MEET OUR NEW FACULTY
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They’d ask, ‘what is the purpose of my life?’ I just wished I could send them all to Gonzaga for four years!” Gail now works for Keysight Technologies, a company that builds test equipment used on radios, mobile phone components, and drug tests for the Olympics, genetic testing and more—even Greenwich Mean Time is kept accurate using their equipment. One thing that has managed to pass the test every time, is Gail’s strong, continued connection to Gonzaga. “I’ve kept up with my engineering class and groups of friends. I see notes from advisory boards in the School Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Business,” she said. “Father Spitzer was in my class.” Looking to the future, Gail sees much of what she received from her own Gonzaga experience as central to the success of tomorrow’s engineers. “Gonzaga always put the emphasis on the students,” she recalled, “and that’s going to be critical moving forward.” She also has high hopes for growth in the STEM fields. Gail also has a vision for continued, improved diversity— particularly with respect to women in the field of engineering. “There are more women in engineering now compared to when I was in school,” she said. “I think it’s something we can work on in our culture, keeping these paths open, letting girls know engineering is an option and encouraging them to explore it.” Thankfully, it took just one evening in Havre, Montana, with one person there to encourage her, to allow Gail to explore and succeed as an engineer.
Brianna Dorie, Ph.D., joins The School of Engineering and Applied Science as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Dorie is deeply interested in the development of engineering thinking and how we introduce engineering to potential engineers, as well as the general public. She is excited to be part of a university rich in academic excellence, and to work with the faculty to make a robust and rewarding first year engineering course sequence. • Ph.D. in Engineering Education and Ecological Science & Engineering, Purdue University. • Involved in outreach endeavors such as summer camps, museum exhibits, and K-5 curriculum development all aimed at introducing engineering, increasing engineering thinking, and problem solving skills. • More than 10 years teaching, mentoring, and research experience. Fall 2016 marks the introduction of our new first year, two-semester engineering course sequence. This course will develop a wide variety of skills that will benefit students academically, professionally and personally. Focus will be placed upon hands-on team projects, design, problem solving, programming, and oral and written communication, with an emphasis on technical writing and persuasive arguments. This course sequence will provide a strong foundation upon which our students can build their engineering degree programs.