Annual Report 2024 - 2025
Fostering Hope through Action
Introduction to the Review
The Office of a Pedagogy of Hope through Research and Practice (PoH Office) invites you to read our 2024 – 2025 annual report centered on the theme: Fostering Hope through Action.
Fostering Hope through Action
In a year characterized by change and uncertainty, the meaning of hope provides us all with something to hold onto. At the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope, we believe that hope is most impactful when it takes shape through action. It lives in the events we host, the research we support, and the funding initiatives we offer, all designed to foster hope in those we serve.
This past year, our work has centered on creating opportunities for connection, reflection, and shared purpose. Whether through student-led projects, faculty collaborations, or community partnerships, we have sought to nurture spaces where people feel connected, inspired, and seen. In a time when many are seeking direction and meaning, these efforts remind us that hope is not only possible but also present in our relationships, our actions, and our shared commitment to the common good.
In this report, we aim to share how we are putting hope into action. Much of this work is largely due to our generous benefactors and collaborators from across the Gonzaga and Spokane communities. We thank them tremendously for believing in fostering hope through action and their willingness to share their time, expertise, and ideas with us.
Thank you for reading,
PoH Office Team
The Office of a Pedagogy of Hope through Research and Practice aspires to work in community with others to identify, understand, and address issues of marginalization. Through reflection, engagement, and dialogue with historical and contemporary issues in educational systems, our office exists to re-imagine learning spaces as accessible and inclusive for all. In community, we seek to bring together Gonzaga University students, faculty, staff, and members of the Spokane community to push systems towards active change and transformation.
OUR MISSION OUR PRIORITIES
In collaboration with Gonzaga University students, faculty, and staff, we aim to...
• Offer Learning Events for the Gonzaga and Local Community
• Support and Implment Research Projects that Align with Our Misson
• Provide Ongoing Faculty Support and Development
• Develop and Maintain Internal and External Partnerships
• Offer a Space for Gathering and Dialogue
WHO WE SERVE
Everyone. Our office aims to reach a broad audience, from local community organizations, and K-12 educators to Gonzaga University students, faculty, and staff. All those who are interested in issues that surround educational systems and practices are encouraged to attend our events, utilize our resources, and reach out for support.
Meet Our Team: Small but Mighty
Currently, the PoH Office is composed of a small team: one staff member, a faculty director, and three graduate assistants. While we are on the smaller side, we strive to make a meaningful impact by fostering collaboration, supporting innovative projects, and creating spaces of belonging and hope across the Gonzaga and Spokane communities.
Ridge Bynum, Program Coordinator
Ridge joined the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope (PoH Office) in the Fall of 2022 as a Graduate Assistant and was excited to step into the Program Coordinator role. While supporting the transformative work happening within the PoH Office, Ridge is concurrently pursuing his Doctorate in School Psychology here at Gonzaga University. Through his work in both the PoH Office and the School Psychology Department, Ridge is committed to amplifying the voices of marginalized groups, re-imagining oppressive systems, and leading change.
Due to his ongoing graduate studies, Ridge will be leaving his role at the end of the Spring 2025 semester. While he is sad to leave, he is extermely grateful for his time with the PoH and looks forward to watching its continued sucecss from afar!
Dr. Monica Bartlett, Faculty Director
Dr. Monica Bartlett is the Faculty Director for the PoH Office. Dr. Bartlett comes to us from the undergraduate Psychology Department in the College of Arts and Sciences at Gonzaga University, where she runs the Positive Emotion and Social Behavior Lab and teaches courses like The Psychology of Poverty and Social Class and Human Flourishing. Dr. Bartlett’s research focuses on gratitude and its role in building relationships and boosting wellbeing and has been widely cited by the scientific community and the press. Dr. Bartlett is a passionate teacher, committed to uncovering American structures of inequality and the stereotypes that underlie them.
Molly McDermott, Gradate Assistant
Molly McDermott just completed her third year in the PsyD program in School Psychology at Gonzaga. This year, her primary tasks through the PoH included community outreach and planning for the Zags for Abilities Fair, as well as increasing professional development awareness for K-12 educators around the state. While she will be stepping down as a PoH GA for the upcoming school year, she will continue to dedicate her time and effort to equitable education and serving both the Gonzaga and Spokane community. Molly expresses her appreciation for both the PoH and her colleagues over the past year, and looks forward to watching it continue to grow!
