Full name: Katia Passerini
Family: Spouse, Arturo Pagán; Children Luis (23), Michelangelo (21) and Diego (13)
Hometown: Rome, Italy
“Gonzaga is clearly a very special place: a dynamic university with a national reputation for quality, dedicated to the holistic education of students. Coming to know this community and discovering together how it will continue its success is going to be a wonderful journey.”
Professional History
- Provost and Senior Executive Vice President, Seton Hall University
- Previous positions:
- Interim President, Seton Hall University
- Distinguished Chair and Dean, Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
- Professor, Division of Computer Science, Mathematics and Science and Division of Business Analytics and Information Systems, St. John’s University
- Dean, Albert Dorman Honors College, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Professor and Hurlburt Chair of Management Information Systems, Martin Tuchman School of Management, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Consultant, Booz Allen & Hamilton (now PWC-Strategy)
- Instructional Designer, Instructional Technology Laboratory, George Washington University
- Informatics Consultant, East Asia and Pacific Unit, The World Bank
- Adjunct Faculty, Information Systems and Knowledge Management, George Washington University
- Technical Assistant, Multimedia Laboratory, The Library of Congress
“Delivering an excellent academic experience, anchored in profound ethical values, creates a multiplier effect, ensuring that the legacy of the University continues to transform lives beyond its local starting point.”
Education
- Ph.D. in Information and Decision Systems, George Washington University (2001)
- Master of Arts in Economics, University of Rome II (1997)
- Master of Business Administration, George Washington University (1996)
- Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Political Science, LUISS University-Rome (1993)
“A commitment to holistic development sets private education apart, equipping students to grow as well-rounded individuals with a sense of purpose and a commitment to the common good. Catholic education has perfected this approach and continues to excel in developing conscientious leaders and engaged citizens.”
Get to Know Dr. Passerini
- Currently reading: The audiobook of Malcolm Gladwell’s “Talking to Strangers” and on her nightstand, “He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith” by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. and Daniel L. Flaherty S.J.
- Favorite podcast: “Hidden Brain,” which Dr. Passerini finds fascinating for the episodes’ “translational power,” making complex research accessible for a wide audience.
- Favorite musical artists: Depeche Mode for English-language, Franco Battiato in Italian.
- Dr. Passerini enjoys rollerblading and grew up skiing.
- She comes from a family of educators; both her parents started their careers as elementary school teachers in Rome, Italy.
- Hers is a family of animal lovers. They have two cats, Mezzanotte and Cenere, and one dog, Sharkie.
“Universities represent the cradles of knowledge building and sharing; they were designed to capture and transfer traditional knowledge and to create new knowledge, enabling society’s growth and advancement. They anchor societies in their past while enabling better understanding and opening opportunities for the future.”
About the Search
- Dr. Passerini was selected after a national search conducted by the University’s Presidential Search Committee, chaired by former Board of Trustees Chair Christy Larsen.
- The search committee was comprised of student, faculty and staff representatives, University administrators and members of the Board of Trustees and Board of Regents.
- Students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends submitted ideas of what qualities they desired in the next Gonzaga president via surveys and listening sessions to aid the search committee in its review of candidates.
- National executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates supported the search.