A Dream Conferred
Undergrad, 83, proves the power of Jesuit education
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Mabee Chapel
and
Rockhurst University companions
community members gathered for Mass to celebrate the life of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope.
Summer 2025
Finding Your Flock
Have you kept up with your friends from college?
Research shows you are on a path toward better health.
A Dream Conferred
Nothing could keep Jo Herron, ’25, from fulfilling her dream. At 83, after decades of study, she earned her bachelor’s degree.
Lead With Courage, Live With Purpose
Meet four Rockhurst University alumni who bring our tagline to life every day.
Rockhurst University Mission and Vision
RU is published by the Office of Marketing and Communications. Editor: Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA; Design: JJB Creative Design; Contributing Writers: Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., Katherine Frohoff, Tim Linn; Photographers: Tim Linn, Stephen Kennedy, Emma Koca, Mark McDonald, Caroline Malone, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Gary Rohman
Rockhurst is a comprehensive university and a supportive community that forms lifelong learners in the Catholic, Jesuit, liberal arts tradition who engage with the complexities of our world and serve others as compassionate, thoughtful leaders. Our vision is to create a more just world through inclusive, innovative and transformative education.
Want to be Successful? Find the Right Partner
Sandra Cassady, Ph.D. President
It’s a new era in higher education.
The history of higher education is filled with many stories of competitors “almost” coming together and then not closing the deal for a variety of reasons, including different goals, discussions around future resources, and loss of control. Fortunately, at Rockhurst University, we are quickly posting a track record for establishing partnerships with like-minded institutions where we can leverage established programs, expand our missions and support each other.
The 2020 merger between Rockhurst University and Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences succeeded on many levels. Why did it work and what makes a great partner? Many would say that a shared (or compatible) mission and common values helps a partnership succeed.
Saint Luke’s College was part of a faith-based, not-for-profit health system committed to the highest levels of excellence and dedicated to enhancing the physical, mental and spiritual health of the diverse communities they serve. The importance of caring for the whole person certainly aligns with “cura personalis.”
Leveraging strengths and resources are additional ingredients in a successful partnership. The well-established Saint Luke’s programs brought highly competent faculty and staff and a highly respected reputation in health sciences education. Rockhurst supplied a newly renovated Sedgwick Hall transformed into a state-of-the art health sciences center.
The addition of nursing with the established programs in exercise science, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology afforded new opportunities for preparing students to serve as members of interprofessional teams. Finding commonality, both organizations desired to prepare a highly competent health sciences workforce for Kansas City and beyond.
But our success stories don’t end with Saint Luke’s. We’re actively working with Saint Louis
University to launch a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program. We already partner with SLU to offer a Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity.
Rockhurst continues to build partnerships with other accredited colleges and universities in Kansas City and beyond. A longstanding partnership with Kansas City University offering dual graduate degrees in medicine and business administration led to the creation of new pathways between the institutions for students seeking degrees in medicine, dentistry and anesthesiology.
It also helps when partners are committed to innovation and flexibility to meet changing needs. Recently, Rockhurst received approval from the Higher Learning Commission to add three additional cohorts in Rockhurst’s Master of Science in speech-language pathology on the campuses of Regis University in Denver and Creighton University in Omaha and Phoenix. Students enrolled will take Rockhurst classes online and complete laboratory experience and clinical placements in the community where they enroll. This is an example of how two (or in this case three) like-minded universities expand their offerings through different approaches.
And, earlier this year we announced the development of strategic alliance with Spring Hill College in Mobile. (See story on page 10.) Since that time, our campuses have been working together on a multitude of collaborations including shared programs, more seamless pathways for students, defining early opportunitiy internships and even joint offerings for co-curricular experiences. Stay tuned for more to come!
Rockhurst is fortunate to have so many great partners. We are grateful for these collaborations, which help expand our reach and provide more opportunities for our students. P
University Awards Alumnus and Scholar Honorary Doctorate
In May, as part of spring commencement ceremonies, Rockhurst University awarded Stephen Schneck, ’76, with a Doctor of Humane Letters, its first honorary doctorate since 2010.
Schneck retired from the Catholic University of America in 2018 after more than 30 years as a professor, department chair and dean. He is the founder and was the longtime director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies.
Schneck spent most of his career advocating for a role in public life for Catholic social teaching through his teaching, his writing, and as a public figure. He was a member of the White House Advisory Council
New Visit Center Welcomes Prospective Students to RU
Think back to being a prospective college student — it was one thing to read the brochure about the college you were interested in. It’s entirely another to visit and feel it.
It’s exactly that — the feeling of campus — that Rockhurst University has captured with a makeover of the Jim and Ellen Glynn Alumni Commons, the multipurpose room inside of the MAC
for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and in 2024 was named chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Schneck encouraged graduates to reflect in gratitude.
“The kind of gratitude I’m talking about here is not simply saying ‘thank you,’” he said. “It’s the kind of gratitude that nudges our vain little ego aside to make room for others. It blesses us with humility and compassion.” P
that now also serves as the visit center for incoming students and their families. A mural runs the length of the wall in the room, with imagery both from campus and Kansas City. Counselors share information about everything from Jesuit identity to financial aid in an admissions presentation. And a tour and opportunities to visit with faculty members fills in the rest for visitors.
“We’ve really overhauled our visit experience for prospective students,” said Angela Grojean, ’97, ’23 M.A., assistant director of campus visits and events. “The hope is for every student to come away with that feeling so many of our alumni felt their first time on campus — that this place is home.” P
Stephen Schneck, Ph.D., ’76, speaks during the spring commencement ceremony.
Arbor Day Celebration
Rockhurst University junior Megan Lewis reads a poem in front of one of the trees on campus as part of the University’s annual Arbor Day celebration April 25. In addition to readings from students, members of the University community planted new trees on and around campus and performed upkeep of the campus pollinator gardens. P
Outward Facing, Mission and Ministry Restructures
With construction nearly complete on the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice and the new Mabee Chapel at 54th Street and Troost Avenue, the Office of Mission and Ministry has restructured to not only better meet the University’s needs but to also more effectively extend its reach beyond campus.
