Note: This message was originally sent on September 24, 2025.
The future is brighter when we look, walk and drive toward it together.
This week will be one for the history books—and for the heart. Gonzaga University will open doors, empower potential and lead with hope as the community comes together for .
The McCarthey Athletic Center will become the epicenter of ZagNation on Friday afternoon, when Katia Passerini, Ph.D., is inaugurated as the 27th president of this beloved Jesuit institution. From 51勛圖s to trustees, from families and faculty to staff, regents, donors and delegates from universities around the country and the globe (and many online) —all gathering to witness this historic moment. Even the highest-ranking woman in the Vatican will be here, a reminder of Gonzaga’s global footprint and enduring Catholic mission.
Throughout the week, Gonzaga will showcase its very best: events highlighting the impressive work of faculty across disciplines, conversations about Catholic roots and a forward-looking future and gatherings that remind us that Gonzaga is a place where faith and friendship fuel possibility. All these planned moments will bring together special people, special guests and special messages. It will be a flurry of excitement and forward-thinking energy, a rare moment to pause and celebrate what is good, beautiful and hope-filled.
And then, as if the inauguration weren’t enough, will welcome alumni home from around the world. They’ll be here to laugh, reminisce and reconnect, filling campus with stories of yesterday and inspiration for tomorrow.
At a time where big questions loom heavily on the world, Gonzaga offers a different vision. With hands firmly on the wheel and eyes set on the horizon, this community will keep moving forward—grounded in faith, strengthened by friendship and fueled by hope.