Martina Followell Nix, Gradate Assistant
Martina Folowell Nix is a native Hungarian speaker and first-generation college student, Martina is pursuing her Doctorate in School Psychology and preparing for a mixed-site internship at a public school district and a neurobehavioral health clinic. She brings diverse experience from state agencies, K–12 schools, and higher education, with a strong focus on building community-based resources and trauma-informed supports for underserved populations. Through her work, Martina aims to foster inclusive, equitable, and responsive practices in educational settings.
Miriam Carlson, Gradate Assistant
Miriam Carlson is wrapping up her role as a Graduate Assistant with the PoH Office as she enters her Psy.D. internship year. She is grateful for the opportunity to have supported the important work happening at the PoH office and to have collaborated with people deeply committed to equity and educational change. Her experiences here have shaped her continued commitment to building more inclusive systems for students.
Our nationally recognized speaker this year was psychologist Dr. Annmarie Caño, author of Leading toward Liberation: How to Build Cultures of Thriving in Higher Education, published by Johns Hopkins University Press this spring. She inspired us with the work of Latin American liberation leaders who lived in solidarity with the people they served.
Our community meals, Lunch and Learns, happen multiple times a semester. This year included discussions about the Walking School Bus program overseen by Sociology Professor Joe Johnston and collaborative research aimed at assisting the Northeast Spokane community’s reshaping of their historical narratives overseen by Katey Roden in the English Department and Greg Gordon in Environmental Science.
Our annual funding opportunity provided financial support to Gonzaga faculty, staff and students in their research and instruction work. In a climate where funding for higher education is tighter, funding recipients have made it clear that these awards (up to $2000 each) were the reason projects continued. This year’s recipients included projects such as reducing perinatal health inequity and encouraging positive political discourse in the classroom.
We cannot do this work without you! Whether you are proposing a project idea, gathering for one of our shared meals or able to donate financially to the PoH work, we are only as impactful, energetic and knowledgeable as the community that comprises us. Thank you for being a part of the PoH.
In solidarity,
Dr. Monica Y. Bartlett
OUR REACH: HOPE IN NUMBERS
Once again, the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope had a year marked by extensive outreach through our events and programs. This year, we proudly hosted our highest number of events to date, including our single largest event ever. In total, we organized eight events that reached nearly 600 members of the Gonzaga community. As shown below, our event programming has steadily grown since 2021. This growth reflects our ongoing commitment to refining our offerings and building meaningful collaborations with both internal and external partners.
While events are just one part of what we do, they remain a vital component of our outreach and a key strategy for fostering more inclusive and welcoming spaces for diverse learners. If you ever have an idea for an event, we would love to hear from you. We are always eager to collaborate.
2024-2025 IN DEPTH
During the 2024–2025 academic year, we hosted eight events—our highest number yet. Together, these gatherings served an estimated 582 individuals from a wide range of organizations, professions, and backgrounds. Many attendees from the Gonzaga community joined us for multiple events, demonstrating a strong, shared commitment to building a more connected, inclusive, and hopeful campus and community.
*The Lunch and Learn series consisted of 5 events
Events that Build & Inspire Action
This year, our team hosted or sponsored eight events for the Gonzaga and Spokane communities From our popular Lunch & Learn series to interactive workshops and a full-scale conference, each event was designed to bring people together around the shared goal of fostering hope through meaningful, actionable steps.
All events were free and open to the public, grounded in our commitment to serving and uplifting diverse voices within our community. Below, you’ll find highlights from some of our most well-attended gatherings, each reflecting the power of collaboration with both internal and external partners. Together, we continue to put hope into action.
The Walking School Bus: "Driving" Social Change
October 2024
Speaker: Dr. Joe Johnston, Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Sociology & Criminology
Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, and Students
In October, Dr. Joe Johnston led an interactive discussion about his project, The Walking School Bus. This initiative aims to improve the well-being of local K-12 students by using a community-learning approach that involves Gonzaga University undergraduate students.
Speakers: Community-Based Organizations
Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, and Students
Spearheaded by the Department of Special Education, our office was proud to support the first-ever Zags for Abilities Fair. Featuring nearly 30 community organizations, the event aimed to raise awareness within the campus community about disability advocacy, the experiences of individuals with disabilities, and how we can all play a role in creating more inclusive and accesible spaces.
Finding Our Way: Teaching Workshops in NE Spokane
April 2025
Speakers: Dr. Katey Roden Department of English & Dr. Greg Gordon, Department of Environmental Sciences
Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, and Students
In our final lunch and learn of the year, Drs. Katey Roden and Greg Gordon delivered an outstanding discussion about their multi-year project in North East Spokane. This initiative uses place-based learning to change how children and adults view their community.
