Charles and Dan Disney, nephews of Walt Disney, visit campus to see “The Heart of Bellefontaine,” a sculpture that is a stop on Kansas City’s Parade of Hearts. It depicts images from the 1928 Walt Disney classic cartoon “Steamboat Willie.”
The world’s biggest sporting event comes to Rockhurst’s doorstep this summer.
The new president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities visits campus, prompting reflection on what Jesuit education has to offer.
In the spirit of lifelong learning, we’re taking a peek at some unique classes that caught our attention.
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: John Dodderidge, GLVC Conference, Stephen Kennedy, Emma Koca, Tim Linn, Mark McDonald, Claire Nicholas, Visit KC
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.
I vividly recall the invitation to join this community as the president of Rockhurst University. For the prior three decades, I had served in a myriad of faculty and administrative roles in higher education and over 90% of that time was spent in Catholic higher education at a diocesan university. As the search committee recognized, I was “steeped in Catholic education” but I needed to immerse myself in learning and understanding the Jesuit mission.
With two weeks between the culmination of 28 years of service at my prior institution and my first day at Rockhurst, I was invited to participate in a seven-day Magis Retreat outside of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. A Magis Retreat is a spiritually focused experience rooted in Ignatian spirituality and the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Designed to help participants separate from daily routines, it emphasizes rest, prayer, values reflection, and the Latin concept of “magis” to inspire a life of greater depth and service.
Sandra Cassady, Ph.D. President
Over the course of several days, we were invited to slow down, detach from electronics, and to step back from the demands of work and family life. We were provided the gift of “free time” to relax and enjoy the beauty and quiet of the retreat grounds on Lake Winnebago. We were also paired with a spiritual director — a companion skilled in Ignatian spirituality with whom we met each day to talk about scripture readings, our spiritual lives and how we found ourselves in this moment of life. My spiritual director had recently moved into a new role at the AJCU following a long tenure as the president of another Jesuit university. What a gift! Like other participants, I was worried about my ability to be “silent” but relieved to know we had opportunities to engage with the participants from other AJCU institutions. Another gift!
This experience helped me say “yes” to a spot in cohort 16 of the Ignatian Colleagues Program where I would be afforded the chance to learn more, connect more and do more. The large and small group work, a capstone project and an encounter with the Jesuits in Lima, Peru, helped the plentiful readings come alive. I was further blessed to engage across the network with others serving at the AJCU schools throughout the United States and Belize. One of my cohort colleagues was Dr. Mary Van Brunt, the president of Spring Hill College, who began a similar journey about the same time. Our time together resulted in the involvement of others and the creation of a strategic alliance between Rockhurst and Spring Hill, numerous pathways and experiences to provide more opportunities for students at each of our institutions.
My journey continues to be enriched by working each and every day with Rockhurst companions, members of the St. Peter Claver Jesuit Community and alumni who are excited to share their journey and the impact of a Jesuit education.
What began as a transition into a presidency has become a transformative journey of faith, learning and accompaniment — one that continues to shape both my leadership and my understanding of the profound gift of Jesuit, Catholic higher education. P
Rockhurst University will welcome two new Jesuits to campus this summer. The Rev. Jason LaLonde, S.J., will serve as university chaplain and visiting assistant professor of theology and religious studies. Br. Carl Caceres, S.J., has been named vice president for mission and ministry.
Fr. LaLonde recently completed his Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of Notre Dame. He entered the Society of Jesus in 2007 and most recently served as vice superior of the Jesuit community at Notre Dame.
In his dual roles at Rockhurst, Fr. LaLonde will teach theology and religious studies courses and participate in sacramental ministry for the campus community.
“I’m very excited to be in the classroom,” said Fr. LaLonde. “When I visited campus, I felt like there was a great openness among Rockhurst students and a great hunger for theological discussion. I sensed that people at Rockhurst are passionate about education, and I will be part of a great team working to form students for excellence.”
Br. Caceres begins his new role Aug. 1, in which he will oversee all components of the mission and ministry division — community relations, service and action, and campus ministry. He recently completed his doctorate in higher education (Ed.D.) from the University of Chicago.
In fall 2025, Br. Caceres served as the Jesuit in Residence for Loyola Chicago’s Rambler Brotherhood Project, and he is also a formator for the Ignatian Colleagues Program, a program of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.
“I was initially drawn to Rockhurst’s commitment to Jesuit higher education expressed through the university’s mission, vision, and values,” said Br. Caceres. “When I visited campus, I was struck by the robust sense of community as well as the tremendous passion and pride people have for the university. I am excited to become part of a strong leadership team and grateful for the opportunity to join the Rockhurst University family in the coming months.” P
“I’m very excited to be in the classroom.
When I visited campus, I felt like there was a great openness among Rockhurst students and a great hunger for theological discussion.”
—Rev. Jason LaLonde, S.J.
The post-Mass reception is a tradition in many churches for good reason, offering a chance for the community of faith to connect outside of the sacred experience.
At St. Anthony’s Senior Living facility in Kansas City, it’s also an opportunity for some intergenerational bonding.
Organized by the Office of Service and Action, Rockhurst University students began attending afternoon Mass alongside residents of the center in the spring semester and staying to visit following the short service. Over light refreshments, the college-age students find camaraderie with their older counterparts.
For freshman Darla Konman, the experience was a familiar one. Hailing from Micronesia, she grew up in a multigenerational household and is serving as an intern with Catholic Charities, where she works with older area residents. So visiting felt a little like home.
