Gonzaga University Leadership Studies

Today, we recognize Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom and an opportunity to honor the resilience, achievements and contributions of Black Americans throughout history.

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved people were free. The day became known as Juneteenth.

As we commemorate this important moment in American history, we celebrate Black history, culture, leadership and community while taking time to reflect on the ongoing pursuit of justice, equity and belonging for all.

Today, and every day, we remain committed to learning from the past and building a future where every person can thrive and flourish.

Celebrate Juneteenth in Spokane Join a Juneteenth celebration!

Emeritus faculty member Dr. Mike Carey is facilitating Gonzaga retreats at Saint Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo, California open to current students and alumni from all of the SLS graduate programs: Master's in Organizational Leadership, Master's in Communication and Leadership, and the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies.

The next retreat takes place over the week beginning July 20, 2026, and is composed of a 5-day retreat on the theme of Leadership and Seeking and a separate 2-day contemplative experience offered just before the main retreat.

Registration is open until all spots are filled so claim yours today: https://saintandrewsabbey.com/event/gonzaga-alumni-retreat-july-26/ PASSWORD: Z@gSumm3r26

Current master's and Ph.D. students, the Fall 26 GA application window is officially open and runs through July 10! Check your Canvas Hub announcements for the link to apply. If you have any questions, please contact Mandy Baird.

Last week, Dr. Kristine Hoover took her class to hike the Camino de Santiago. They walked from Sarria across the beautiful Spanish countryside to Santiago de Compostela.

One of our students, Patrick Conaway said, "The Camino really is the best of us. The connections, sights, sounds, and relationships will forever stick with me. Thank you to Dr. Hoover, the Leadership department at Gonzaga, and to the people whose stories shaped my life forever. See you further down the trail. Buen Camino!!"

Have you registered for fall courses? There are still plenty of great course options for both master's and doctoral students like: COML 550 B: Data, Visualization, Storytelling, ORGL 516 B: Relational Dynamics and Organizational Development, and DPLS 749: Leadership and Ecology Ethics.

There's still time to secure your place but don't wait too long.

Our Create Healthy cohort has been working with our leadership training & development team since March, attending workshops and developing their skills as nonprofit leaders in their communities in Texas.

Message us if you are interested in workshops for your organization!

Master's students from the School of Leadership Studies are kicking off our summer of on-campus immersions with the combined Imagine, Create, Lead and Content Creation Strategy courses.

We hope everyone has an amazing time!

We are proud to host leadership retreats for the City of Spokane Public Works team! Dick Mandeville, PhD and Rachelle Strawther, Ed.D provide customized learning experiences to continually help the team move forward and accomplish strategic initiatives.

Message us to learn more about customized workshops and webinars for your team!

An update for our Ph.D. in Leadership Studies students: Doctoral Dialogues will resume on September 25 from 9 am - 11 am. We hope you all enjoy the summer and we look forward to resuming our conversations in the fall.