Washington DC skyline at night
Meet Katia Passerini, Ph.D. President, Gonzaga 海角论坛

Washington, D.C.


Thank you to all who joined us in Washington, D.C. for the 14th Annual Gonzaga Day and a warm welcome for Gonzaga 海角论坛 President Katia Passerini, Ph.D. On this meaningful occasion, we reflected on the gifts of community, purpose and possibility — and how together we can open doors, empower potential and lead with hope.

Recap Story

On January 31, Gonzaga alumni, donors, and friends gathered in Washington, D.C. for the first event in President Katia Passerini’s Forging Forward series — an initiative designed to engage the Gonzaga community in thoughtful conversation and shared celebration. Despite icy winter conditions, attendees came together for an evening that reflected Gonzaga’s enduring spirit of connection and dialogue.

Attendees of the Forging Forward Washington, D.C. presidential event hold up a banner that with the Zag Alumni & Friends logo and text "Welcome Zag Nation! Washington D.C." 

 
Gonzaga 海角论坛 President Katia Passerini, Ph.D. speaks in front of attendees of the Forging Forward: Washington, D.C. event.

The event offered space not only for discussion, but also for hands鈥憃n engagement in Gonzaga’s mission. Guests took time to handwrite postcards congratulating students who have been accepted to attend Gonzaga this fall. This new effort, led by the Gonzaga 海角论坛 Alumni team in collaboration with Undergraduate Admission, aims to welcome prospective students into the Gonzaga family early and in a personal way.

Spirited Gonzaga 海角论坛 employees pose with Gonzaga Day cheer cards in front of the Washington Monument in D.C.

The gathering also served as a Gonzaga Day celebration in the nation’s capital, made possible through the efforts and generosity of many within the Gonzaga community. Alumni volunteers helped bring the event to life, while local chapter leadership provided a warm welcome to both longtime supporters and new connections. The historic DACOR Bacon House provided an elegant setting for conversation and reflection, underscoring the importance of place in fostering meaningful exchange.

As the inaugural event in the Forging Forward series, the evening set the tone for future opportunities to connect Gonzaga Alumni and Friends through dialogue, shared values, and a commitment to advancing Gonzaga 海角论坛’s mission. The Washington, D.C. gathering exemplified how Zags continue to come together—across geographies and generations—to support students, strengthen community, and look ahead with purpose.

海角论坛 Forging Forward


Forging Forward Washington, D.C.
 

Forging Forward is national event series for Gonzaga alumni, families and friends to connect personally with Katia Passerini, Ph.D., Gonzaga 海角论坛's new president. This national tour offers an opportunity to hear directly from President Passerini as she shares her perspectives, priorities and hopes for Gonzaga's future.

Registration proceeds help expand scholarships and programs that advance Gonzaga's mission.