“I grew up around elders, so I was really excited for this,” she said, “I learned so much from my grandma, like how to sew and fun things like that, and we would drink coffee, talk and play cards in the afternoon.” P
Brush Creek flows through the heart of Kansas City not far from the Rockhurst University campus.
Sometimes it’s barely noticeable, sometimes it rages over its banks and sometimes it needs some TLC.
In late March, students cleaned the creek’s waters and banks as part of a conservation biology course project that focused on urban watershed health and local conservation issues.
The effort was a way to learn about the importance of urban watersheds in supporting water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation and overall community health, according to
Jessica Allen, Ph.D., assistant teaching professor of biology.
“I hoped this would help students see that conservation can start at the community level and that small, local actions can still make a meaningful impact,” Allen said.
In addition, the hands-on work was a tangible demonstration of “caring for our common home,” one of the four universal apostolic preferences of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the ideas of Pope Francis expressed in his encyclical, “Laudato Si,” according to Bill Kriege, director of service and action. P
In March 2025, Rockhurst University and Spring Hill College announced a strategic partnership.
The main benefit for students is the ability to take certain courses unavailable at their home institution. But there is much more.
In January, for the first time, a group of Spring Hill students joined their peers from Rockhurst, together taking part in a solidarity immersion trip to Belize. There they served with Hand in Hand Ministries, an organization supporting needs in the local community. Though the two campuses are separated by some 850 miles, students in the group were united by a common cause — to build a new home for a family in the community, which they handed over in a ceremony at the end of the week.
“Being fully immersed into the culture to help them with real issues they encounter in everyday life was super special,” said Rockhurst student Brady Farnan. “I didn’t know anyone personally, so it was a great opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and meet new people. I made so many close friends on this trip.” P
“Being fully immersed into the culture to help them with real issues they encounter in everyday life was super special.”
— Brady Farnan
For assistant women’s lacrosse coach Jennifer Douglas, everything began to fall into place — or perhaps waddle into place — about three years ago. That’s when she moved to Kansas City to accept her dream job with the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium.
Douglas is an Advanced Animal Care Specialist with the Water’s Edge team, and her passion is serving as one of the point persons for 85 penguins.
She knows each penguin by name, feeds them by hand, recording every fish they eat, and spends hours each week cleaning up their, um, droppings. Douglas admits not all parts of the job are equally satisfying, but she says it’s truly stunning to scuba dive with penguins swimming past her at 25 miles per hour while she cleans the rocks in their underwater environment.
A self-professed teacher at heart, Douglas’s coaching skills come in handy training penguins such as Marlin, who she has cared for since the day he hatched. She’s helped him to learn the behaviors needed to enter a crate and travel offsite as an animal ambassador. Other memorable projects include training a 17-year-old penguin, Palaua, to stand still long enough to receive necessary medical treatments.
Douglas said she was still new to the city when she decided to head to the gym for a workout one Saturday. It was there that Rockhurst head women’s lacrosse coach Molly McCourt noticed her Ohio Wesleyan lacrosse t-shirt, struck up a conversation and asked if she’d ever considered coaching. That led to dream job number two.
“Rockhurst is one of the best environments for lacrosse I’ve ever seen,” Douglas said. “The players are hardworking, intelligent, amazing humans who graduate to transform the world around them because of the program here.”
Although she regularly puts in 10-hour days to accommodate both her roles, she says it’s worth it.
“I’m so grateful for the rewards and the moments that make up every day.” P
Tracy Rietzke (Left), former Rockhurst University volleyball and basketball coach, and Karch Kiraly, former USA men’s volleyball standout and program emcee, at the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame awards ceremony in 2025
Former Rockhurst women’s volleyball and basketball coach Tracy Rietzke will be inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 on Aug. 26 in Kansas City, Kansas. He was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2025 and the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2023.
Rietzke recorded 1,277 victories in 38 years as the volleyball coach at Kansas Wesleyan and Rockhurst. He had an .818 winning percentage at Rockhurst, where he served as coach from 1988 until his retirement in 2020. He also posted a 206-45 record as the women’s basketball coach at Rockhurst with five NAIA national tournament appearances. P
“Walking into the U.N., surrounded by ambassadors and global leaders, I felt both humbled and empowered.”
Speaking at the U.N. has been a lifelong dream for Yara Elkoush, a junior from Cairo, Egypt, and in March she made it happen.
Elkoush traveled to New York to attend the Commission on the Status of Women as a representative of AIESEC, a global nonprofit youth organization that facilitates leadership opportunities. There she was able to ask a question during a session focused on equity, justice and protection from violence in public spaces. Following her question, she was invited to the podium for a photo with international representatives. The panel included member states and ambassadors from Jordan, Tunisia and Syria.
“This was my first time at the United Nations, and it was truly a surreal and deeply meaningful experience,” Elkoush said. “Walking into the U.N.,
Hilary Logan, Ph.D., associate professor of education, presented a poster titled “Echoes of Wagon Wheels: The Enduring Black American Migration Story of Nicodemus, Kansas,” at the National Council for History Education Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, in March. P
surrounded by ambassadors and global leaders, I felt both humbled and empowered.”
Following her experience in New York, Elkoush said she continued building on what she learned by sharing her feedback and reports, which led to her selection as the Legislation Subcommittee Chair for the U.S. AIESEC chapter. She said she hopes to bring leadership opportunities to her peers by establishing an AIESEC chapter at Rockhurst.
