Back Together Forward Together

One of the most foundational pieces of CLP is the program’s ability to connect with one another. It was important to me that this year was focused on coming back together after a year of isolation, with an emphasis on connection and relationships.

Comprehensive Leadership Program (CLP) Interns Dugan Watts and Katie Blair texted back and forth throughout the summer trying to decipher a theme for the 2021 - 2022 academic year. After much deliberation, Dugan offered “Back Together Forward Together?” Katie agreed that this theme exemplified the transition back to in-person CLP classes perfectly. 

Dugan and Katie, seniors set to graduate in May of 2022, have been involved in numerous activities together throughout their time at Gonzaga. From the choir hall, to courses in the School of Business Administration, to their current post as co-interns with CLP, they have forged a strong bond that has flourished exponentially. This bond allows them to work together to continually develop the theme they believe encompasses how this program should operate after experiencing a period of isolation and distance.  

“Back Together Forward Together” encompasses the Comprehensive Leadership Program’s ability to evoke change now that Gonzaga has returned to in-person learning. The interns announced the theme to fellow CLP students and experienced a tangible energy shift in the Tilford Lobby. Students are ecstatic to engage with one another, mingling at Froyo Earth after class and spending time with each other on the weekends. Dugan and Katie aim to communicate that the program yearns to move forward after a year of stagnation. 

I am incredibly blessed to work with my fellow intern, Dugan, and the School of Leadership Studies’ faculty. This has been a pivotal responsibility for me and has opened my eyes to countless opportunities. I am looking forward to carrying on what I learned in this program into my future.