“We reorganized so we can better partner with community organizations in terms of service and justice initiatives,” said the Rev. Stephen Hess, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry. “Our goal is for students, staff and faculty to work alongside our community partners to help address structures that cause injustice, and to find meaningful ways to serve together on campus and in the city.”
A new Service and Action Office has been created with Bill Kriege serving as the director. He will oversee the community service program, community-based learning and solidarity immersion trips. Alicia Douglas, ’19 M.A., the director of community relations and outreach, will continue to build relationships with external organizations and neighborhoods to identify partnership opportunities. She will also coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice.
and Alicia
Douglas is also part of a newly formed leadership group that is charged with continuing efforts related to dignity, justice and belonging, ensuring those efforts are strengthened.
Mark Blaise will join Rockhurst University in July to serve as the new director of campus ministry. He will develop retreat programs, reflection and prayer opportunities for all students, and oversee liturgical ministry.
Kriege and Douglas began moving into the Brooks Center in April. Two external organizations will also be housed in the center. The new chapel will be dedicated in late September 2025. P
Bill Kriege
Douglas, ’19 M.A., inside the new Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice
Students Provide Care, Gain Experience at New Pro Bono Clinic
the Doctor
’26 DPT; Hailey Puett, ’25 DPT; Mariah Gamez, ’26 DPT
Students in the physical therapy, occupational therapy and speechlanguage pathology programs are providing services to the community through a new pro bono health clinic that launched in May.
The mission of the CURA Clinic, which stands for “community uplift through rehabilitation and advocacy,” is to provide high-quality health care services to underserved populations. It is open the first Saturday of every month at Vibrant Health Family Health Care in Kansas City, Kansas. Students provide care under the guidance of experienced licensed professionals, including
evaluations, personalized treatment and holistic health support.
“The CURA Clinic is about meeting our community’s needs by providing health care services to people who might otherwise go without care,” said Marlon Addison, DPT, assistant professor of physical therapy.
“When we serve others who face barriers to health care access, we’re addressing a real-world need while also helping to shape our students into health care providers who prioritize service and compassion throughout their careers.” P
“The CURA Clinic is about meeting our community’s needs by providing health care services to people who might otherwise go without care.”
—Marlon Addison, DPT
Students in
of Physical Therapy program helped launch the pro bono CURA Clinic May 3. (From left) Kelli Nelson, ’26 DPT; Emme Stoy,
“Compared to last year, our mindset was completely different. This year, we truly believed in ourselves, and that made everything possible.”
—Sofia Valdespino, junior
Women’s Tennis Earns First-Ever Trip to Sweet 16
It was a history-making season all-around for the Rockhurst University women’s tennis team.
The squad put forth a 16-5 regular season record and captured their first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference championship, a first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II sweet 16, and a GLVC Coach of the Year honor for Jamie McDonald.
The team had come up short in its previous campaign, missing the NCAA Division II tournament as the result of a loss to the University of Indianapolis in the GLVC tournament the previous year.
They would avenge that loss not once but twice, besting UIndy in both the GLVC tournament finals and again in the Midwest Regional round of the NCAA Division II tournament.
“Compared to last year, our mindset was completely different,” said junior Sofia Valdespino. “This year, we truly believed in ourselves, and that made everything possible.”
They had to win a series of tiebreakers to come out with the win and seal their trip to Florida for the round of 16. McDonald said the team had worked the entire year preparing for that level of competition.
“We continued to ask our players to focus on effort and attitude from first point to last,” he said.
The Hawks fell short in the round of 16 against Midwestern State University, 4-2. P
The Rockhurst University women’s tennis team celebrates a victory.
Athletics Inducts Legendary Individuals, Teams Into Hall of Fame
National champions, record holders, and outstanding teams from the ’60s to the 2010s were inducted into Rockhurst University’s Athletics Hall of Fame as part of a weekend-long celebration in February.
The centerpiece of the annual weekend was the formal induction ceremony, during which the following were welcomed to the hall: Jim Schaefer, ’71, basketball and baseball; Bill Schaefer, ’74, men’s soccer; Tom Knox, ’92, men’s soccer; Chad Becker, ’09, men’s soccer; Maureen Rielley, ’12, women’s tennis; Dennis Rabbitt, ’64, men’s basketball and baseball; and the 1975, 1976 and 1978 men’s soccer teams P
Coming Soon — Hawks Pep Band!
Hoping to offer another opportunity for students and further enhance the gameday experience for spectators, Rockhurst University athletics will add pep band to its slate of offerings starting in fall 2026.
The new program will provide a unique, scholarship eligible opportunity for current and incoming students interested in expanding or continuing their interest in music and further boost the energy for Hawks fans and players at Rockhurst University basketball and volleyball games and other athletics events. Athletics officials have begun the search for a director to recruit and oversee operations for the program. P
Faculty Kudos
Keith Brandt, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, and Billy Klasinski, ’24, published a paper, “Domino Tilings: Projects and Assignments for Students,” in The Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges. P
Three faculty members in the School of Education have authored new books: Lesa Brand, Ph.D., assistant professor of education and director of the Ed.D. program, is the author of “Hello My Name is Chuck: One Family’s Love Story Through Dementia”; Marlee Bunch, Ed.D., adjunct faculty, is the author of “The Magnitude of Us: An Educator’s Guide to Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms”; and Jodie Maddox, Ed.L., director of field experience and evaluation in the School of Education, is the author of “Parenting with a few F words: Fuel, Focus, Foster, Follow, and Forgive Your Way to a New Parenting Peace.” P
Creating Community, One Group Thread at a Time
The growth in Rockhurst University’s online Master of Science in Nursing degree program means faculty have had to grapple with a fundamental challenge — how to truly connect students flung across different states who are learning virtually.
