SPRING 2022
THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
True Story
Looking back at 16 years of leadership with the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J.
LEADING THE WAY
“Leadership requires a willingness to be wrong while acknowledging that there is a difference between being right and being successful.” MATTHEW WHITE, ’08 President and Owner SeniorCare Homes
SPRING 2022
THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
12 A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP This summer, we’ll say goodbye to our president, the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J. But first, we’ll take a look at the many ways he has made Rockhurst University a better place.
LEADING THE WAY Inside Front Cover
Matthew White, ’08 ROCK REPORT 4
Leadership Series
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New RU President
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Student Profile
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Athletics News
FOR ALUMNI Class Notes
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In Memoriam
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Career Center
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Alumni Q&A
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Where Are They Now?
IN CLOSING Cindy Schmersal, ’19 M.A.
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TIME AND PLACE Inside Back Cover
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022
16 WALKING WITH FR. CURRAN We took a walk with Fr. Curran, one of his favorite pastimes, to see the campus — and its future — through his eyes.
20 TRUE STORY Alumni and friends share their stories about the impact Fr. Curran has made on their lives.
ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY MISSION & VISION 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.
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
What I Desire for You
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e speak of the mission as being central to who we are as a community. We also reference this notion of being companions on the journey toward the end for which we are created. It is a shared pilgrimage where we care for one another (“cura personalis”) in the journey toward that end, union with God. Tourism is quite distinct from a pilgrimage. A tourist is likened to someone who desires to learn about God; a pilgrim experiences the love of God. This love is initiated and sustained by God. At the heart of all the works of the Society of Jesus are the Spiritual Exercises. And these are built upon what is called the Principle and Foundation. The Principle is God fiercely and unconditionally loving us. And that love has him pursuing us to be with him, forever. All the things of the earth and in our lives are his gifts, given for the express purpose of drawing us to himself. (Seeking or Finding God in All Things).
Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., president, Rockhurst University
The Foundation is our response to his love. Here we choose those things that bring us closer to his love. When facing two goods, we choose the greater good. This is known as the “Magis” (the greater): discerning between two goods in order to give greater glory to God (AMDG, “Ad majorem Dei gloriam”) and to move towards the end for which we are created: the salvation of one’s soul. At the heart of our mission is the distinction between a desire for learning about the love of God and actually experiencing God’s love. Analogously, it’s the difference between a desire to know the 23 Psalm and knowing the Shepherd. A university education gives us lots of tools to study the psalm including its historical context, its literary forms, the science behind the diet, lifestyle, and health of a shepherd, as well as the sociological, psychological and political circumstances of one overseeing a herd. A Jesuit education, however, does not stop there. It involves the transformation of pilgrims on the journey: they open themselves to the experience of God, the shepherd, who always seeks them but especially when lost or troubled. Those on a pilgrimage permit themselves to be pursued and to be accompanied by God. With their sisters and brothers, they journey, with Christ, towards union with God, the Father. So my invitation to you is a two-fold desire to learn about our Jesuit mission as well as a desire to be transformed by it. In my 16 years as president of Rockhurst University, I have used that Jesuit mission as my guide. It has been my North Star in every challenge I faced, in every speech I made, in every homily I have given, in every letter, address, or article I have written, in all counsel I have provided, in every decision I have made, and in the way I have attempted to live. In 2006, I stated that this would be the way I approached this presidency. I now ask you to accept this gift, this patrimony of our mission. May you cherish it. If you allow it, it will instruct you regularly, sustain you when needed most, and transform you forever.
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ROCK REPORT
Rockhurst University to Establish Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice
This architect’s image shows what the Alvin Brooks Center might look like at the corner of 54th Street and Troost Avenue.
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ockhurst University will honor Alvin Brooks, longtime Kansas City leader in social justice and civil rights, with the establishment of the Alvin Brooks Center for FaithJustice. The center will house many of the University’s faith-justice related efforts, including a chapel, mission and ministry programs, space for convening community and community partner KC Common Good.
the margins of Kansas City,” said Cindy Schmersal, vice president for mission and ministry.