As an electrical engineering and business major, a member of the Rockhurst swim and dive team and Student Senate, Elkoush said she attributes much of her success to her experiences on campus.
“I just felt very proud and think of this as a way for me to credit and thank Rockhurst for everything.” P
Karen Bock, Ph.D., assistant professor of physical therapy, is a co-author of “Describing the Process to Develop Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entrance Into Physical Therapist Practice: Applying a National Consensus Approach,” which was published in the January 2026 issue of the Journal of Physical Therapy Education. P
There’s so much more to the economy than GDP, inflation and interest rates.
For Elif Dilden, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, that data is only the beginning of the story when it comes to research on subjects like student loan debt, occupational mismatch and the impact of the child tax credit. On the last of those, inspiration was anecdotal, rather than quantitative.
“It was from talking to friends and family,” she said. “The question was how can we understand whether policies like this are changing anything that you do specifically during the day?”
To find out, her research group used publicly available data to explore how that benefit changed how parents across different income brackets, geographic areas and demographic groups used their time. What they found is mothers, in particular, were able to spend more time on what is known as quality parental investment (reading, playing, etc.), socializing with friends or pursuing hobbies, compared to the essential duties of parenthood (think diaper changes, feeding and bedtime). It’s the kind of insight that can inform future policy. Dilden said she provides that
Elif Dilden, Ph.D.
same data to students in her forecasting class –and they’ve been happy to take it in new directions.
“I have really good students who care a lot about these issues,” she said. “It all comes from their personal experience and observations, and it’s all focused on how they might be able to make an impact.” P
Jacob Babb wanted to make a difference. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Babb entered the mortgage banking industry. But he had the feeling he should be doing something more.
When mortgage interest rates rose and the housing market tightened, Babb’s entire department was downsized. But it also gave him the opportunity to
pursue the calling to do more with his life.
And he couldn’t get out of his head a presentation about occupational therapy he heard during his undergraduate years.
“I was drawn to the broad range of ways occupational therapists can make an impact and the variety of settings in which they practice,” he said. “I wanted to stay local for graduate
school, and, Rockhurst felt like a natural fit.”
Now in his second year of Rockhurst’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, Babb is focusing on hand therapy.
“Ultimately, I want to help individuals regain function, return to the activities that are meaningful to them, and improve their overall quality of life,” he said. P
Jacob Babb
Rockhurst University’s online graduate business analytics and management MBA programs appeared for the first time on U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Online Programs list.
#12 Online Business Analytics MBA in the Nation
#15 General Management MBA In the Nation
Over the next two years, Rockhurst University will introduce the following new programs to prepare students for in-demand careers:
CRNA: Our Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program, a partnership with Saint Louis University, will be led by Program Director Nicholas Curdt, DNAP, CRNA, CHSE. He will guide the program through accreditation and will recruit the inaugural class for this in-demand degree.
MOT: We’re bringing back our Master of Occupational Therapy degree as a transfer-friendly, accelerated online option with
in-person skills immersions, designed for working people interested in a career change. This program is expected to launch in summer 2027.
Architecture: Our bachelor’s degree in architecture is expected to launch in fall 2027, pending accreditation. The program will be structured to allow students to complete their undergraduate and graduate studies in architecture at Rockhurst in five years. P
Facing a growing shortage in the healthcare job sector, the Missouri State Board of Nursing awarded Rockhurst University with a grant to help build the nursing workforce.
A pair of grants will help expand programs and offerings for students at Rockhurst University’s College of Business and Technology.
In January, the University received a $1.031 million grant as part of U.S. House Resolution 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2026. The funding, submitted by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-5th District, will help meet regional workforce development goals by supporting development of programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, information systems, computer science and financial analytics at Rockhurst. Rep. Cleaver visited campus in April to celebrate the funds.
“This funding is about investing in the future of our workforce and ensuring Kansas City remains competitive in a rapidly changing, technology-driven economy,” he said.
The University’s College of Business and Technology also received a grant to launch the Cooney Family Foundation Experiential Learning Lab, which will support high-impact experiences such as internships, capstone projects, and study abroad, while providing students with vocational discernment, industry connections, and professional development support. P
The University was awarded $200,000 in December 2025 as part of the Nursing Education Incentive Program, which was created to advance the state’s efforts to recruit, train and retain a high-quality nursing workforce. According to the Cicero Institute, 111 of Missouri’s 114 counties are currently facing a shortage of healthcare professionals. Rural areas, in particular, lack adequate staff compared to the number of patients.
The NEIP grant, one of a total of $3.1 million in award funding given to institutions statewide, will help the University grow its Accelerated BSN program, RN Return to Practice program, and dual-credit nursing exploration program. P
By Tim Linn
Kansas City feels like the center of the universe this summer as the World Cup arrives in North America, and Rockhurst University’s hometown is smack dab in the middle.
How is the campus community feeling about it all? Pretty pumped, turns out. From providing enthusiastic volunteers and fans to playing a part in the growth of soccer in the Kansas City community, Rockhurst University is taking part in the excitement.
Diego Gutierrez, ’04, ’14 EMBA, DBA, said his first soccer memories are from when he was three or four years old in his native Colombia.
“Ever since I’ve had use of memory, I remember wanting to be a professional soccer player,” he said. “I never had a plan B.”
