Passerini Launches National Tour, "Forging Forward"
Gonzaga President Katia Passerini’s “Forging Forward” series aptly launches on Jan. 31 – Gonzaga Day, a day celebrated by Zag communities across the country.
Passerini, who became the University’s 27th president in July, will visit multiple cities in 2026 to connect with Zag alumni, parents, donors, fans and corporate partners, and to invite them to be part of designing Gonzaga’s future.
True to the spirit of the Gonzaga community, “Our future will not be built for the community, but with the community,” Passerini says. “The heart of our Mission is in people who have the passion and the courage to build something good together, and I couldn’t be more excited to meet many more such people across the country.”
The president first introduced her “Forging Forward” vision to faculty and staff in December, outlining strategies to address challenges universities face today. Her approach includes innovative partnerships with businesses and peer institutions to expand opportunities for graduates and to strengthen the entire Zag Network.
The first tour stop is Washington, D.C., at the historic DACOR Bacon House. Other locations scheduled include the Bay Area; Las Vegas during the West Coast Conference basketball tournament; Seattle/Bellevue; Bozeman, Montana; and Napa Valley. Each event aims to build the Zag network, strengthen relationships and inspire new opportunities.
In addition to getting to know Passerini, attendees can expect opportunities to connect with admission representatives, volunteer alumni chapter teams, faith leaders, business executives and partnership visionaries to envision how Gonzaga can build on its Jesuit foundation to meet today’s challenges and prepare graduates for a changing workforce. These conversations invite every Zag to take part, to co-create Gonzaga’s next chapter with curiosity, courage and discernment.