Leading Toward Liberation: Theory and Praxis for Justice and Health in Education
February 2025
Speaker: Dr. Annmarie Caño, Professor, Department of Psychology
Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty & Staff
In our largest single event to date, the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope proudly hosted Dr. Annmarie Caño for a powerful and timely workshop on liberation leadership. Drawing from her forthcoming book, Leading Toward Liberation: How to Build Cultures of Thriving in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025), Dr. Caño offered a practical framework for transforming academic environments into spaces where all members—not just the privileged few— can thrive.
Through a blend of personal reflection, theory, and dialogue, participants explored how leadership rooted in compassion, solidarity, and shared accountability can foster healthier, more inclusive institutions. This interactive session invited educators, staff, and students alike to reimagine what leadership can look like when it is intentionally liberatory and deeply human.
Spotlight: 2nd Annual Diversity & Social Justice in Education Conference
April 2025
Speakers: Student and faculty presenters from across the university!
Audience: Gonzaga University Faculty, Staff, and Students
As one of our team’s favorite events to host, we were thrilled to once again partner with the School of Education Diversity and Social Justice Committee to present the 2nd Annual Diversity and Social Justice in Education Conference.
Geared toward students but open to all, this year’s conference featured nearly 50 student presenters who shared their work through academic posters, artwork, and multimedia presentations. Project topics ranged from poverty and disability advocacy to academic and behavioral interventions for struggling learners, as well as strategies to support student mental health.
The event welcomed over 100 attendees from across Gonzaga’s student body, faculty, and staff. Presenters had the opportunity to showcase their work in a supportive and engaging space. New to this year’s conference, three student award winners were selected and each received a $100 prize for their outstanding presentations!
A special thank you to Dr. Carissa Basile and Lauren Sfeir for their dedication and hard work over many months to make this event possible!
Where Hope Meets Investment
Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, the Office of Pedagogy of Hope remains 100 percent donor funded. This model allows us to maintain flexibility in our budget and ensures that funds are directed where they matter most, supporting Gonzaga University students, faculty, and staff rather than covering overhead costs.
This year, we continued to uphold that commitment by expanding opportunities for the GU community to receive direct fiscal support. From our annual funding initiative to participation in PoH-hosted events and the launch of our new Hope Fellows program, we have prioritized investing in people and projects that foster hope through action.
Read on to learn how we are putting resources directly into the hands of our community.
$13,289.37 spent in direct support of Gonzaga Univeristy student, faculty, and staff projects.
Over 30% more spending was directed to the GU community this year than last (23-24).
48.26% of our total spending for the 2024-2025 academic year.
These funds supported:
• Student & Faculty Research Stipends
• Equipment and Supplies for Research Projects
• Printing Costs for Student Participation in Events
• Student Supplies/Equipment for Event Participation
Looking ahead to the next academic year, our team is excited to develop new funding opportunities for both the Gonzaga and Spokane communities. We remain committed to being a low-barrier resource for projects dedicated to advancing equity, connection, and improved outcomes for all.
Funding Hope: Projects that Make a Difference
For the second year in a row, our office was proud to offer our annual funding opportunity. Open to Gonzaga University students, faculty, staff, and members of the broader Spokane community, this initiative was designed to provide accessible financial support for community-oriented projects.
Applicants could request up to $2,000 in funding. In return, awardees were expected to deliver a community-oriented outcome, such as a workshop or resource that could be shared with the Gonzaga or Spokane community.
This year, we funded six projects aligned with our mission. Awardees represented departments from across the university, each leading work that directly supports diverse community members.
Below are just a few of the projects we funded this year!
Project Title: A Workshop to Decolonize Outdoor Education at Gonzaga
Lead(s): Dr. Brook Swanson, Director of Outdoor Programs
About this work: This project aims to address marginalization in outdoor educational spaces through intentional engagement and dialogue. By identifying and developing inclusive strategies, the goal is to expand access and ensure that our outdoor pedagogy is welcoming and accessible to all students. A core outcome of the project will be the formation of a trained group of Gonzaga practitioners including faculty, staff, and students, equipped to advance efforts to decolonize outdoor education. This team will generate actionable plans to make existing programs more accessible to marginalized communities and design new initiatives specifically focused on increasing participant diversity.
Project Title: Bridging the Gap: Advancing Perinatal Health Equity to Reduce Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Mortality and Morbidity
Lead(s): Giovanna Consiglio, Student & Dr. Jacqui Crissey, Department of Human Physiology
About this work: This project seeks to reduce racial disparities in maternal and infant health, particularly for Black women and infants. Through awareness-building, community engagement, and research development, the project aims to strengthen ties between Gonzaga’s nursing program and Spokane’s healthcare community. Outcomes include increased provider awareness, a Phase 2 IRB proposal informed by community voices, and concrete steps toward more equitable maternal care in Spokane.