Gutierrez made that dream come true. He was drafted to the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer in 1996 after his junior year at Rockhurst. Following his retirement
in 2008 from the MLS’s Chicago Fire, Gutierrez switched to the commentary desk. He came back to Rockhurst and served as a faculty member in the College of Business and Technology until the end of the spring 2026 semester. In 2022, he traveled to Qatar as part of a delegation to study how that country hosted and promoted the World Cup.
For the 2026 tournament, he was asked to wear all of his hats — as a former player, a broadcaster and a professor of marketing — as a special guest commentator for Fox 4 TV in Kansas City. Gutierrez will make over a hundred appearances for the station to talk about every aspect of the tournament — in particular, the context of the global sporting event and the impact locally.
“That is the part that was really appealing to me,” he said. “Being able to give voice and tell the story of something that could be transformative for this community.”
Gutierrez’s role is one he is uniquely qualified for, but with an effort as large as the World Cup, there are a lot of ways to pitch in. Some are serving as World Cup volunteers.
“It’s an incredible once-ina-lifetime opportunity to be around the biggest sporting event in the world, right? And I love Kansas City, so I wanted to provide any help I could and make sure people got to experience the hospitality I think we’re known for.”
—Michael Koehler, deputy director of athletics
“The World Cup is truly a world championship, so this is the highest honor. I think it’s incumbent on us and our leaders to use the opportunity to showcase what this city is all about.”
—Tony Tocco, Ph.D.
The University put out an open call to the campus as part of a larger community effort to play host for visitors from around the globe coming for the matches or the surrounding festivities. Michael Koehler, deputy director of athletics, is part of the FIFA-led volunteer effort. Stationed at the Kansas City International Airport, Koehler will be among the first faces to officially greet visitors here for the matches and will assist them as necessary upon arrival.
“It’s an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be around the biggest sporting event in the world, right?” he said. “And I love Kansas City, so I wanted to provide any help I could and make sure people got to experience the hospitality I think we’re known for.”
Gutierrez echoed that, adding both sides have something to gain. Visitors from all over the world are welcomed for a premiere sporting event. And Kansas Citians get to embrace that global culture — with the possibility of additional benefits down the road.
“What it boils down to is, the world’s largest sporting event ever is coming to us — we don’t have to go anywhere,” he said. “Coming out of this, there will be effects that we can’t even foresee or understand yet, and that is really exciting for our community. I believe regardless of the immediate financial impact of this tournament, from a cultural, branding, and long-term business perspective, this will be a transformational moment for our region.”
When Tony Tocco, Ph.D., arrived at Rockhurst University in 1969 and began to serve as a soccer coach, he said soccer culture in Kansas City was not even in its infancy — it was younger than that.
“There were four high schools locally with soccer programs,” he said. “That was it.”
Tocco grew up in St. Louis, where different immigrant communities and the Catholic school system had together birthed an already vital soccer ecosystem.
“St. Louis had all these different cultures, and we found a common bond in soccer,” he said.
That system fed Tocco’s recruiting pool while Kansas City caught up. He credits the development of programs at the high school level, as well as the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States, as pivotal. The launch of Major League Soccer in 1996 fed further interest in youth soccer. The success of Sporting KC and KC Current have cemented the city’s place of importance within the game. Seeing that change — culminating in the successful bid to host six World Cup games — has been incredible to watch as a soccer lover and a head coach, he said.
“The World Cup is truly a world championship, so this is the highest honor,” he said. “I think it’s incumbent on us and our leaders to use the opportunity to showcase what this city is all about.”
Numerous members of the University community are ready to rise to that challenge. Brendan Sweetman, Ph.D., professor of philosophy (and lifetime soccer fan) plans to attend two games in Kansas City and one of the games in Dallas. Though his native Ireland National Team did not make the tournament, there’s still a lot to watch.
“I usually try to watch every game in the tournament,” he said. “The tournament has been known for years as ‘the greatest show on Earth!’ Nothing in sport, in my view, beats the sheer majesty of this great game of ours.”
Junior Mia Martin, a defender on the Hawks women’s soccer team, has an internship with Sporting KC this summer. She said she plans to attend events whenever she can around town to catch firsthand the excitement over the game in the community where it has grown so much even in her lifetime.
“The World Cup has always felt bigger than just sports to me — it brings people and cultures together in a unique way,” she said. “Seeing it happen in Kansas City and in the United States feels exciting because soccer has grown so much here, and I think this tournament will show how passionate American fans really are.” P
650,000
Estimated Number of Visitors expected in Kansas City throughout the tournament
6
Total matches hosted at Arrowhead Stadium, including one Round of 32 match and one Quarterfinal Match
4 National Team Basecamps hosted in the Kansas City region:
By Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA
What do you think of when you hear the words “Jesuit education?” Maybe it’s prestigious academics. Maybe it’s students eager to graduate and change the world. Maybe it’s the life-changing power of Ignatian spirituality or being part of something bigger than yourself. Jesuit education is all of these things and more.
On June 2, Michele C. Murray, Ph.D., became president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. She visited the Rockhurst University campus in March, giving us an opportunity to reflect on what makes Jesuit education so powerful and compelling for our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Here’s what they have to say in their own words.
Q. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing Jesuit education?
A. The environment for higher education right now is quite adversarial, and there are real challenges that go with that. Some of the regulatory demands conflict with our mission requirements as Jesuit, Catholic institutions, and there is a sense that the general public is questioning the value of a four-year degree. Part of the challenge is that the picture is actually very complex, but complexity doesn’t make good sound bites. If we dig into the data about ROI, for example, we find that students and their families say that the investment in higher education is worthwhile because they are considering both the personal growth and development that occurs over four years and career trajectories and earnings across a lifetime.
