Welcome New Faculty and Staff

Gonzaga is thrilled to welcome several new faculty and staff members to the community this fall. If you see these new faces around Eye Street, be sure to say hello!

Steve Breit
Assistant Director of College Counseling
Hometown: Port Jefferson, New York
Education: B.A., English, Fordham University; M. Ed., School Counseling, Loyola University Maryland; M. Ed., Education Leadership, Loyola University Maryland
Career background: Worked for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and then as a teacher at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore and a college counselor for 17 years at Loyola Blakefield in Towson
On college counseling: “I love watching the students become excited for their life after high school. It’s an incredibly fun time and a privilege to journey with them as they find the right fit.” 


Colleen Campbell
Assistant Director of Campus Ministry
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Education: B.A., Pastoral Ministry, University of Dallas; M.A., Theology, University of Notre Dame; Ph.D., Catechetics and Religious Education, Catholic University of America
On joining Gonzaga: “I am looking forward to being a part of a community dedicated to its Jesuit identity and mission and journeying with the students, faculty, and staff in their daily lives. I love speaking with people about where they find God and feel most alive. I am really passionate about assisting others in recognizing that they can find God anywhere, and find a lot of joy in accompanying others in the work of their formation.”


Andrew Curtin ‘01
Social Studies Teacher, GDA co-director
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
Education: B.A., history, College of William and Mary; currently earning M.Ed. from Boston College in Global Perspectives: Teaching, Curriculum, and Learning Environments
Career background: Spent six years teaching social studies and theater at Park View high School and 11 years teaching social studies at Bishop Ireton High School
On teaching and returning to Eye Street: “I love helping my students grow as they figure out who they are going to become and what God has planned for them. I’m looking forward to coming back to Eye Street and being part of the Ignatian mission of the school.”


Greg Ladd
Math Teacher, Assistant Varsity Football Coach
Hometown: Danvers, Massachusetts
Education: B.A., Colby College; M.S., Northeastern University
Career background: Spent seven years teaching and coaching at New Hampton School, a 9-12 boarding school in New England.
Why he loves teaching: “I enjoy seeing the small successes when a topic breaks through with a student – those ‘light bulb’ moments. I also enjoy and make a great effort to get to know students inside and outside the classroom.”

Martin Mendoza
Network Administrator & Helpdesk Support
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Education: B.S., Management Information Systems, Le Moyne College 
On joining Gonzaga: "I graduated from the Washington Jesuit Academy, where I also worked before coming to Gonzaga. I'm really excited to be part of another Jesuit community in Washington." 

Derek Morton
Senior Director of Technology and Data Systems
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Education: B.S., Information Systems, University of Pittsburgh
Career background: Spent many years in IBM consulting and had a brief stint at an internet start-up in San Francisco, before transitioning into educational technology eight years ago as a career change providing an opportunity to give back
On working in education: “I enjoy interacting with faculty and students and providing consistency and innovation in their technical experience.”


Joe Nardella
Science Teacher
Hometown: Scranton, Pennsylvania
Education: B.S., Biochemistry, University of Scranton; M.S., Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy, Georgetown University
On joining Gonzaga: “As a Jesuit-educated person, I look forward not only to the classroom experience, but also to participating in retreats through Campus Ministry and volunteering and doing service with students.” 


Aoife O'Connell
Librarian
Hometown: Corofin, Co. Clare, Ireland
Education: B.A., History, St. Olaf College; M.A., Library & Information Science, University of Maryland
On joining the Gonzaga community: "I am looking forward to bringing a passion for accessibility and librarianship to the Gonzaga community. I am also looking forward to supporting Gonzaga students in their studies and teaching them research skills that will prepare them for college. I believe that when students have access to resources and support they have access to more opportunities."


Sonia Salas
Spanish Teacher 
Hometown: Barcelona, Spain
Education: B.S, Psychology: Crisis Counseling; M.A., Spanish and Culture
On teaching languages: “I’ve been working as a teacher for 30 years. It is my passion! I love to teach my language, and to learn a language helps to open doors in the world.”


Carlos Salinas
French/ Spanish Teacher
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Education: B.S., International Business and Economics, The University of Tampa; M.B.A./ M.Ed.;  U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Spain 2012-13
On foreign languages and cultures: “I have lived in eight different countries in Europe and Latin America, and have traveled to 32 countries. I speak five languages fluently. I love seeing students fall in love with a new language and culture.”


Patrick Shipley ‘15
Computer Science Teacher
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
Education: B.S., Computer Science, Seattle University
Career background: Spent the last three years working in the tech industry as a software engineer and teaching coding part-time. “I love seeing when a student commits and challenges themselves to master a new skill or capture a new idea.”
On coming back to Gonzaga: “As an alum, I know how special and impactful the student-teacher relationship can be here at Gonzaga. I’m looking forward to great classroom conversation.”

Note: In the group photo above, also pictured is Lauren Pagni, who many know because she worked on a temp basis in the Campus Ministry Office last year; she joins us full-time this fall.
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