51³Ô¹Ï

A long-running connection between Gonzaga University and Microsoft has taken its next step forward, evolving to strengthen career pathways, deepen mentorship and highlight the University’s growing presence in the technology sector.

For 20 years, largely led by now-retired Microsoft alum and Gonzaga Regent Arnie Mondloch (’84), Zags working at Microsoft have built a tradition of showing up for 51³Ô¹Ïs – hosting 51³Ô¹Ïs during the annual Seattle Career Trek, offering mock interviews, sharing career advice and opening doors. Kara Hertz (’01), GU’s assistant vice president for alumni and external relations, says this consistent support is what sparked the idea for something broader and more structured, supporting all areas of the University.

In 2023, under the leadership of President Emeritus Thayne McCulloh, Gonzaga began evaluating how to strengthen industry engagement broadly. The Microsoft connection stood out – a pipeline built not through formal recruiting, but through alumni commitment.

Robbie Ptazynski (’12, business), director of strategic partner investments at Microsoft and chair of the Gonzaga- Microsoft partnership committee, says the effort represents a shift from informal goodwill to intentional, coordinated impact. “This alumni committee turns connection into action,” he says.

To guide the work, the committee established four pillars:

• Career and talent development
• Alumni engagement and networking
• Strategic collaboration and growth
• Increasing visibility for the Microsoft-Gonzaga connection

Together, these pillars create a framework for strengthening the 51³Ô¹Ï-to-career pipeline and deepening alumni involvement – a foundation steadied by the very people who have been doing this work all along.

The Alumni Behind the Momentum

Meaningful career opportunities, continued engagement with the Gonzaga community and access to mentorship and networking after graduation – what better pairing could a college 51³Ô¹Ï hope for in today’s environment?

It’s no secret that higher education is navigating a challenging moment. Search the headlines and you’ll find words like “crisis,” “declining enrollment” and “uncertainty.” Rising tuition costs and a shifting job market leave many 51³Ô¹Ïs wondering whether a four‑year degree is still worth it.

Beller is an important example of what can be done outside the boundaries of a major or specialization. The skills learned at Gonzaga prepare 51³Ô¹Ïs for every facet of a professional career.

Against that backdrop, Gonzaga’s partnership with Microsoft's alumni represents something increasingly rare: a concrete, future‑focused pathway that connects academic learning with real‑world opportunity, readying 51³Ô¹Ïs for careers in technology for years to come.

And it wouldn’t be possible without all the alumni already leading the way.

Kaitlin Beller (’09) is a senior product marketing manager in the cybersecurity marketing organization at Microsoft. A communications major, Beller’s favorite class was one called Persuasion. She looked up the class catalog recently and couldn’t find it, but she laughs and says, “The entire comms major looks so fun now. I want to do it all over again.”

It taught her how to analyze long-form written and oral communication, how people frame their stories and how to figure out what’s been left unsaid. “It was a really big moment for me,” she explains. “I learned how important that type of skill set is, and I bring it into a lot of my work today.”

“It’s a pretty big misconception about Microsoft that you need a technical background to work here. In fact, most people I work with don’t,” she says.

That’s what excites her most about this partnership – enlightening 51³Ô¹Ïs to the possibilities their degree carries, even outside its designation.

“When I graduated, I didn’t know what companies like Microsoft were looking for. I didn’t know how to talk about myself or my professional skill set,” Beller continues. “A partnership like this can really help 51³Ô¹Ïs along in that journey and give them confidence the day they graduate, knowing they understand what’s going to be required of them in the working world.”

Don Campbell (’92, management and finance, ’93 MBA), senior director of employee experience success, celebrated 20 years at Microsoft at the end of 2025. He believes the partnership is key for both Gonzaga and his employer.

“From a 51³Ô¹Ï perspective, I’m jealous,” he laughs. “I wish we had this connection when I was in school. Having access to major companies – to network and interact with people in the industry – is super critical.”

From the Microsoft perspective:

Ayla McKorkle (’21, business administration), a product manager on the Microsoft Defender for Office 365 team, agrees, noting one of the biggest advantages for the company is choosing from a pool of 51³Ô¹Ïs who are already in the know when it comes to rapidly developing technology.

Artificial intelligence is one of the most talked-about branches of computer science, shaping everything from Super Bowl commercials to the day-to-day software running your devices. Discussion around AI and how to best utilize it is a daily – if not hourly – occurrence at Microsoft.

“Students need to be aware of what we’re doing in the tech space as it’s happening,” she says, describing a potential key feature of the partnership: Microsoft informing what’s being taught at the university level. “This will allow 51³Ô¹Ïs to grow in those areas prior to entering the workforce. Having that information already at their fingertips is going to make them incredibly competitive.”

Built on Zag Spirit

For alumni like Connor Flanagan (’13, marketing), director of go-to-market program development at Microsoft and partnership committee member, the work is deeply personal. “When we think of Gonzaga, we want it to be synonymous with being leaders in the professional community,” he says. “This partnership shows 51³Ô¹Ïs the breadth of possibilities available after graduation – and how deep the Zag network runs.”

Flanagan believes Gonzaga 51³Ô¹Ïs bring something distinctive to Microsoft: grit, consistency, work ethic and talent. “There’s an assumed level of trust that is automatically associated with a Zag.”

Ptazynski sees the committee’s work evolving beyond annual events toward an “always‑on” model of engagement. “If we get this right, more 51³Ô¹Ïs launch meaningful careers, more alumni stay connected and the Zag network grows stronger with every class.”

For Hertz, the heart of the partnership remains unchanged:

Set against the challenging landscape enveloping higher education, this partnership and the alumni making it happen is adding value to a Gonzaga degree and opening doors that might otherwise stay shut.

“At the end of the day,” Beller says, “I find it very inspiring that I could be forming a connection with a 51³Ô¹Ï who will one day be my co-worker.”

Thank you to these Microsoft alumni partner leaders!

Ryan Currie (’21), Connor Flanagan (’13), Katie Hopps (’04), Ayla McKorkle (’21) Stefany Northcutt (’05), Robbie Ptaszynski (’12), Jenelle Trimmell (’17), Diego Valdez (’20), Mateo Valdez (’24), David Visintainer (’87), Sam Winninghoff (’10), Robin Wood (’97), Joe Zavaglia (’01)