Dr. Thayne McCulloh's Background

Dr. Thayne McCulloh received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gonzaga in 1989, and was accepted into the Master of Science program in experimental psychology at Oxford University in England that same year.  In 1998, he completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in experimental social psychology, also from Oxford.

"Here’s an individual who is the product of our mission, as a student educated by Jesuit and lay companions, and who has for the past 23 years witnessed and been a part of the way this University exposes students to its mission," Nelles said. "He has been practicing and strongly supporting Jesuit-lay collaboration ever since he took his first job here, back as a resident assistant during his undergraduate days."

McCulloh said, "I am deeply honored and very humbled to be asked by the Trustees to serve the University in this way. It has been a privilege to work with Father Spitzer and so many excellent colleagues over the years, to have participated in the strengthening of this vibrant and successful institution.  Gonzaga is unique among Jesuit and Catholic universities.  It is a wonderful and exciting place to be, and my family and I are grateful to be a part of it."

"Having had the recent opportunity to work with deans and faculty has been enormously positive and important for me.  The faculty are the heart and soul of an academic institution," McCulloh said. "To understand and appreciate faculty issues is extremely important, and I believe it will be critical in our decision-making going forward."

"As we have dealt with faculty concerns, student issues, financial challenges or whatever the focus of the moment might have been, my colleagues and I always try to ask:  'How do we best serve the students of Gonzaga University, and simultaneously support the University Mission?'

"I spent three years in the Army after I graduated from high school," McCulloh said. "For most of my time I was stationed at Fort Polk, in the heart of Louisiana.  One of the things I realized out of that experience is how many bright, talented and hard-working people in this country will never go to college because they lack the resources or have not received a strong pre-college education.  What we do at Gonzaga is incredibly important, and my memories of Louisiana, and many other parts of our nation, remind me of that.  How fortunate are we, even in these difficult economic times, to be engaged in the mission of higher education.  Our work as a Jesuit, Catholic university is about engaging in a transformational process, working together with students who make a positive difference now and for the future."

McCulloh is married to wife Julie, and they have three daughters, Kathryne, Anne and Emily.    (See attached biographical sketch for more on McCulloh.)