Gonzaga selects Seton Hall provost to be next president

Gonzaga University’s next president will have more than 20 years of experience in higher education and serve as provost of Seton Hall University, Gonzaga announced in a news release Wednesday.

Katia Passerini replaces Thayne McCulloh in July. McCulloh announced last year that he would retire.

Described by Gonzaga as a “lifelong Catholic”, Passerini was born in Italy. She will be the first woman to lead Gonzaga. McCulloh was the first Gonzaga president who was not a member of the clergy.

“I am very excited to join the Gonzaga University family this coming summer,” Passerini said in a prepared statement. “Gonzaga is clearly a very special place: a dynamic university with a national reputation for quality, dedicated to the holistic education of students. It will be a wonderful journey to get to know this community and discover together how it will continue its success. I I am deeply grateful to the board for their trust in me and look forward to getting to know the university and the region.”

This report will be updated.