SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga University’s 27th President took office on Tuesday.
Dr. Katia Passerini was selected for the role following a nationwide search. She was unanimously selected by the Board of Trustees earlier this year.
Dr. Passerini is a lifelong Catholic who recently served at Seton Hall University in New Jersey as provost and senior executive vice president.
“I’m looking forward to meeting as many members of the Gonzaga community as possible in the coming months, as well as our partners and friends in Spokane and the Pacific Northwest who, together with the University, create such a rich educational ecosystem,” Passerini said. “It’s a challenging time for higher education, but also a time of incredible opportunities for innovation and advancement, and I look forward to working alongside Gonzaga’s students, faculty and staff in pursuit of academic excellence and a more just world.”
Dr. Passerini is an Italian native with political science and economics degrees, as well as an MBA and PhD. She previously taught courses in MIS, project management, IT strategy and knowledge management.
The Board of Trustees also elected to honor former President Thayne McCulloh with the title of President Emeritus. This title acknowledges the growth at Gonzaga under President McCulloh’s leadership.
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