Project Title: Deliberative Dialogue for Democracy
Lead(s): Rebecca Donway, Student & Dr. Sarah James, Department of Communication Studies
Alignment with the PoH Mission: This project aims to equip students early in their college careers with the skills of dialogue, reflection, and engagement. Through a paired-class model, students will practice constructive conversations across differences and reflect on their experiences. Following the Spring 2025 semester, we will analyze student data and share results through publication and a Lunch and Learn event. The ultimate goal is to create a replicable model that fosters connection and a culture of dialogue across campus.
Have a Project Aligned with our Office?
We will once again open our call for funding in Fall 2025. Keep an eye out for details. In the meantime, here’s what a complete application will include:
• A clear description of your project, including your intended audience(s) and anticipated outcomes
• A brief explanation of how your project aligns with our mission
• Any supplemental materials that help us better understand your project
Meet our 2025 - 2026 Hope Fellows!
Launched this year, the Hope Fellows Program is a new initiative by the PoH Office. Designed to support early-career, tenure-track faculty at Gonzaga University. The program aims to advance community engagement, academic excellence, and the mission of PoH through research, teaching, and service. Starting in the fall, Hope Fellows will collaborate closely with the PoH Faculty Director and Program Coordinator, receiving tailored support and opportunities to lead and shape academic initiatives that impact both campus and community.
Meet our inaguaral Hope Fellows below!
Dr. Renee Geck
Department of Biology
Renee has a background in genetics, cell, and molecular biology, and is interested in how changes in the sequences of yeast and human genes alter their function, with a focus on metabolic enzymes and drug targets. She carriers out this work in her lab at Gonzaga and in collaboration with local high school classes, so that students at all levels can engage with science through authentic research experiences and work together to contribute to a diverse, conscientious, and ethical future of science.
Dr. Mary Kate Koch Department of Psychology
Dr. Mary Kate Koch is a developmental psychologist who focuses on adolescent development. Dr. Koch’s research examines how individual reactions to challenges affect their ability to adapt during times of transition (e.g., puberty).
Trained in Urie Bronfenbrenner’s department at Cornell University, she takes a social ecological approach to ground youth in their local environments to address this critical issue for human flourishing. Currently, she is working with Rogers High School on a project collecting teens’ stories about their identities during high and low moments.
Dr. John Gallo
Department of School Psychology
John Gallo is an enrolled tribal member of the Comanche Nation and holds a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Oregon. John began his academic journey as an intern with the Engaging Native Boys community engagement project at the University of Arizona. In his time at University of Oregon, John continued to promote equitable practices through his work with the Center on PBIS and The Association for Positive Behavior Support (APBS). He also supported behavioral and mental health system implementation in Oregon and Alaska as a consultant for Northwest PBIS and Project SIMPLE. Additionally, John supported the development of three experimental Curriculum-Based Measures (CBMs) to assess early literacy skills. John's research interests continue to revolve around the implementation of equity-oriented Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in Indigenous communities, investigating minoritized students’ perception of school climate, reducing exclusionary practices, and supporting the needs of all students.
More about the Hope Fellows Program
To support them in their new roles, Hope Fellows receive both financial and non-financial support from the Office of a Pedagogy of Hope. This includes:
• A $2,000 stipend to advance their scholarly or community-based work
• Hands-on assistance from our team of Graduate Assistants
• Mentorship and collaboration with the PoH Faculty Director and Program Coordinator
• A platform to share their work with the Gonzaga and Spokane communities
Designed specifically for early-career, tenure-track faculty, this initiative ensures that some of Gonzaga’s newest faculty members have the support they need to succeed and thrive. We look forward to seeing the exciting contributions our Hope Fellows will make. Stay tuned!
A Sneak-Peak into Next Year
Before we know it, the fall semester will be here and we all be back on our bustling campus! With that in mind our team is working hard to plan an exciiting line-up of events for 25 - 26 academic year. While more details are yet to come, know that these exciting events are coming to you next year!
September
2025
Lunch & Learn with Rebecca Donaway and Dr. Sarah James, Department of Communiction Studies
October 2024
Lunch & Learn! Speaker to be announced soon!
February 2026
Lunch & Learn! Speaker to be announced soon!
National Speaker Event - Speaker to be announced soon!
March 2026
Lunch & Learn with Giovanna Consiglio and Dr. Jacqui Crissey, Department of Human Physiology
April 2026
3rd Annual Diversity & Social Justice in Education Conference
Stay Connected!