In a world that sometimes feels chaotic, young people are looking for something stable and real to invest in. They believe that with good tools and quality education they can make a positive difference in their community, whether
that’s local, national or global. I believe the education our Jesuit institutions provide meets those requirements bar none.
The education we provide has never been solely about the student. It’s about flourishing both at the individual and community levels, and people are hungering for that right now. There’s real opportunity there.
Q. How would you describe the benefits of Jesuit higher education to a young person in the college selection phase?
A. I would talk to young people about a truly personal, holistic education where faculty and staff are ready to mentor them and accompany them to becoming the person they’re called to be. I would talk to them about belonging to and contributing to something bigger than themselves. I think that message resonates with the type of students we attract.
It’s incumbent to rise above the noise, and be very clear about our mission, the values that inspire our mission, and the fact that we’re part of a 500-year-old tradition. I don’t think we should be shy about that. There’s room for us to boldly proclaim who we are and I believe there’s an audience waiting to hear that message.
Q. As the first lay and female AJCU president, how might you approach this role in a different way?
A. Through my discernment process about the possibility of taking on this role, it became quite clear this is where God was calling me if only I had the courage to say yes. After the announcement I received over 300 messages from people around the country and the world and I realized my appointment as these firsts was meaningful to people. I wasn’t expecting that. This work is going to take the commitment of all of us. I feel confident that there is an army of people who believe in what we’re doing in Jesuit higher education and are willing to work for it. P
“When I graduated from Rockhurst in 1974, the place was filled with Jesuits, but I believe the mission is now more obvious. We are Catholic, we are Jesuit and we have leveraged our mission to make sure this place does what it was meant to do — teach and form leaders to be the person God wants them to be.”
Rev. William Oulvey, S.J., student success coach and sacramental minister for Campus Ministry
“Over the past 25 years my life has been forever transformed as a result of accompanying students during their time at Rockhurst University as they have navigated the tallest of mountaintops and the deepest of valleys. It’s a real privilege to be at a Jesuit university where, as students and employees, we are companions in making God’s good world a better one and to experience great joy in the process of loving, leading, and serving together.”
Matt Quick, Ph.D., vice president for student development, holding Benny Hughes, with Bev and Paul Hughes, ’17
“Rockhurst students engage in real-world complexities, discern meaning and translate faith into action. Through a wide range of high impact practices in Kansas City and across the globe, Rockhurst students combine intellectual inquiry, spiritual reflection and service to address contemporary issues and serve as men and women for and with others.”
Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., president of Rockhurst University
“There is a different approach to education here at Rockhurst. Being able to talk about our faith together and learn about how the world works with a deeper understanding truly has been life changing.”
Aubrey Thompson, freshman, incoming president of Student Senate
“My Jesuit education at Rockhurst taught me that being a woman for others is not just an idea, but a way of life. It instilled in me the importance of giving back and using my gifts to serve others — values that guide me every day in my work at a Catholic high school and in the way I hope to raise my children. My time at Rockhurst shaped the person I am today, and I am grateful for the opportunity to pass those lessons of faith, service, and purpose on to both my community and my family.”
Laura Christiansen Larson, ’06
“As a professor teaching in the liberal arts at a Jesuit institution, I especially value our focus on ‘cura personalis,’ educating the whole person, intellectually, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Students find the central Jesuit themes of the complementarity of faith and reason and the integration of knowledge across the disciplines very stimulating. It is rewarding to interact with them on fascinating, but challenging, topics, not just inside but also outside of the classroom, which happens regularly every semester.”
Brendan Sweetman, Ph.D., professor of philosophy
By Tim Linn
An integral part of the Jesuit formation of students is fostering a love of learning that extends well beyond graduation. If you count yourself among Rockhurst University’s 31,000 or so living alumni, we hope that’s the case for you.
Coming back to take a course here and there is, obviously, one way to foster that love. But we know there’s not always enough time. So, we’ve done our own homework and present some courses offered at the University that are unique for their approach to subject matter or their interdisciplinary approach. And if you do find the time to come back, know you’re always welcome.
Some courses at Rockhurst are unique because of the way faculty engage students through their expertise or perspective.
Anatomy labs at Rockhurst stand out for an additional reason, said Amanda Cobb, Ph.D., assistant professor of occupational therapy and physical therapy.
“It is very unique for a school of our size to have a cadaver lab like this,” she said. “This is medical school experience, even though we do not have a medical school.”
Cobb said she leads several groups through courses in the lab. At the undergraduate level, students in pre-medical tracks get early practice in critical skills, dissecting and
OT 5401 and PT 6051
Human Anatomy
preparing cadavers in the lab and learning about the systems within the body. That work clears the way for first-year physical and occupational therapy students and students in the exercise science program, who study the prepared cadavers, region by region.
Cobb believes the experience makes a huge difference in outcomes.
“It’s so interesting to see them look at the structures and feel the structures and learn how things work,” she said. “I heard from a recent graduate and they were in medical school. They ended up leading the dissection in their group because no one else had that experience.” P
Dan Martin, Ph.D., professor of English, designed this course about 10 years ago with a colleague to give the growing number of healthcare-profession-bound students a focused course to fulfill their core requirements.
