Maria "Mia" Bertagnolli

Mia Bertagnolli, PhD, is Professor of Biology and Interim Provost at Gonzaga University. A Gonzaga alumna, she earned her PhD in Biology from the University of Utah and returned to Gonzaga in 1993 to begin her teaching career. Over more than three decades, she has served in numerous academic leadership roles, including Chair of the Biology Department, Chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Director of the Center for Teaching and Advising, Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.

Throughout her career, Dr. Bertagnolli has been dedicated to advancing faculty success through mentoring, leadership development, equitable hiring practices, and inclusive approaches to teaching, promotion, and tenure. She has been a national leader in efforts to support and advance women in STEM, co-directing National Science Foundation ADVANCE Partnership grants focused on building peer mentoring networks, promoting equity and diversity, and improving the recruitment, advancement, and retention of women faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. While her scholarly research has centered on cell and molecular biology, particularly cytoskeletal regulation, cell adhesion, and cancer biology, her administrative work has increasingly focused on supporting faculty development and creating inclusive academic environments where faculty can thrive.