Often, it comes down to a recognition that virtual learning is different but can still be enriching, says Rachel Derenski, MSN, assistant professor of nursing. Derenski won the University’s Excellence in Faculty Teaching Award in 2023, an honor that she said surprised her.
“Teaching online, there can be a sense that what you do is a bit invisible to the rest of the campus,” she said.
But it also validated the work Derenski said she and others who teach online do — extended
virtual office hours, visual lectures, personalized email interactions, and encouraging students to connect with each other. Fostering that sense of community helps students feel supported while they are here and builds a sense of camaraderie after they graduate.
“When students come to immersion, there are so many smiles because we have fostered relationships well in advance,” Derenski said. “In nursing, they are going to need one another, not just for networking but for resourcing.” P
Rachel Derenski, MSN (Left), assistant director of nursing, speaks to students during an immersion.
“Just a Huge Open Door”: Student Discovers New Depth to Studies Through Internship
Like a lot of college students, senior Ty Klayum said he had to adjust to a more independent way of life as a college student.
Klayum said he didn’t fully realize the opportunities available to him and, as a result, said he felt he was just going through the motions.
His junior year, he gave himself and his experience at Rockhurst a soft reset in two respects — he committed himself to his faith and explored what was at his fingertips on campus.
“I just had to grow in my intentionality, and I started to realize what was available,” he said.
In the fall of his junior year, Klayum attended a career fair on campus and connected with Imperial PFS, a Kansas City based company providing insurance services that soon offered him an internship. Surrounded by Rockhurst University alumni, Klayum said he leaned into the experience and, as a result, thrived.
“I got experience in almost every single area that I had classes in,” he said. “I was able to be a sponge, to just learn — it was just a huge open door.”
The company also invited Klayum to attend the 2024 SQL Pass Summit in Seattle, Washington, the largest gathering of data professionals.
“I think what I really took away was this feeling that all of these people wanted to see me succeed,” he said. “They are so intentional about pouring into the next person.” P
Ty Klayum
“I think what I really took away was this feeling that all of these people wanted to see me succeed. ”
Congratulations, Dr. Cassady!
Rockhurst University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., has been selected as a member of the Kansas City Business Journal’s 2025 class of Women of Influence. The 25 honorees were chosen not only for their leadership but also for their efforts in elevating other women. The class will be honored at a special event in August. P
“We are excited for the expanded academic and professional opportunities our students will have through this partnership.”
—Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., president of Rockhurst University
Partnership With Spring Hill College Creates New Opportunities for Students
A new strategic alliance between Rockhurst University and fellow Jesuit institution Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, will open a host of new opportunities for students on both campuses as soon as this summer when they can begin taking online classes that aren’t offered at their home institution.
Over the next two years, additional opportunities will be available. Students at Spring Hill College will have new or expanded access to undergraduate majors such as business analytics, criminal justice and exercise science. In addition, the agreement will create streamlined pathways for Spring Hill College students to enter Rockhurst’s master’s programs in data analytics and speech-language pathology, and doctoral programs in physical therapy and occupational therapy.
More Rockhurst University students will be able to apply to study at Spring Hill College’s Italy Center in Bologna, taking advantage of immersive cultural and academic experiences in a historic Italian university city.
Students at both institutions will benefit from the regional environments and local industries in Mobile and Kansas City through exchange opportunities to study on either campus for experiences benefiting many majors such as biology and business.
“We are excited for the expanded academic and professional opportunities our students will have through this partnership,” said Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., president of Rockhurst University. “This also aligns with our strategy to continuously offer new academic programs that complement our mission and vision and position our graduates to be more competitive in today’s job market. Partnering with like-minded institutions is a key part of this strategy.” P
Business Programs Among Top 25 in U.S.
Two of the specialties within the MBA program at the College of Business and Technology are among the top 25 in the entire nation, according to the 2025 Best Grad Schools rankings from U.S. News and World Report.
The analytics MBA specialty moved up 11 spots on the list, now tied for No. 14 in the nation. Another specialty in the MBA, management, is ranked No. 24 nationally, up three spots from the previous year. The University’s MBA program overall moved up 23 spots from its ranking the previous year. P
New Focus Brings Increase in International Students to RU
International students have just about always had a presence at Rockhurst University but new efforts to better define programs that appeal to them and to let them know about those programs has resulted in an increase in applications from outside the United States.
Programs of particular interest to prospective international students include those in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — the STEM fields. Countries where the University is seeing increased interest at both the undergraduate and graduate levels include India, Ghana and Nigeria.
“International students want to be challenged in and out of the classroom and feel prepared for the professional world thereafter,” said Muhle Dlamini, director of international admissions and recruitment. “Bringing the global community to Rockhurst also enriches our campus with their lived and learned experiences, enhancing educational opportunities for our domestic students, faculty and staff.” P
A Familiar Face (Once Again) Returns to Rockhurst
For members of the Society of Jesus, accepting new challenges just comes with the job — Jesuit priests go where they are sent and are often asked to take on unfamiliar roles to serve their mission.
In his 50 years with the society, the Rev. William Oulvey, S.J., ’74, has been a chemistry teacher, a Jesuit community rector, director of retreats and associate director of mission and ministry at Rockhurst, among other roles. Returning to his alma mater, Fr. Oulvey is now part of the student success team, working specifically with students on academic warning. To help them, he draws on all his previous experience — and the Jesuit mission.
“Sitting and listening without judgment is major,” he said. “At the same time, students need to sense that they really are in charge and not simply being told what to do — that’s a very Ignatian thing.”
While Fr. Oulvey said he encourages students to take agency, he also helps them navigate challenges — sometimes literally.
“We go on field trips,” to other campus offices, or to the places like the Aylward-Dunn Learning Center, he said, with the goal of finding resources or solving problems. P
rockhurst.edu
Rev. William Oulvey, S.J., ’74
Finding Your Flock
Cultivating a sense of belonging through social ties may be more important to your health and wellbeing than you realize. Fortunately, it’s something we can all get better at.
By Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA
If you were a Rockhurst student connected to Ed McKee, ’67, in 1964, it may have resulted in an usher gig and a free ticket to The Beatles concert at Kansas City’s old Municipal Stadium. After college, it might have meant an introduction that turned into an employment offer. And now, you could be part of a group that receives life updates — both happy and sad — about classmates.
That’s because McKee has made an effort to keep in touch with his college classmates throughout the years. He estimates the contacts in his iPhone with Rockhurst connections to be more than 100.
A group of Rockhurst alumni enjoy a meal together. (From left) Dave Lorenz, ’66; Ed McKee, ’67; Ralph Telken, ’64; Peggy and Dennis Rabbitt, ’64; John Frey, ’65; Jim Stacy,’66; John Stacy, ’71.
According to experts, the sense of belonging that we experience as the result of social networks like McKee’s is one the best indicators of physical and psychological wellbeing.
Mary Poskin, MSN, assistant professor of nursing, teaches community health to undergraduate nursing students and her enthusiasm for the topic of belonging is infectious.
“In the past we thought of someone’s health as based on their genetics, physical health habits, and what happened in the doctor’s office,” Poskin says, “but we’ve come to understand that somebody’s health is greatly impacted by the environment where they live, work, go to school and play. These factors are called the social determinants of health.”
She says for her, belonging means a sense of connectedness that comes from feeling a part of and accepted by a group, such as your neighborhood, a social group, co-workers or your church.
When people feel more connected, the health benefits multiply. She says research shows that social ties are a protective factor that helps us manage stress and promote resiliency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that belonging and connection can help reduce the risk of anxiety, heart disease, stroke and dementia. Spending time with others can have a positive influence on healthy habits such as eating and sleeping. It also has practical benefits, especially for older folks, like being able to find a ride to the doctor should you need help getting there.
This sense of connection can come from activities with others who share common interests. Poskin says she has come to enjoy attending the cultural events sponsored by the University’s Center for Arts and Letters. And fans of successful sports teams, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, have seen how victories can unite an entire city.
Whatever the source of the feeling of connection, it can have a positive ripple effect that goes beyond the individual, Poskin says.
“People who have that sense of belonging are also more likely to contribute to something greater than themselves, to reach outside themself and do something that benefits others, so that sense of community expands.”
“People who have that sense of belonging are also more likely to contribute to something greater than themselves, to reach outside themself and do something that benefits others, so that sense of community expands.”
Mary Poskin, MSN
“We might sometimes think we’re just an academic institution, but we’re more than that and that’s why I love that we’re about ‘cura personalis,’ or ‘care for the whole person.’ It’s our mission to see the other.”
Logan Kochendorfer, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, is an attachment researcher who also supervises student research on related topics. Most recently, she and the students were focused on the question of flourishing in college students and how six different factors affect their ability to flourish: attachment, loneliness, social support, stress, identity development and mental health.
Eight of the students presented research at the peer-reviewed, regional conference of the Midwestern Psychology Association held in Chicago in April.
Kochendorfer said the research showed that all factors had a significant impact on a college student’s ability to flourish. And that has implications for her as a faculty member and for the University as a whole.
“When I’m interacting with any given student, I need to be aware of their context,” she said. “They can’t flourish academically without connections. I could ask them, ‘Do you feel supported?’ We might sometimes think we’re just an academic institution, but we’re more than that and that’s why I love that we’re about ‘cura personalis,’ or ‘care for the whole person.’ It’s our mission to see the other.”
After starting her freshman year at Rockhurst not knowing anyone and spending her first semester focusing on academics and grades, Aadhya Chilakala, ’25, who graduated in May with a degree in molecular biology and will start medical school at Saint Louis University in July, decided she needed to meet people.
She says she showed up at a Diwali celebration sponsored by the Asian American Student Union because she was homesick and was then asked to become the newly formed group’s public relations chair.
“I didn’t know what PR was and I had not used social media, so I had to research how to make an Instagram post,” she said with a laugh.
Logan Kochendorfer, Ph.D.
As a senior, she became president of the organization, one of three with which she has been actively involved in her years at Rockhurst. Another is Active Minds, which raises awareness about mental health issues and where she says she found a support system. The social connections she made in the organizations paid off, she said.
“Participating made me more confident, made me know myself better as a person and know what my passions are outside of education,” Chilakala said. “The satisfaction of pulling off events is very rewarding and helped me realize my leadership potential. I also learned life skills. You have to experience life, not just go through life.”
Nearly 60 years after graduating from Rockhurst, Ed McKee can attest to the importance of making lasting connections. He has shared many meals, attended sporting events, circulated prayer requests and been instrumental in keeping friends connected.
“It’s true friendship and community,” McKee said. “Rockhurst is a school where many of the students are from Kansas City or St. Louis, but my wife Linda and I have friends east, west, north and south, and we can keep in touch and maintain relationships.” P
Want to
Strengthen
Your Sense of Belonging?
Faculty members Mary Poskin, MSN, and Logan Kochendorfer, Ph.D., both say you can take action to cultivate belonging and connections, which are important to health and wellbeing. Here are some of their tips.
P Reach out and try new things.
P Be open to others and other ways of thinking. Focus on similarities instead of differences.
P Be patient. It takes time to build new relationships.
P Start with a self-assessment. How do you feel about the quality of your friendships and number of friends? You may want to focus on improving one or the other.
P Look at your activities and find at least one outside of school or work that allows you to connect with others who have similar interests.
P Take your disposition toward introversion or extroversion into account and leverage your energy accordingly.
Aadhya Chilakala, ’25
“This
is Really My Year”
After a decades-long journey, undergraduate student reflects on her “dream deferred”
By Tim Linn
Jo Herron thinks about Langston Hughes a lot.
Specifically, Hughes’ 1951 poem “Harlem,” which famously asks, “What happens to a dream deferred?” After nearly 50 years, Herron can provide one answer to that question.