The resulting course, literature of medicine and wellness, is much more than that, Martin said. They delve into literature that explores the very physical, spiritual and human experiences of living, illness, recovery, joy, sorrow and death through works from Greek mythology to Kafka to religious texts. Martin said students also share their own experiences.
“What makes the course interesting, I think, is the intersection of powerful stories from literature with the universal experience of
illness and health,” he said. “I want students to appreciate the richness of language and the power of story as tools for making meaning in their own lives. I invite students to write about their own experiences in connection with the literature we read, a pattern that is very much in line with Ignatian pedagogy, a way of teaching that honors experience as the foundation for new knowledge.” P
Recommended Reading “Philoctetes,” by Sophocles (translated by Carl Phillips) “Under the Feet of Jesus,” by Helena Maria Viramontes
“What makes the course interesting, I think, is the intersection of powerful stories from literature with the universal experience of illness and health.”
—Dan Martin, Ph.D.
SP 4665
“The Way,” or “El Camino de Santiago”
One of the most storied Christian pilgrimages is the Camino de Santiago, or the “way of St. James,” which stretches from southern France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, at the shrine of St. James in the Santiago de Compostela cathedral.
It’s a pilgrimage that is as physically demanding as it is historically and spiritually rich. That backdrop is the basis for the Camino de Santiago course developed by Leslie Merced, Ph.D., professor of Spanish.
In the course, conducted entirely in Spanish, students trace the origins of the pilgrimage, its symbols and its significance today. The interdisciplinary approach befits Merced’s
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academic interests, which range from culture to history to language. It hasn’t just resonated with students in the classroom, she said — it has inspired more than a few of them to travel themselves.
“The Way is one of my most popular classes,” said Merced. “I am asked to teach it more often by students. Every time I have taught it, I always have students tell me that they will be walking the Camino with their parents or other family as a graduation present. It is also the case now in my current class. That’s one of the reasons I teach the class during the spring semester.” P
“The Way” (2023 film), directed by Emilio Estevez
“A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés): St. Jean Pied de Port - Santiago de Compostela,” by John Brierley
“We discuss issues of competition, collaboration, branding, product development, and small business management.”
—Martin Stack, Ph.D.
CH 1040 The Science of Wine and Beer
MG 6094 Business of Beer
Here’s a two for one if you’re here for the beer (or wine) — Rockhurst University offers two different courses looking at everything from lagers to ledgers. Martin Stack, Ph.D., professor of management, said he designed his business of beer course in 2019. It grew out of his Ph.D. work at the University of Notre Dame. Stack said the students spend most of the course talking directly with local brewery owners about all aspects of succeeding in the local brew scene — many that would apply well beyond that industry.
“There are over 50 local breweries in the metro market, so it is very competitive, and we discuss issues of competition, collaboration, branding, product development, and small business management,” he said.
Martin Stack, Ph.D.
On the other side of the coin (or glass), Rachael Ott, Ph.D., taught the science of wine and beer course in the spring. Primarily geared toward non-STEM students, the course is built around an exploration of fermentation science, with labs that include brewing of beer and wine, to sometimes mixed results.
“I want students to understand that science can be messy,” Ott said. “The first time you perform a protocol, you may have results that may not be ideal or they may not appear in the way you expected. Hopefully after that first experience (or second or third), you can learn from what you did prior and be able to troubleshoot and make appropriate changes.” P
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“Hungry for MO: How Missouri Saved Wine,” KCUR FM
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Paul Smith retired from Little Rock School District, where he had worked since 1967.
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Craig Sole was featured on Fox 4 News in February as a small business owner in downtown Overland Park, Kansas. His company is Craig Sole Designs.
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Robert Larson has retired after 45 years in the financial services industry.
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Martin Titus founded FCRM Services Inc., a company that provides advice to C-suite and senior-level management on issues associated with managing financial crime and sanctions-related risks.
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Greg Krissek received the Jay B. Dillingham Award for Agricultural Leadership and Excellence in May 2025 at Kansas City’s Union Station.
Timothy Miller was named a board trustee at Emporia State University Foundation and chair of the investment committee.
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Gregg Hibbeler has been named president and executive director of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.
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Peter Barkofske was included on the St. Louis Business Journal’s 2025 Corporate Counsel of the Year list.
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Joe Fox has been named head of strategy at ZipHQ.
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Tom Makarewicz
completed a cross-country bicycle ride with the Rev. Matt Ruhl, S.J., and two other cyclists. They began on July 15, 2025, in Portland, Maine, and cycled 3,800 miles to Santa Monica, California, arriving on Oct 1. Known as the Lighthouse Ride, it is an effort to raise funds for Catholic primary schools in Belize, where Fr. Ruhl is a pastor and chair of education.
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Erin (Lynch) Rocha was recently awarded certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and is now a National Board Certified Teacher in Early and Middle Childhood Literacy: ReadingLanguage Arts. She is currently teaching seventh grade English language arts in the St. Joseph School District.
Pulchratia (Falkner) Lacey retired in June 2024 after working 30 years in the Illinois State Universities Civil Service System. She now lives in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Shannon (Shaw) Coleman was elected president of the board for FC Pride Soccer Club in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Raleigh (Kearney) Sadlier completed a Fulbright Grant to Varna, Bulgaria, with the Department of State in October 2025, to teach sensory strategies to their staff of pediatric occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, and medical students. Sadlier has since traveled to Indonesia for a month to teach Universal Supports.
