For Colleen Fuchs `86, the roots of her calling began at Prep, woven through community, service, and the steady encouragement to show up fully. Those early experiences continue to shape how she leads and accompanies others today as CEO of Joya Child & Family Development.
 
Long before Colleen (Thompson) Fuchs `86 devoted her career to children with developmental delays and disabilities, she was simply learning who she was at Gonzaga Prep—rooted in community, open to challenge, ready for anything. She played softball, basketball, and tennis, and poured herself into Ancilla, retreats, yearbook, and the student newspaper.

What she didn’t realize at the time was that the seeds of her vocation were being quietly planted. A babysitting job in seventh grade for a baby with Down syndrome and hydrocephalus made a lasting impression. Another Prep family’s advocacy for inclusion opened her eyes to community responsibility. And during her senior year, her community service at St. Anne’s Children’s Home, rocking, comforting, and playing with non-verbal, non-ambulatory children, changed her forever. “That’s where I truly found my calling,” she says.


The sense of community, the emphasis on service, and the expectation to show up fully—those values became part of who she is. Even though she wasn’t consciously planning her future, Prep gave her a foundation that influences how she leads and connects with others today.

Learning to see God in all things—in every situation, every moment, even the most difficult ones (maybe especially those ones) has had the most profound impact. “That perspective has shaped my empathy and resilience more than anything else,” she says. “It reminds me that there’s a purpose behind every experience, even when I don’t fully understand it. That faith helps me approach most days with hope and humility.”

As a member of a family who has attended Prep for generations, Colleen carries a deep sense of pride in continuing a legacy begun by her father and followed by her siblings. Her parents’ commitment to Catholic education, and her father’s gratitude for the Jesuit formation that helped him attend college and law school, shaped her understanding that a Prep education was both a gift and a responsibility. “I never questioned whether I would go to college,” she says. “Prep set the expectation that opportunity was ours to pursue—and to share with others.”

Today, Colleen serves as the CEO of Joya Child & Family Development, Eastern Washington’s only Neurodevelopmental Center of Excellence. Joya supports children from birth to age five through pediatric therapy, early intervention, and family-centered care.

Under her leadership, the organization has tripled its impact and now reaches over 1,000 families each year. Her role spans strategy, fundraising, advocacy, facilities, and the launch of a new research institute that aims to deepen understanding of early childhood development locally and beyond.

“No two days are the same,” she says. “One moment I’m solving a facility issue, the next I’m talking with a legislator or comforting a parent. ‘Chief Solution Finder’ might be a better title.” But at the heart of everything is helping families move from fear to possibility.
Colleen credits Prep for forming the skills she leans on most: critical thinking, communication, empathy, and the ability to find meaning and connection in complex moments. “Prep taught me to be a person for others,” she says. “That simple phrase has become the foundation of how I lead.”

Even during challenging seasons of life, it has been her Prep community—including other multigenerational families—who have shown up at her door with help and support. “There’s a deep sense of history and belonging that transcends time,” she reflects.

Looking back, Colleen is grateful to have been part of the co-educational legacy at Prep. “It wasn’t just about being in the same classrooms as my dad and brothers. It was about opportunity and empowerment. Prep shaped who I am.”

PREP CONNECTIONS AT JOYA
• Colleen (Thompson) Fuchs `86, Executive Director
• Dr. Matt Thompson `89, Medical Director
• Krista (Spilker) Caro `96, Director of Advancement
• Camryn Standiford `19, Family Resources Coordinator
• Rachel (Milhem) Cox `09, Physical Therapist
• Teresa Conway (mother of alum Cole `25), Grants and Communications Manager
• Sarah Nicolarsen (current Prep parent), Physical Therapist
• Alex Lefriec `05, Joya Foundation President
• Brent Wise `96, Foundation Trustee
• Bill Ryan `77, Foundation Trustee
• Larry Garvin `86, Joya Board of Directors