In May, Herron earned her bachelor’s degree in theology and religious studies. In many ways, she’s a model Jesuit student — she asks big questions, relishes the opportunity to understand perspectives and experiences outside of her own and sees education as a force for good in the world. In some other ways, she’s a little different than the average college goer — for one, she just turned 83.
“This is really my year,” she says with an audible smile, reflecting on the multiple milestones she experienced around spring commencement.
It’s not just her own, either — within weeks of her own graduation, she celebrated a daughter who earned a master’s degree from Princeton, her eldest grandson earning a master’s degree from Texas Christian and a son-in-law
graduating with a doctorate in education from Drexel in June. She’s calling it her “jubilee educational year.”
The journey to the commencement stage was not without its setbacks and challenges. But Herron’s own resolve to finish comes from some combination of her faith, her personality and the encouragement of those around her. At a time when some would question the value of a college degree, Herron’s example proves that, in fact, the pursuit of knowledge through higher education is still empowering and transformative.
She said her story in higher education starts with her parents. Never college educated themselves, she said they nevertheless valued the promise of education and encouraged
“My father would always tell us to do our best, and my mother would tell us to use our talents,” she said. “I really don’t know what I did to deserve all of the encouragement.”
“In
30 years of teaching, I can’t remember having a student who took such obvious joy in learning. Jo’s approach to life should be a model for everyone.”
—Craig Prentiss,
Ph.D., professor of religious studies
their children to pursue it if they wished. It’s a lesson Herron said she took to heart.
“My father would always tell us to do our best, and my mother would tell us to use our talents,” she said. “I really don’t know what I did to deserve all of the encouragement.”
But life, as it often does, intervened. She moved to Kansas City with her husband and two small children in 1964.. Herron said she took a temporary seasonal job to help with expenses, keypunching computer engineering cards at the Internal Revenue Service during tax season.
That experience led to a career. In 1966, she started with AT&T, keypunching engineering cards and it was through that job that she first encountered Rockhurst in the 1970s, enrolling in philosophy courses to bolster her analytical skills.
“I read the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola and that really spoke to me,” she said, “along with the core values like finding God in all things. But the motto — ‘wisdom has built herself a home’ — that really spoke to me.”
Herron’s career in telecommunications process engineering took her and her family all over — to Bedminster, New Jersey, to Atlanta, Georgia, and back to Kansas City. She loved her job, but Herron said the idea of finishing what she started — at Rockhurst — never left her.
Some time after she retired, she was able to come back to Rockhurst (while also taking a part-time position at a local Head Start school) thanks to the KC Scholars program. Family members say that type of energy is Jo to a T.
“She’s like the Energizer bunny,” said one of her daughters, Gina Lewis. “She just keeps going and going.”
(Top) Jo Herron at the engineering desk at AT&T (Bottom) Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., and Jo Herron pose during a special presentation of her degree at the spring commencement ceremony.
It has not been without some setbacks.
Herron was a caregiver for her late son in 2021 who died after a serious illness, and she took a semester-long break. In February 2024, she was in a car accident with her daughter that left her with a fractured sternum and a compressed disc and she considered withdrawing. Even things as simple as notetaking are a little harder because she suffers arthritis in her wrist. Through it all, Herron said everyone around her — too many to count — helped her stay on track.
People like Terry Forge, her academic adviser, became an advocate and something of a friend on campus.
“She would just come into my office and say, ‘I’m exhausted,’” Forge said, “and I’d say, ‘Do you need a cup of coffee?’ And we’d talk. And we would do whatever we had to do to keep her going.”
Herron’s example, Forge said, proves you’re never too old to accomplish your dreams or learn new things, even when obstacles are thrown your way.
“I think some of our younger students need to hear that,” she said. “Seeing her finish this shows what Rockhurst is all about.”
And just as those around her have been part of her journey, Herron has left an impression on so many throughout campus.
Craig Prentiss, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, praised her infectious energy.
“In 30 years of teaching, I can’t remember having a student who took such obvious joy in learning,” he said. “Jo’s approach to life should
be a model for everyone. Her intelligence and wisdom are matched by her unflinching positivity in everything she does. I’m in awe of her.”
As she approached the end of her last semester as an undergraduate, Herron said she was feeling a sense of calm, despite everything that happened along the way.
“You know, life is a mystery. This was my dream deferred, it was hidden in my heart and my mind for so long,” she said. “But I’m so happy to be able to share this with my family and grateful for everyone who helped me. I found myself a home here at Rockhurst.” P
Jo Herron in class in October
Lead With Courage, Live With Purpose
By Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA & Tim Linn
Rockhurst University launched a new tagline earlier this year. Based on research conducted with alumni and prospective and current students, “Lead With Courage, Live With Purpose,” reflects the ideals that our alumni embody on a daily basis. Ultimately, though, a tagline is only as good as the truth behind it — so here are some ways alumni are bringing ours to life.
Trey Malone, Ph.D., ’10
Boehlje Endowed Chair for Managerial Economics in Agribusiness at Purdue University
His rural roots may have led Trey Malone, Ph.D., ’10, to an interest in agricultural economics, but it was a service immersion trip to Honduras through Rockhurst University that inspired a passion to care for people beyond his back yard.
“I wasn’t terribly excited about the theory of economics, but the human aspect appealed to me,” said Malone, who majored in economics and Spanish at Rockhurst and went on to earn a master’s and Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.
Fueled by the Jesuit core values and approach to education he learned at Rockhurst, Malone says he sought an academic field where he could be the most socially impactful. And now, as Boehlje Endowed Chair for Managerial Economics in Agribusiness at Purdue University, he is focused on innovation and the world’s food supply.
“Global agriculture is at an inflection point regarding how we grow what we eat,” said Malone. “What should we grow and how can we grow it, and how can we leverage the experience we have with U.S. agriculture to make the world more prosperous?”
Part of his focus is looking at how to increase efficiency using the tools we have. And the human side of that, he says,
is to engage with farmers who are skeptical of new technology and working to regain some of the lost trust in higher education, which facilitates the public-private partnerships that dominate the way new technology is developed in today’s economy.
