This page reflects several recent classroom projects.

Personal Selling Redesign
SBA professor Dr. Richard Vann recently worked with three experienced sales professionals from the Gonzaga Marketing Advisory Board to redesign Gonzaga’s Personal Selling class. The new class combines the best parts of sales theory and practice into a semester-long, hands-on learning experience for undergraduates. In the sales course’s new version, students use Salesforce Trailhead training resources and a partnership with Salesforce team members to embark on a semester-long B2B (business-to-business) sales project selling Salesforce CRM to a realistic, high-growth client. This learning approach provides opportunities to practice each step of the sales process, learn the essentials of CRM, and earn industry-relevant badges for their LinkedIn Profiles and resumes.

Digital Marketing Hands-On Learning
Digital Marketing class students work through seven “months” of real digital marketing campaigns including search ads, shopping ads, and SEO/landing page optimization within an industry-leading simulation to practice decisions that entry-level digital marketers and digital marketing managers make every day. Supported by collaborative teams and challenged to maximize performance on key performance indicators, students get a first-hand feel for what it takes to make the right choices as a digital marketer. Completing this hands-on practice earns students an industry-recognized certification. Digital Marketing alumni report the experience helps them with interviews and securing positions as entry-level digital marketers.

VITA – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
In 2022, 11 students participated and worked 232 hours. They completed 281 returns with tax refunds of $252,000 for Spokane taxpayers. Gonzaga did not participate in 2021 because the program was canceled due to COVID or in 2023 due to significant turnover with a partner organization.

Community Projects

Our classes often develop projects with community partners. Here are some examples.

Fall 2023

• Thrive International, an organization that provides transitional housing to refugee and immigrant communities and seeks to empower refugee women and youth.
• EXPO ’74 50th Anniversary Planning Committee, an organization working on the city’s events for the upcoming anniversary.
• Christ Kitchen, an organization providing work, job training, and other support for women living in poverty in the Spokane area.

Spring 2024

• The Northeast Public Development Authority, an organization that seeks to revitalize the Market Street corridor in the Hillyard neighborhood.
• Smile Source, an organization that provides complete dentistry services, cosmetic dentistry, and family dentistry with a focus on personalized and patient-centered services.
• Vino! Wine Shop, a Spokane retail wine store with a curated selection of wines from around the world along with knowledgeable staff to assist customers.

Bite to Go
Faculty and staff participate in Second Harvest’s Bite2Go program by delivering food to Linwood Elementary School for children who do not have food security on weekends.