Dear Friends,
I am excited to share this issue of the newsletter with you and hope that you are impressed, as I am, with some of the wonderful work that faculty, staff, and students are doing in the College of Arts and Sciences. The stories in this newsletter show how seriously we take our Jesuit, Catholic, and humanist tradition, and how this mission manifests itself in our various programs and initiatives.
Take global engagement, for instance. The Jesuit commitment to global learning is evident in the variety of study abroad experiences Gonzaga University offers. To ensure that all of our students are exposed to global issues, the College is working on a number of initiatives. Here, we tell you about our recent implementation of a second language requirement that asks students to demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a language other than their native tongue. Not only does language learning have demonstrable cognitive benefits, but it also brings about openness to other cultures and new ways of thinking.
As well, you will find features on experiential learning, in particular faculty-student research collaborations that directly benefit students from diverse backgrounds and help form close ties between students and their mentors. Outreach to the community has always been part of Gonzaga’s mission, and it is evident in the new Theology Institute for High School students, funded by the Lilly Foundation. The photo essay of the College Expo last October further highlights the diverse activities of the College and in our new Centers for Public Humanities and Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry.
These accomplishments would not be possible without the very hard work of our faculty and staff. I am proud to be part of a group of such dedicated individuals who care deeply for student success, share the values expressed in Gonzaga’s mission, and always pursue the goals of justice and truth.
I am greatly appreciative of the work that went into producing this newsletter as well. My thanks go to Tony Payne, the College’s marketing coordinator, and to Megan Robinson, our intern, who is a senior in the English program.
We hope that you follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and that you will share your stories with us. As always, we want to hear from you!
Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak, Ph.D.