October 2026 | Volume 28 No. 2
Spirit is Gonzaga's monthly newsletter designed to inform faculty, staff, trustees and regents about what’s new and important at the University.
In This Issue
Bringing Kennel-level Energy to the Pitch
The 509 Syndicate, a soccer supporter group co-founded by professor Jamie Bartlett with several other Zag members, is bringing its high-energy chants, drums and community spirit to Gonzaga soccer games this fall. The effort aims to boost fan engagement at Luger Field and help build a game-day atmosphere like the Kennel.
Punchlines and Public Speaking
Adjunct communications professor Vito DiMaio uses from his stand-up comedy career to teach students how to build confidence and communication skills. He's encourage students like Ian Stoddard to step outside their comfort zones and to view setbacks not as failures, but as valuable feedback.
U.S. News & World Report Rankings
Gonzaga University climbed to No. 90 among National Universities in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings strengthening its position among the nation's leading private universities.
Nick Wright Leads Inclusive Excellence
Nick Wright, assistant vice president of diversity, brings years of experience and a passion for helping others to the job. He believes inclusion is fundamentally connected to Gonzaga's Mission.
It's almost Spooky Season, Zags! 🎃👻
Does your department like to dress up for Halloween? Maybe you go all out with decorations, pass out candy to nearby offices or plan an elaborate group costume with your coworkers. However you celebrate, Spirit wants to see! Take a few photos and send them in (with the names of everyone pictured) to be featured in the November edition.
Send us your spookiest photos to be featured!
Dessert of the Month: Pumpkin Bread
Recipe and photo from Smitten Kitchen at smittenkitchen.com
Another recipe on my "best-ever" list, and just in time for the start of fall. Even if you aren't a big pumpkin fan, give this recipe a try. Stacked high and covered in cinnamon and sugar, it's pretty amazing. My secret addition – whip together some butter, honey and ground cinnamon for the perfect topping.
Ingredients
1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
½ cup vegetable or another neutral cooking oil or melted butter
3 large eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¾ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp salt
¾ tsp ground cinnamon
Heaped ¼ tsp fresh grated nutmeg
Heaped ¼ tsp ground ginger
Two pinches of ground cloves
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
Ingredients
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
Step 1 Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a loaf pan or coat it with nonstick spray.
Step 2 In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs and sugar until smooth. Sprinkle baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves over batter and whisk until well-combined. Add flour and stir with a spoon, just until mixed.
Step 3 Scrape into prepared pan and smooth the top. In a small dish, or empty measuring cup, stir sugar and cinnamon together. Sprinkle over top of batter.
Step 4 Bake bread for 65 to 75 minutes until a tester poked into all parts of cake (both the top and center will want to hide pockets of uncooked batter) come out batter-free, turning the cake once during the baking time for even coloring.
Step 5 You can cool it in the pan for 10 minutes and then remove it, or cool it completely in there. The latter provides the advantage of letting more of the loose cinnamon sugar on top adhere before being knocked off.
If you try the pumpkin bread or another Dessert of the Month, send a picture!