Alfred Winder is founder of Winder and Associates, through which he currently partners with KCDigitalDrive on digital equity access initiatives in Kansas City. He was recognized for his service to the city of Kansas City in 2024.
Lauren (Barthol) Doerfler and Michaela (Rusco) Logan, ’02, won Nursing Impact Awards at The Research Foundation’s 16th Annual Research Royal Dinner on Nov. 1.
Stephen Connelly is associate producer of the St. Maximilian Kolbe film “Triumph of the Heart.” He is also executive producer of a new film starring Jim Caviezel about the birth of Christ, titled “Zero A.D.”
Diego Gutierrez has been selected as an on-air correspondent on Fox 4 KC throughout the 2026 World Cup.
Alicia (Bertino) Pernaw has been named senior associate director of alumni experiences at Dartmouth College.
Shari (Gamache) Jones was selected as the next principal of Seven Hills Elementary School in Newark, Texas.
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Katherine Linhoff resides in Laguna Beach, California, working for startup Alliant Re, a division of Alliant Insurance Services.
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JQ Sirls is the author of “Big Blue,” which was the winner of Lead to Read KC’s 2026 Book Battle.
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Taylor (Saalfeld) Bates, co-founder of Elliott Tate Design, was featured in a PEOPLE magazine article about hoping to bring their “livable luxury” interior design style to a future home for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
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Kaela (Severa) Varberg, Ph.D., principal investigator at Children’s Mercy, recently received the Longo/Power New Investigator Award. This award is given annually at the Lawrence D. Longo Center for Perinatal Biology Symposium held at Loma Linda University in honor of Dr. Longo and recognizes a new investigator who is a leader in their field and has made outstanding early career contributions to the field of perinatal biology.
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Liz Daldalian and her husband, Andrew Mora, welcomed a son, Samuel Mora, in August 2024. They reside in Des Moines, Washington, outside of Seattle.
’13Joey Zanaboni is the author of “St. Louis Sports for Kids,” a children’s book that introduces young readers to the history, heroes, and cultural impact of sports in St. Louis.
Johnny Waller, founder of Clear Tomorrow KC, was interviewed by KCTV 5 about the launch of the Jordyn L. Waller Second Chance Scholarship Fund in honor of his late son. The scholarship will provide $500 awards to justice-impacted individuals in Kansas City and Jackson County who are pursuing education or career training.
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Cody Atkinson was elected to the Independence City Council in April 2026.
Bridgette Williams, executive director of the Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City, was featured in an article concerning temporary mass layoffs for construction workers in preparation for the World Cup in Kansas City.
Michelle McOsker and Sean Klippel, ’17 M.Ed., ’22 Ed.D., are working together at Kansas City’s Gordon Parks Elementary School. Klippel is the building principal and McOsker joined the school’s staff as its speech-language pathologist. They have been working closely to maintain and expand speech and language supports and services for students at every level.
Kevin Nguyen graduated with a Master of Social Work degree in migration studies from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work in May 2026. He will start a Ph.D. in social work at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work in August 2026. Jay Park has been named director of client solutions at Waystone.
Tommy Renfro, project engineer for GBA, was named the 2025 Myron Calkins Young Leader of the Year.
married Benjamin Bryant on Dec. 13, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Evan Bolton joined Spencer Fane LLC in Kansas City after a 2-year federal clerkship with Hon. Gregory Kays with the U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri.
Steve Tanner was awarded the Legacy Award from the NFP for his work with Warrior’s Ascent at their annual dinner on Nov. 7. Tanner serves as the board chair for WA, which provides veterans and first responders professional resources. The group offers year-round, free five-day retreats for women and men needing support to cope with trauma and PTSD.
Adonis Forte spoke at the 100 Black Men of Omaha Gala in November, presenting the 2025 Man of Honor Award to recipient Steven Gray Jr. Filippo Riva has been accepted to the prestigious Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Michigan State University. In the fall he will begin a dual-degree journey pursuing a medical degree at the MSUCOM while simultaneously completing a Ph.D. in computational mathematics, science, and engineering within the MSU College of Engineering.
Olivia Coons married Jake Dunsmore, ’22, in May 2025. They moved to the Brookside neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, in November 2025.
Aimee Weathers published her capstone research in a special issue of the Journal of Technology and Teacher Education. The special issue, “Strengthening STEM Education: New Directions in Teacher Development,” focuses on “reimagining STEM innovation education in response to the rapid technological advancements shaping our world.”
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.
Alice “Lily” Tunks, Ph.D., professor emerita of French, died June 12, 2025. Tunks was born in France and came to the U.S. as a Fulbright Scholar. She earned her Ph.D. in French with a focus on 20th century French drama from the University of Kansas. She served on the faculty of then Rockhurst College from 1969 to 1999, retiring with emerita status. Tunks was known for fostering conversation and connection in her office in Sedgwick Hall, and for inspiring generations of students to explore the world and embrace new cultures.
James F. Allen Jr. died March 25, 2026. He taught graduate-level finance courses at Rockhurst University from 2001-03. Allen earned a master’s degree in finance from the University of Missouri and served as a financial adviser for Waddell & Reed. He also served as a consultant in the Small Business Development Center.
