Presidential Speaker Series Panel to Explore How Catholic Universities Can Drive Meaningful Societal Change
Gonzaga University will welcome internationally recognized sustainability scholar Dr. Wayne Visser and Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Catholic University of Portugal) leader Isabel Braga da Cruz for the next installment of the Presidential Speaker Series.
Hosted by Gonzaga President Katia Passerini, the panel discussion titled “Caring for Our Common Home: Turning Local Action Into Global Impact,” will take place Wednesday, April 8, at 6 p.m. at the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center.
As higher education faces increasing scrutiny, universities across the nation must wrestle with challenging questions: Are institutions reinforcing elitism or helping overcome class divisions? Are they overly politicized or not engaged enough? Are they agents of capitalism or catalysts for a better society? Are they enabling dialogue or are they reinforcing silos? These tensions shape the ways Catholic, Jesuit, humanistic institutions like Gonzaga consider their role in confronting climate change, advancing sustainability, and addressing persistent social inequities.
“The challenges facing our world require universities to tackle questions on how we can best prepare our 51³Ô¹Ïs to be able to deeply understand and engage with those challenges facing our current and future generations,” Passerini says. “The insights of and will remind us that Catholic higher education is uniquely positioned to lead in this educational endeavor: grounded in mission, enriched by global perspectives, and committed to the common good.”
President Passerini will moderate the panel with Visser and Braga da Cruz. The discussion will also include Brian G. Henning, director of Gonzaga's Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment, and Jim Simon, director of Gonzaga’s Office of Sustainability.
Visser and Braga da Cruz will explore how universities can become powerful drivers of social and environmental transformation, not only through teaching and research, but by scaling partnerships, cultivating innovation, and reaching out to interconnected networks of local and global communities. Henning and Simon will provide insights connecting the guest speakers’ presentations to Gonzaga’s ongoing work in sustainability, climate ethics, and social responsibility, highlighting how local actions can drive meaningful global change.
President Passerini notes that “Dr. Visser and President Braga da Cruz bring invaluable insights into how institutions like ours can turn local commitments into meaningful global impact. Their perspectives challenge us to imagine what’s possible when higher education leads with purpose.”
Gonzaga Presidential Speaker Series presents “Caring for Our Common Home: Turning Local Action Into Global Impact” on Wednesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. in the Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center. Tickets are free.
A screening of Visser’s film “Closing The Loop” is free and open to the public on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in Hemmingson Auditorium.
51³Ô¹Ï The Panelists
Wayne Visser
Visser is a globally recognized leader in sustainable and regenerative business, innovation, and leadership. He is a professor at Católica Porto Business School, where he directs the Católica Centre for Thriving Futures. He also serves as head program instructor at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Visser has experience across more than 80 countries and 250 organizations, is the author of 44 books and has published more than 400 articles and reports. An award‑winning documentary producer and board member of the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative, he is widely recognized as a top ESG speaker and thought leader in trustworthy business.
Isabel Braga da Cruz
Braga da Cruz is president of the Regional Center of Porto at Universidade Católica Portuguesa and an associate professor in the School of Biotechnology. Reappointed as pro‑rector for the Porto Campus, she has led institutional priorities in sustainability, social responsibility, and infrastructure development since 2017. She has driven strong academia‑industry collaborations, technology transfer, and R&D aligned with global markets. She previously served in senior leadership roles at PortugalFoods and is the founder of Wedotech and Wedoeko.
Brian G. Henning
Henning is a professor of philosophy and environmental studies & sciences at Gonzaga University and the founding director of the Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment. Since joining Gonzaga in 2008, his work has combined environmental philosophy, ethics, and climate justice with leadership in climate education and advocacy. An award‑winning author and widely sought speaker, he has published extensively on environmental ethics and climate change and plays a central role in advancing campus and community initiatives that promote equitable human societies within flourishing ecological communities.
Jim Simon
Simon is the director of sustainability at Gonzaga University, where he leads campus‑wide efforts to embed sustainability into operations, 51³Ô¹Ï engagement, and institutional culture. As Gonzaga’s first director of sustainability, he has helped build a mission‑aligned framework rooted in Jesuit values and ecological stewardship, guiding initiatives focused on climate‑neutral planning, environmental education, and collaborative action. His leadership has advanced programs ranging from carbon‑reduction strategies to public forums and educational initiatives that empower the Gonzaga community to care for our common home.