen

According to Jacqueline Van Hoomissen, dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, this was an opportunity for the academic community to level-up support for faculty scholarship.

Smaller, private schools like GU often rely on external grants. “This can be daunting for schools where the policies are not as clear as at research institutions like the University of Washington or the University of Oregon,” Van Hoomissen says.

Despite this, GU is determined to provide students with opportunities for authentic research. Van Hoomissen believes this is how the University will continue to elevate its reputation as a hub for respected faculty and highly-prepared students.

“Hosting this national workshop is a sign of our commitment to supporting the scholarly lives of our faculty and students,” she says. “We recognize the importance of this work as part of the Jesuit mission.”

Reprinted with permission from Spirit Magazine Vol. 26/No. 3.