Billy Billiard, ’53 — December 20
Paul O’Connell III, ’57 — January 25
James Balestrere, ’58 — March 15
Richard Jeck Jr., Ph.D., ’60 — January 30
Robert Ehrnman, ’61 — February 10
Robert Gadd, ’63 — November 20
Lawrence Morrissey, ’65 — February 22
John Ryan, ’65 — December 26
James Armbruster, ’68 — November 17
Mel Lavery, ’68 — November 18
Joseph McLiney, ’68 — November 4
Patrick Finn, ’69 — October 25
Michael Hartzell, ’69 — March 25
Philip Bower, ’70 — March 17
Tommy Guenther, ’70 — January 23
Jerry Edmondson, ’72 — February 15
Richard Verbeck, ’74 — November 4
Rev. James Betzen, C. PP. S., ’76 — October 30
James Page, ’78 — December 31
Jerry Shireman, ’79 — January 10
Joseph Bowman, ’81 — March 24
Michael Keenan, ’81 — November 8
Anne McGovern, ’81 — March 13
Patricia Bartholome, ’82 — January 24
Raymond Sharpless Jr., ’82 — March 11
Robert Clement, ’85 — March 5
Michael Carvan Jr., ’86 — March 16
Matthew McGrath, ’87 — December 1
James Swan, ’91 — January 25
Angela Chancellor, ’92 — March 25
Karen Mathes, ’94 — January 30
John Baker, ’97 — February 23
Stephen Logan, ’01 — November 7
Ginger Blackmon, ’02 — December 2
Joseph Tierney, ’02 — November 12
Corey Harris, ’07 DPT — December 2
James Lynch, ’11 — October 19
Richard Volin, ’11 — January 22
We strive for accuracy and we apologize for any errors or omissions. This list represents deaths between Oct. 18, 2025, and April 15, 2026.
Taylor (Skala) Sares, ’15, and Ed McKee, ’67, were among the 2026 Rockhurst University Athletics Hall of Fame inductees.
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Rockhurst President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D. (Front row, left), presented the Dunn Family of JE Dunn Construction Co. the Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics at the annual Rockhurst University Leadership Series event in Kansas City April 1. Honorees include Bill Sr., ’46; Bill Jr., ’70, ’82 EMBA, and his wife Marianne; Terry, ’71, and his wife Peggy; Steve, ’74, and his wife Anne; Kevin, ’80; and Bob, ’83, ’90 MBA, and his wife Amy.
St. Louis Hawks Gather for
Claire (Minnick) Chappell, ’16, and her father, Gary Minnick, led the music during the annual Palm Sunday Mass in St. Louis for alumni, parents, new students and friends.
An annual Mass and brunch brings scholarship recipients together with supporters to celebrate student achievements and say, “thank you.” (From left) James Millard, ’89; Lucia Christello, junior; and Carrie Millard, ’94.
Do you get together with fellow Hawks for fun, fellowship or service? Send photos to universityrelations@rockhurst.edu.
Raleigh (Kearney) Sadlier, ’95 MOT
Occupational therapy has taken Raleigh (Kearney) Sadlier, ’95 MOT, around the world.
And in every place — no matter the language, the history, the culture — she’s found common ground.
Sadlier said she chose Rockhurst partly because it was one of a few institutions offering degrees in OT (and partly because she’s a proud Midwesterner). But it was a decision that would make all the difference. For one, she would make two lifelong colleagues — Lisa Porter, ’94 MOT, and Andi Hitz Bonge, ’96 MOT, with whom she still meets for professional development opportunities. And her education at Rockhurst introduced her to grant-funded research that she has always paired with clinical work. Having developed a specialty in pediatric neurological OT, Sadlier said she was encouraged to apply to be a Fulbright Scholar to share the knowledge and skills from her career. She was selected by the U.S. Department of State to travel to Bulgaria, where she worked with various clinicians on techniques and concepts they could use for young people with different neurological needs.
“I spent about six months preparing,” she said of the experience. “All of the slides I made had to be translated, and then all of that was sent to the practitioners in Bulgaria. But then when I got there, we were able to hit the ground running.”
Despite differences, Sadlier said she was able to easily connect with those on the ground working in the clinical setting.
“I kept telling them, ‘I’m just here to give a clinical label to what you’re already doing,’” she said. “That was the most wonderful thing about it — human neurology develops the same throughout the world, no matter where you are.” P
TOMallory Griffiths, ’26, with Gary Belske, ’77, chair of the Rockhurst University Board of Trustees
“I first heard of Rockhurst from a high school teammate of mine who came here. Once it was time for my lacrosse recruitment journey, head coach Molly McCourt reached out to me, and I eventually received my offer. Rockhurst ended up being the best decision I could have ever made for myself. The professors, guidance counselors, coaches and peers were unlike any others. ‘Cura personalis,’ or ‘care for the whole person,’ is the core value I loved the most, and I felt that love portrayed on campus. The ending of my four years was intimate, as well, as I got to celebrate in Texas with Rockhurst President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D.; Gary Belske, chair of the board of trustees; and Paula Moss, vice president for advancement. It was an amazing experience connecting with alumni in a personal manner in my home state!”
Mallory Griffiths, ’26
“Know that when the going gets tough — and it will — it’s not the paycheck or even the promotion that keeps you going, but rather a clarity of mission and an inner fortitude.”
—Donna Carroll, Ed.D., president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, recipient of the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, and 2026 commencement speaker
“Over my career, I’ve come to see that continual learning is what keeps a leader relevant, empathetic and able to support others. The leaders who make the biggest difference keep learning — and use what they learn to lift others up.”
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Senior vice president and corporate communications director