Previous projects for Malone include work with the World Wildlife Fund to increase agricultural economic activity in the Mississippi River Delta region and as the Fellow for Sustainable Food Systems at the Farm Foundation, working to promote global sustainable agriculture.
“It’s all about reaching people where they are and getting people to come to their own conclusion,” said Malone. “I spend a lot of time thinking about frameworks where we can solve problems together — meeting people where they are.” P
Kelly Meiners, Ph.D., ’97
Artist and Former Chair and Professor of Physical Therapy and Exercise Science, Rockhurst University
For many of us, a bout with COVID-19 means staying home for a few days, then recovering and returning to work. But for Kelly Domkoski Meiners, Ph.D., ’97, it has meant learning to cope with the results of the virus that took just about everything from her, except for her determination to reinvent herself and keep going.
In late 2021, Meiners contracted an initially mild case of Covid. Although she had no preexisting conditions, exercised daily and enjoyed her job as the chair of the Physical Therapy and Exercise Science Department at Rockhurst University, the virus left her 100% bedridden, unable to tolerate any light or sound and in a state of confusion, having difficulty understanding and following conversation.
As she lay in bed with no external stimulus for months at a time, Meiners said she began seeing shapes and colors that left her inspired to try to create art as a means of communicating and expressing her grief. She overcame her physical challenges by working extremely slowly and creating her first piece with only acrylic paint and a shower squeegee to accommodate her loss of hand coordination.
Today Meiners still spends most of her time in bed, on the sofa or navigating her house in a wheelchair. But her artwork, she says, has saved her life. Her work was included in a spring exhibition at InterUrban Arthouse in Overland Park, Kansas, titled “Artheals.” She received a National Endowment for the Arts visual arts award for her work, which was presented at the exhibition’s opening.
“Painting has given a purpose back to my life,” Meiners said. “Something I create has the power to go into the world and evoke thoughts and emotions in other people. That’s incredibly powerful to me living homebound in such a small world.
“I’ve donated several pieces to charity,” she adds, “and just last week one of my donated pieces raised $17,000 for individuals battling cancer. To me that was a strong message that I still have a purpose. I can still help others.” P
Edgar Palacios, ’11 MBA
Founder, Latinx Education Collaborative
For Edgar Palacios, ’11 MBA, it all started with a spreadsheet. Touring schools across the United States as part of his job, Palacios found lots of Latino students, but not many Latino educators.
He started keeping a literal database of every Latino educator he had met. It’s something he jokes about now, but he said it made sense at the time.
“I thought any time somebody told me that they didn’t know of a Latino educator I would say, here’s a list,” he said.
The founder and CEO of the LatinX Education Collaborative, Palacios and his staff work to create a more robust pipeline of Latino educators in the area and provide support to teachers everywhere. Having moved with his family from Miami, Florida, to Spokane, Washington, and then Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Palacios said he experienced first-hand what it felt like not to have someone in the classroom to relate to on that level.
“We have young people in our community today who will never see a Latino educator,” he said. “I know the difference that makes.”
Palacios said he’s moved beyond the purely quantitative toward community-building, a process that requires building trust, listening and the ability to pivot — “you have to figure out what you can accomplish together,” he says. In addition to LEC, another organization under the same umbrella RevEd — seeks to foster engagement in civic life and offers additional programs for the Latino community, including Educatec, a Spanish-language digital literacy course.
Looking back, Palacios credits the Rockhurst MBA program with skills that have served him every day.
“We talked a lot about servant leadership, and acts of service and what that looks like,” he said. “To have that kind of foundation and exposure that early in my career has allowed me to just to think and act differently in how we deliver on the work.” P
Tammy Buckner, ’22 EMBA
Founder and CEO of WeCode/KC
“My parents bought us a computer,” says Tammy Buckner, ’22 EMBA. “I took it apart and then put it back together. And it actually worked.”
It might not have made her parents very happy in that moment, but for Buckner, tinkering was a calling. She had both a talent and a passion for technology, which would eventually lead her to a lucrative career in the corporate world and as an entrepreneur.
During her career in the technology sector, Buckner mentioned that it was challenging to find her “tribe”—
specifically women and Black professionals within the tech industry who shared similar backgrounds or experiences.
Buckner initially started teaching classes on using Raspberry Pi, a small yet versatile computer, to local youth groups, including the Ivanhoe Community Center, the Kansas City Police Academy, and various schools. She received advice to launch her own initiative to help break down barriers to technology for young people in Kansas City.
“I was a serial entrepreneur, had started a tech company doing web development, mobile app development,” she said. “Starting a nonprofit was the farthest thing from my mind.”
After some prayer and reflection, Buckner took a leap of faith, opening the doors to WeCode/KC in November 2019 to offer coding, robotics and game design lessons and activities (along with networking, resilience and leadership skill-building) to students in Kansas City. They’ve been busy since that first day, she said. On days when the work of running the organization is exhausting, she said the impact of WeCode/KC continues to inspire her.
“If I’m in a bad mood and I step into our Engineering Zone and the kids are there, it’s all worth it,” she said.
“Because they found their tribe.” P
Do you know a Rockhurst University alumnus who leads with courage and lives with purpose? Send us their story at marketing@rockhurst.edu
’75
Pasquale Trozzolo is the author of a new book of poetry, “Seeing – In a Small Town.”
’78
Tyworanna (McFadden) Styles is now married and has retired from Kentucky Higher Education.
’84
Timothy Sutter is currently working at Saint Louis University.
’85
Amber Redburn has retired after 18 years serving as a paraprofessional in the West Plains School District in West Plains, Missouri.
’88
Joseph Fox joined Bay Area procurement startup ZipHQ.com as chief strategy officer.
’88, ’93 MBA
Scott Bauer has been appointed to the board of directors for Pawsperity.
’88, ’96 MBA
Mark Carden retired from AT&T after 331/2 years in November 2021 and started as a senior manager of customer care operations project management at DIRECTV. He completed the certified associate project management program from Project Management Institute in December 2024.
