Thayne McCulloh

Early life and education

McCulloh was born in Los Angeles, raised in Claremont, California; Bethesda, Maryland; and Seattle, Washington.^[1] He attended Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle, Washington, graduated from John Marshall (Alternative) High School, and enlisted in the U.S. Army as a food service specialist, primarily with the 5th Infantry Division (United States) at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Honorably discharged a sergeant, his military decorations included the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. Following his discharge, he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Gonzaga University in 1989.^[2] As a student, he was elected Gonzaga's student body president during his senior year.^[2]

In 1989, McCulloh was admitted to study for the master of science degree in experimental psychology at Oxford University, England.^[2] A member of Wolfson College, Oxford, McCulloh conducted research under the supervision of British social psychologists Michael Argyle, D.Sc., and Nick Emler. His academic advisor was experimental psychologist Donald E. Broadbent. McCulloh's area of research involved evaluating the power of the social context in gender stereotyping. Other faculty and colleagues with whom he worked include well-known psychologist and television personality Peter Collett, and British Green Party politician Mike Woodin. As a student, he tutored undergraduates, was a member of the Oxford Union and participated in symposia of the British Psychological Society. In 1998, he was granted the degree of doctor of philosophy in experimental social psychology from Oxford University,^[2] and elected to membership in the American Psychological Association.

He is married to Julie McCulloh. The couple have three daughters: Kathryne, Anne and Emily.

Gonzaga University

McCulloh joined Gonzaga's staff in 1990, initially serving as a student affairs professional in residence life. He taught undergraduate psychology part-time for a number of years while serving in a variety of administrative positions, including dean of student academic services, dean of student financial services, associate academic vice president, and vice president for administration and planning.^[2] McCulloh also served as the interim academic vice president from 2007 until becoming interim president in 2009.^[2] During his administrative tenure, he worked on a number of institutional projects including development of Gonzaga's first office for students with disabilities, the implementation of an integrated computing information system, the development of new campus housing, chairing the decennial regional accreditation self-study, and the creation of a new institutional strategic plan.

President of Gonzaga

McCulloh was named interim president of the university by Gonzaga's board of trustees on April 17, 2009, and his appointment was effective on July 15, 2009.^[1] McCulloh was elevated from interim president to president of Gonzaga by the board of trustees on July 16, 2010.^[2] His promotion made McCulloh the university's first permanent, non-Jesuit to hold the office in Gonzaga's history.^[2] (Harry Sladich, a lay academic administrator, had previously served as president for two terms, but in an acting, interim basis).

During his tenure, Gonzaga University has moved through a series of key leadership changes and undertaken a number of significant strategic initiatives. Cognizant of the need to deliver an increasingly valued, top-quality educational experience, in summer of 2013 the institution broke ground on a new, 168,000 square foot University Center, led and supported by what then was the largest gift in Gonzaga's history.^[3] The John J. Hemmingson University Center opened in 2015 and provides a technologically advanced environment reflective of the core components of a distinctly Jesuit education. A LEED Gold certified facility, it prominently features the Center for Global Engagement, reflective of the institution's commitment to international education and study abroad, as well as numerous services to host and support student learning and functions to support student development. The Center also hosts the new, primary residential dining facility for the campus. Gonzaga recently announced a significant bequest, which is supporting construction of the 52,000 s.f. Myrtle Woldson Center for the Performing Arts (which will open in early-Spring 2019).^[4] Recognizing the importance of healthcare as a vital growth area as well as a local economic development focus, McCulloh has worked to support significant developments, such as the launch of a new School of Nursing and Human Physiology in response to growing demand, as well as the creation of a Spokane medical education partnership with the University of Washington.^[5]

During his presidency, the Gonzaga University Men's basketball team was ranked number one in the nation for the first time (2013), and then once again in 2017. At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, the Gonzaga Bulldogs had their most successful post-season tournament run to date, ultimately facing the University of North Carolina (UNC) in the national championship game. UNC won the game in the closing minutes with a score of 71-65. The current season (2017–18) marks the sixth consecutive West Coast Conference championship and the 20th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament by the Gonzaga Men's basketball team.

In the Spring of 2018, Gonzaga University will conclude a major fundraising campaign which, when announced in 2015, had a goal of $250 million, of which $100 million is intended to support scholarships for students.

Service and recognition

McCulloh currently serves on a number of non-profit boards and has been recognized for his contributions to American higher education. He serves as a commissioner for the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the United States. He is currently a member of the Greater Spokane, Incorporated (GSI) Board of Trustees and has served as the Co-chair of its Higher Education Leadership Group. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), and his work with the AJCU has included efforts in support of the Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL) project. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). In 2009 the Archdiocese of Seattle's Fulcrum Foundation recognized McCulloh as a "Champion of Catholic Education," and in 2013 he received the President's Award from Region V of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.^[6]