SPOKANE, Wash. — Dr. Katia Passerini officially began her role Tuesday as Gonzaga University’s 27th president.
Passerini is the second layperson to lead the Jesuit university, following the retirement of Dr. Thayne McCulloh. Her appointment was the result of a national search and a unanimous decision by the Gonzaga University Board of Trustees earlier this year.
A native of Italy and a lifelong Catholic, Passerini most recently served as provost and senior executive vice president at Seton Hall University in New Jersey from 2020 to 2025. Her tenure there included a one-year term as interim president during the 2023-24 academic year.
In a statement, Passerini said she looks forward to leading Gonzaga and continuing the university’s mission of teaching, learning, and student formation. She also emphasized her goal of building relationships with the Gonzaga community and regional partners.
Gonzaga Univeristy noted that Passerini is an experienced administrator, educator, and researcher in higher education with expertise in project management, information systems management, knowledge management, and IT strategy.
Prior to Seton Hall, she held faculty and administrative roles at St. John’s University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