’92
Lacey Pulchratia has retired after 30 years of working for the state of Illinois in higher education human resources. She now lives in Casa Grande, Arizona.
’95
Anne VanGarsse, M.D., started as the associate dean for clinical medical education at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine in September 2023.
’96,
’01 MBA
Dan Walsh was quoted in a story that appeared in the Kansas City Business Journal about moving his business, Spokes Cafe.
’96
MBA
Karen Pennell was recently promoted to first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
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’98
Shandin Duffer accepted a new position as trial paralegal at Fee, Smith & Sharp, LLP, in Houston, Texas.
’05, ’07 MBA
Michael Nigro was recently named vice president of sales and client success at Rx Savings Solutions in Overland Park, Kansas, where he oversees both the new business and current client teams.
’09 MBA
Stevie Green earned Best-in-State Women Advisors recognition from Forbes magazine.
Brian Johanning was named one of Kansas City Business Journal’s 2024 NextGen Leaders.
’10, ’11 MBA
Seth LaBean was named chief financial officer of Life Unlimited, Kansas City’s largest service provider for adults with disabilities.
’10 M.Ed.
Cameron McCoy has been named director of content for Iowa PBS.
’11
M.Ed.
Dan Murphy has been named a shareholder at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, s.c.
’12
Danny Grumich is currently playing Pumbaa in the North American tour of “Disney’s The Lion King,” which played at the Music Hall in Kansas City May 22 - June 1.
’10
JQ Sirls
was interviewed by Startland News for his work creating Storytailor, a platform for custom children’s storytelling powered by AI.
’11
Emily
(Schnelting)
Klein was married on July 6, 2024, to Matt Klein in St. Charles County.
’13
Lorie Castilleja-Rebollo graduated from Pacific College of Health & Sciences-San Diego, California, with a doctorate in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, DACM.
’15
Chanelle (Vanderhoorn) McNeff was married in 2022 and now works full-time at Advent Health in Lenexa, Kansas, as a certified wound/ostomy RN (CWON). She also created her own company, Creative Care Nursing, LLC.
’16
Victoria Zanaboni-Unser was recognized with the Nurse of the Year Award by colleagues at St. Louis Cardinal Glennon Pediatric Hospital.
’15
Taylor (Skala) Sares became the first Rockhurst University student-athlete named to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame.
’17, ’18 MBA
Alex Mitchell has joined the Denver office of Kutak Rock as an associate in the firm’s tax credits group.
’19
Lucas Handlin is a co-author of “Membrane lipid nanodomains modulate HCN pacemaker channels in nociceptor DRG neurons,” an article that appeared in the journal Nature Communications.
’20
Adunni Gueye has joined the Kansas City office of Spencer Fane LLP as an associate.
’24
Marysa Barnhill has been named digital and social media coordinator at The Communications Group.
Kaylie Meyer works at Lynchpin Ideas as a communications coordinator.
’21
Mara (Akers) Roudebush,
married Forrest Roudebush on Oct. 25, 2024, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, Kansas.
Be sure to visit rockhurst.edu/alumni for a calendar of upcoming events. Connect with fellow Hawks on campus and elsewhere!
The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for content, accuracy and length, and cannot guarantee that items received will appear in the magazine. Publication of an item does not constitute endorsement by Rockhurst University.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
“Then and Now: A Nursing Reunion” brought alumni from Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Research College to campus to connect with friends, share memories, celebrate history and learn about the bright future of nursing programs at Rockhurst University.
A Capital Occasion
Hawks and friends in the Washington, D.C., area gathered for barbecue and an update from Rockhurst University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., in late January.
Sip and Serve
The Young Alumni Council sponsored a Sip and Serve event where all alumni were invited to Scraps KC, Kansas City’s creative reuse center to package educational items and classroom supplies for use by local teachers. After volunteering, the group met for refreshments at nearby brewery Alma Mader.
Rashford-Lyon Award
Denny Thum, ’74, received the 2025 Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics at the annual Rockhurst University Leadership Series, held April 2 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. (From left) Denny and Carmen Thum, their granddaughter, Londyn, and Rockhurst University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D.
Charles Himmelberg III, ’52 — January 4
John Male, ’53 — February 12
Charles Adams, ’54 — January 13
Joseph Dyche, ’54 — February 10
Rev. Curtis Van Del, S.J., ’55 — December 15
George Lucas, Jr., ’57 — January 8
Florent Wagner, ’57 — March 21
George McLiney, Jr., ’58 — November 16
Donald Klein, Sr., DBA, ’58 — December 20
William Wallace, ’58 — February 2
John Waller, Ph.D., ’59 — October 26
James Fisher, ’59 — December 7
John E. Redmond, ’59 — December 18
Rev. James White, S.J., ’59 — February 12
Robert Reece, ’60 — December 27
Friedrich Gastreich, ’60 — February 11
Thomas Audley, ’61 — October 27
Joseph Wohletz, ’61 — March 2
Luke Dlabal, Jr., M.D., ’61 — April 15
John Hammerli, O.D., ’62 — October 2
Ronald Hopkins, ’62 — November 11
William Brown, ’63 — October 8
Daniel Kennedy, Jr., ’63 — November 27
Gerald Gannon, Ed.D., ’63 — February 14
Louis Daly, ’64 — October 13
Lee Lonergan, ’65 — October 14
Jerry Coe, ’66 — October 25
Terry Pickett, Ph.D., ’67 — January 21
John Radencich, ’68 — September 29
Kenneth Young, ’68 — March 15
John Meharry, ’69 — January 9
Robert McShane, ’69 — March 5
Carl Capra, Jr., ‘70 — October 1
Anthony Martynowicz, ’70 — December 3
James Cassidy III, ’71 — January 4
Anne Bartholome, ’72 — January 29
Mack Travers, ’72 — March 14
Franklin Mick, ’72 — March 22
Thomas Voss, ’73 — March 26
Kenneth Frerker, ’74 — October 10
Richard Hall, ’74 — December 13
Edward Allen, ’75 — January 2
Paul Barr, ’76 — November 11
Kirby Hudson, ’76 — January 12
Richard Garcia, ’76 — April 7
Jean Moore, ’77 — October 2
Norbert Angell III, ’77 — November 5
Charles Reisig, ’79 — December 29
Matthew Kopff, ’80 — October 29
James Trickey, ’80 — April 17
Robert Wear, ’81 — October 2
Richard Schelb, ’81 — December 4
Michael Taranto, ’82 — October 21
Eddie Davis, ’82 — December 21
John Hake, ’83 — April 9
Patricia Brune, ’84 — October 26
Frank Campbell, ’84 — November 11
Keith Gloe, ’85 — January 11
Susan Bridges, ’86 — January 19
Rosemary Moran, ’87 — October 15
Laird Simons, ’87 — December 16
Gregory Makowski, ’87 — March 16
Clark Nungester, ’88 — February 16
Randall Umscheid, ’89 — April 10
John Motley, ‘94 — February 3
Nicholas Marsh, ’96 — November 23
James Burcham, ’00 — October 23
Gabriela Castaneda, ’09 — April 8
Katherine Mathias, ’22, ’23 OTD — March 7
We strive for accuracy and we apologize for any errors or omissions. This list represents deaths from Sept. 25, 2024, to May 7, 2025.