Around Campus
Oct. 2, 6 p.m. Gonzaga Dance presents 60x60, an annual concert featuring 60 student-, faculty- and alumni-created dance works, each exactly 60 seconds long | Myrtle Woldson
Oct. 2-4, varied times, Gonzaga Theatre presents "Big Cat Diaries", an original production inspired by Prof. Rebecca Stephanis' experience volunteering at an Amazon animal sanctuary | Magnuson Theatre
Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the Fall Family Weekend Choir Concert featuring Gonzaga's Concert Choir, Big Bing Theory, Glee Club and Musea Treble Chorus | Myrtle Woldson
Oct. 6, 4:30 p.m. Attend the Fall 2026 Flannery Lecture in Catholic Theology, featuring Duke Divinity School professor Anathea Portier-Young discussing symbolic imagination and the prophet Jeremiah | Cataldo Globe Room
Oct. 7, 6 p.m. Hear local candidates discuss climate issues and environmental policy at the Spokane Candidates Climate Change Forum 2026 | Cataldo Globe Room
Oct. 9-10, 7:30 p.m. Experience Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Northwest's premier ballet company, performing classical and contemporary works | Myrtle Woldson
Oct. 12, 5 p.m. Attend the Chapman Lecture, featuring Steve Gund, CEO of The Gund Company, discussing the principles and practice of Truly Human Leadership | Cataldo Globe Room
Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m. The Gonzaga Symphony Orchestra welcomes acclaimed violinist Simone Porter for a program featuring works by Brahms, Smetana, Wagner and Tchaikovsky | Myrtle Woldson
Oct. 13, 7 p.m. Award-winning author and Gonzaga alum Jeff Koehler visits campus as part of the Gonzaga University Visiting Writers Series | Hemmingson Auditorium
Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy the Fall Jazz Sampler Concert featuring Gonzaga's jazz ensembles, jazz combos and jazz singers | Myrtle Woldson Center
Oct. 16-17, 7:30 p.m. Laugh along with the Boone Street Hooligans, Gonzaga's student-written and student-directed sketch comedy showcase | Magnuson Theatre
Oct. 22, 6 p.m. Explore environmental law and the Rights of Nature movement at "Beyond Conservation: Rights of Nature and the Reorientation of Environmental Law" with speaker Rachel Kurtz-McAlaine, an attorney and advocate focused on environmental law, democracy and systems change | Hemmingson Auditorium
Oct. 23, 5 p.m. Philosopher Meghan Sullivan presents "Loving Strangers" as part of the Fall 2026 Rukavina Lecture, giving attendees the opportunity to engage in dialogue with leading scholars on issues that impact their lives | Hemmingson Auditorium
Noteworthy
New Hires
Anneliese McKnight, program assistant III, College of Arts and Sciences; Aundrea Davit, dispatch officer, Campus Security & Public Safety; Bryan Hernandez, assistant men's soccer coach, Athletics; Caroline Greer, paralegal, Social Justice Initiatives, School of Law; Matthew Deckard, groundskeeper, Plant; McKenna Hansen, interim head coach, women's cross country, Athletics; McKenzie Woolley, counselor I, Health & Counseling Services; Mia Taylor, admission counselor, Admissions; Michele Lassiter, director, Mission Engagement; Richard Lane, dispatch officer, Campus Security & Public Safety; Serena McPherson, assistant director of strategic communications, Student Financial Services; Seth Edwards, IT technician I - AV, ITS; Shei McLaughlin, curriculum specialist, Institutional Research & Registrar; Travis Dittman, groundskeeper, Plant; Molly Mattson, assistant athletic trainer/strength & conditioning coach, Athletics
Promotion
Allison Clapp Huff, interim director, University Ministry; Jeffrey McKernan, life safety systems and access control technician, Plant; Kristen Kavon, activities program director and staff supervisor, School of Education; Timothy Fennessy, lecturer-AT, School of Law
Goodbyes
Anthony Brown, director of risk & emergency management, Risk Management; Ashley Bartels, case manager, Center for Cura Personalis; Emily Waples, learning & development specialist, Human Resources; Eric Moss, director of infrastructure operations, ITS; Gary Davies, dispatch officer, Campus Security & Public Safety; Jacob Stewart, head coach of women's cross country/track, Athletics; Jolanta Weber, special advisor to the president, President's Office; Kathryn Vanskike, senior director of content strategy & publications, Marketing & Communications; Rachel Winegart, immersion services nurse, School of Health Sciences
Anniversaries
5 Zackary Bagdon, video producer, Marketing & Communications; Devon Thomas, senior associate athletic director, Athletics; Rex Shaw, accounting assistant II, Controller's Office; Aaron Faulks, groundskeeper, Plant; Jeff Jackson, custodian, Plant; Kaitlin Cushman, interlibrary loan lead, Foley
10 Zack Berlat, senior photographer, Marketing & Communications; Kimberly Sellars, program assistant III, School of Law
15 Melony Chapman, administrative assistant II, Athletics