L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano F o r m o r e t h a n a c e n t u r y , s t r o n g ties have bound S p o k a n e a n d Italy, with much of the relationship centered around education. In 1887, Gonzaga Uni- versity was founded by Ital- i a n m i s s i o n a r y F a t h e r Giuseppe Maria Cataldo. Father Cataldo, born in Ter- rasini, Sicily, dedicated his life to ministering to North- west pioneers – a calling he followed for more than 50 years until his death in 1928. T h e s c h o o l ' s n a m e w a s c h o s e n t o h o n o r a n o t h e r Italian, Saint Aloysius Gon- zaga, who died in 1591 at the age of 23. After his death, he became the patron saint of young students. Now a new link between Gonzaga and Italy has been established, thanks to the September 26, 2025, investi- ture of Katia Passerini as the 27 th president of Gonza- ga University. Passerini is the first female and the sec- ond lay person in the univer- s i t y ' s 1 3 8 - y e a r h i s t o r y t o serve in that role. A s e a s o n e d u n i v e r s i t y administrator and a distin- g u i s h e d s c h o l a r , s h e w a s unanimously selected earlier this year by Gonzaga's board of trustees from more than 100 applicants. Previously, she had served as provost a n d s e n i o r e x e c u t i v e v i c e president at Seton Hall Uni- versity in New Jersey. P a s s e r i n i ' s p a s s i o n f o r education runs deep. Born and raised in Rome, she is the daughter of two elemen- t a r y s c h o o l t e a c h e r s w h o later took on superintendent p o s i t i o n s w i t h t h e I t a l i a n Department of Education. She earned undergraduate degrees in political science and economics from univer- sities in Italy. Her move to the US hap- pened organically. A year- long study-abroad program o p e n e d h e r e y e s t o n e w opportunities in America, and she chose to remain on t h e E a s t c o a s t t o e a r n a n M . B . A . a n d a P h . D . f r o m George Washington Univer- sity. She also received both a Fulbright student scholar- ship and a Fulbright admin- istrator scholarship. S h e m e t h e r h u s b a n d , Arturo Pagan, when she par- ticipated in a summer course o n e c o t o u r i s m i n t h e Caribbean. He lived in New York. After that, there was no turning back. I n a d d i t i o n t o h e r f i v e years in leadership positions at Seton Hall, Passerini also s e r v e d a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d chair and dean at St. John's University in New York and was professor and dean at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has pub- lished extensively, focusing on the areas of computer- mediated learning, IT pro- d u c t i v i t y a n d k n o w l e d g e management. She has one book to her credit. Her professional experi- e n c e s o u t s i d e a c a d e m i a include multi-industry pro- jects at Booz Allen Hamilton (now part of PriceWater- h o u s e C o o p e r s ) a n d t h e W o r l d B a n k w h e r e s h e f o c u s e d o n i n f o r m a t i o n t e c h n o l o g y p r o j e c t s i n Europe, North America and the South Pacific. H e r h u s b a n d w o r k s i n human resources and inter- national development at the U n i t e d N a t i o n s . F o r t h e m o m e n t , h e c o n t i n u e s t o r e s i d e i n N e w Y o r k b u t plans to work remotely in Spokane, as well. With those kinds of cre- d e n t i a l s , P a s s e r i n i l i k e l y could have written her own t i c k e t f o r m a n y t o p - l e v e l higher-education positions around the country. Why Gonzaga? Passerini points t o i t s s t r o n g a c a d e m i c s , i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n i t i a t i v e s , winning athletics program and – let's not forget – its stunning location. " I w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y impressed with the excellent programs in those profes- sions that make a difference in people's lives," she told a r e p o r t e r w i t h T h e Spokesman-Review. "And of course, the incredible loca- t i o n w i t h s t u n n i n g l a n d - scapes and beautiful moun- t a i n s m a k e s S p o k a n e a n ideal place for learning and r e f l e c t i o n . I a m n o t s u r - prised about how many stu- dents and employees inten- tionally choose Gonzaga as their perfect destination." W h e n n o t a t t e n d i n g t o university affairs, Passerini e n j o y s r o l l e r b l a d i n g a n d h o p e s t o t a k e u p s k i i n g again, which she enjoyed in h e r y o u t h . A m o t o r c y c l e e n t h u s i a s t – s h e g o t h e r first scooter at age 15 while living in Rome – she had her Kawasaki Z400 shipped out to her from New York this summer. " T h e r e i s a s e n s e o f excitement about the West Coast, a new experience for my family," she said. "My husband Arturo was born and raised in New York. Our oldest son, Luis, was born in Rome and came back to the U S a t t h e a g e o f t w o . Michelangelo is a senior in college and lives in Chicago, and Diego is finishing mid- d l e s c h o o l i n N e w Y o r k City." A l o n g w i t h h e r f a m i l y , she shares her household with two rescue cats, Mez- zanotte and Cenere (Mid- night and Ash, named for t h e i r c o l o r s ) , a n d a d o g called Sharkie. Gonzaga has grown sig- n i f i c a n t l y s i n c e i t s e a r l y b e g i n n i n g s , n o w e n c o m - p a s s i n g m o r e t h a n 1 0 0 buildings and 150 acres. In 2024, its student body num- bered nearly 7,500 men and w o m e n . A m o n g i t s m o r e c e l e b r a t e d g r a d u a t e s a r e singer Bing Crosby, writer S h e r m a n A l e x i e , f o r m e r speaker of the US House of Representatives Tom Foley, a n d f o r m e r W a s h i n g t o n g o v e r n o r C h r i s t i n e G r e - goire. Just as the university has grown, so too have the prob- lems facing it and all insti- tutions of higher education. F e w e r y o u n g p e o p l e a r e a t t e n d i n g c o l l e g e , g r a n t funding has been reduced, and efforts around diversity and equity have come under attack. Passerini hopes that her global background and e x t e n s i v e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e w i l l p r o v i d e G o n z a g a w i t h a n e w p e r - spective, ensuring that this private liberal arts universi- ty is well-positioned to face the challenges of the future. RITA CIPALLA F r o m R o m e t o S p o k a n e : K a t i a Passerini becomes first woman to lead Gonzaga University Katia Passerini, born and raised in Rome, is the first woman president of Gonzaga University in its 138-year history (Photo: Gonzaga University) SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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