As Public Defender, Alumnus Works Tirelessly for Clients.
Kyle White, ’20, wanted to be a lawyer before he ever came to Rockhurst University. But what he learned here shaped the kind of lawyer he’s become, he said.
’20
Carl Schmittgens
’22, theology teacher at St. Theresa’s Academy
Now serving as part of the Public Defenders Office in Los Angeles, White provides legal representation to defendants regardless of their financial means. Caseloads are high and the hours needed to represent clients adequately are demanding, but he continues to believe the work is important.
“What keeps me going is the clients,” he said. “I think there’s an idea in the world that people who commit crimes are all bad people and that is simply not true. Most people who are accused of committing crimes are everyday people.”
Some of that comes from his experience at Rockhurst, where as part of the criminal justice program he explored the justice system from all angles and experienced the call to students to consider the people who are affected by it.
“I learned a lot about crime statistics and the law at Rockhurst,” he said.
“The Rockhurst mission places importance on humans and their rights and well-being, and this job calls me to take care of people’s well-being.”P
“I always knew I’d tour Rockhurst because both of my parents went there. I was searching for a university where I could grow in my faith and as a leader. After meeting with Bill Kriege and learning about campus ministry, I felt a reassuring and calming certainty. Though I toured other colleges afterward, that feeling never left me. Through reflection and discernment, I realized that I felt the most at peace while on RU’s campus, and that it was the place I was meant to be. RU has impressed upon me the importance of striving to set the world on fire with purpose and love.”
Kyle White,
Pandemic, Motherhood and Reflection Lead Alumna Down New Path
Reflection and discernment, together, form one of Rockhurst University’s core values and it’s one that has become a natural way of proceeding for Carolyn Sobczyk, ’11.
Sobczyk says she came to Rockhurst with an interest in studying political science but through an internship learned she loved telling stories and switched to a communications major. Those combined interests — political science and storytelling — in part led her to Washington, D.C., where she spent several years working for a firm in the patient advocacy space and traveling frequently.
Fast forward to March 2020 when not only had the Covid-19 pandemic hit with full force but Sobczyk and her husband, who had returned to Kansas City, had their first baby. She said after parental leave, she expected to return to work at the same capacity despite being a new mother and amid a pandemic. Around the six-month mark, she hit a wall
and like many people at that time, began to ask herself what she wanted from her career and how she preferred to spend her time.
“I started to take a step back and evaluate what would work for this new transformed version of me,” Sobczyk said.
After taking a break and moving with her family to Lawrence, Kansas, Sobcyzk decided to open her own communications business — Carolyn Sobcyzk Communications — and focus on clients whose work is meaningful to her, including a mix of public relations, marketing and patient advocacy.
Now, with two young children and health care clients, Sobcyzk says she enjoyed working with clients across the globe but has found she holds a special place for companies that are local and make an impact on the community. P
Carolyn Sobczyk, ’11
Alumna Recalls Front-Row Seat for Papal Election
In May, Catholics and others around the world celebrated the election of Pope Leo XIV.
For Sister Allison Zink, ’18, the experience was perhaps even more profound as she watched the white smoke emerge from the chimney in real time, from St. Peter’s Square.
Sr. Zink is in the midst of an eight-month stint in Rome as a member of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Part of her congregation’s international Juniorate for members of the order who are temporarily professed but who have not taken final vows, she is living with fellow juniors from across the globe who are studying theology.
It was alongside those same sisters that she gathered in St. Peter’s Square to watch as the papal conclave voted.
“The first night, we weren’t expecting to see white smoke, but a few of us went anyway to pray and be present with the Church as we waited for the new Pope,” Sr. Zink said. “The square was full, even on that first night.”
No white smoke that first night. But by the time they arrived in the square the next evening, the sisters found themselves in the middle of a massive celebration as the decision was announced and Pope Leo XIV spoke for the first time.
“Everyone was celebrating. Some were crying tears of joy,” she said. “We got as close as we could to the front and waited to welcome our new Pope. The joy, the energy, and the sense of Church were so tangible. We were all squished together, but no one was complaining.” P
“Everyone was celebrating. Some were crying tears of joy. We got as close as we could to the front and waited to welcome our new Pope. The joy, the energy, and the sense of Church were so tangible. We were all squished together, but no one was complaining.”
Sister Allison Vink, ’18, left, and fellow sisters in St. Peter’s Square
“As a leader in an organization with an important public mission, how I invest my time is one of my most important decisions. Putting people first, creating a culture of connection — both with each other and the organization’s mission — and developing the next generation of leaders to carry on that legacy are at the top of my list.”
Karen Pennell, ’96 MBA First Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