“The Brooks Center will foster companions’ formation in the Jesuit, Catholic mission and amplify this mission through convening the broader community in collaborative discernment and action that centers the voices and realities of people on
Several areas on campus were studied to determine the best place to locate the center before the final decision was made to renovate and expand the building at the 54th Street and Troost Avenue entrance to campus that houses the Community Center
Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., announced plans to establish the center and to name it for his friend at the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC’s annual Human Relations event last November, where he was honored with the Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award.
and the Department of Safety and Security. Placing the center on the outer edge of campus, on the busy Troost corridor, will emphasize its function as a bridge between campus and community and create a welcoming entrance that amplifies the centrality of Rockhurst’s mission, said Schmersal. To date, $5 million has been raised, of which $2 million is a challenge grant from the Sunderland Foundation, according to Mary Mooney Burns, vice president for university advancement. To learn more about how to support the effort, contact Burns at mary.burns@rockhurst.edu.
RU, the magazine of Rockhurst University, is published by the Office of University Relations. EDITOR Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA DESIGN JJB Creative Design CONTRIBUTING WRITERS The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J.; John Dodderidge; Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA; Tim Linn; Cindy Schmersal, ’19 M.A.; Marianne Sicking, ’11 PHOTOGRAPHY Gabrielle Brancato, ’18, ’22 MBA; Katherine Frohoff; FJ Gaylor Photography; Tim Linn; Mark McDonald; Philippe Noguera; Earl Richardson SEND LETTERS TO Katherine Frohoff, Rockhurst University, 1100 Rockhurst Road, Kansas City, MO 64110-2561 or katherine.frohoff@rockhurst.edu 816-501-4151. RU magazine is printed on FSC certified uncoated paper.
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Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and acclaimed author, headlined this year’s Leadership Series.
Bestselling Author Thomas Friedman Headlines 2022 Leadership Series
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estselling author of “The World is Flat” and New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman headlined this year’s Rockhurst University Leadership Series March 24, speaking on “Helping Today’s Leaders Understand Big Trends Shaping the World: Economics, Technology and Geopolitics.” Although Friedman spoke about leadership during current disruptive changes such as war, rapidly evolving technology and climate change, he concluded with an emphasis on personal traits that leaders share. “The best leaders during the pandemic are those who put more truth into the world than they take out of it, those who put more trust into the world than they take out of it and those who put more kindness into the world than they take out of it,” Friedman said. During the event, held at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the University honored alumnus Joe Reardon, ’90, with the Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics. Reardon is president and chief executive officer for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Prior, he served two terms as mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County and as president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. In all of those roles and in his work as an adjunct instructor at Rockhurst University, Reardon has emphasized cooperation as a way to achieve big things for the region regardless of state lines or city limits. The Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics, established in 2014, is named for two influential leaders in Rockhurst University’s Helzberg School of Management — Tom Lyon, Ph.D., and the Rev. Nick Rashford, S.J.
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE PRESENTING SPONSOR CommunityAmerica Credit Union MAGIS SPONSOR Anonymous Marny and John Sherman VIP SPONSOR Tria Health JESUIT SPONSOR Husch Blackwell LLP JE Dunn Construction Kansas City University KANSAS CITY SPONSORS Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City Bukaty Companies George J. Shaw Construction Co. and Site Rite Construction Co. Jim and Ellen Glynn Lankford Fendler National Association of Insurance Commissioners Tom and Lynn DeBacco VanTrust Real Estate
ROCK REPORT
New Accelerated Nursing Program Reaches Rural Populations
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hen Rockhurst University acquired Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences in 2019, one of the primary goals was for the University to become a regional leader in health care education and to address the need for skilled, compassionate health care providers. In August, this dream will be further strengthened with the addition of a new online degree program.
With so many nursing students living in rural areas — including 25% of Missourians — these programs will be offered predominately online with campus residencies to build and assess clinical competencies. The hybrid ABSN involves a twoweek clinical residency at health centers in or near Kansas City for hands-on instruction, skill-building and direct patient care experiences.
In partnership with Keypath Education, Rockhurst will launch a hybrid accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program. Classes will be taught by Rockhurst University faculty, and Keypath will assist with securing clinical opportunities and with recruiting.
These offerings expand Rockhurst’s programs to enable students to meet the health care needs of diverse populations through rigorous academics, rich and varied clinical experiences and a spirit of inquiry and reflection.
Rockhurst will launch an accelerated nursing program this fall.
“By partnering with Keypath Education to offer these nursing programs in low residency format to students outside Kansas City, Rockhurst graduates will be able to serve the varied and complex health care needs of individuals and organizations in rural areas. These programs will provide opportunities for students to develop a meaningful career while addressing health care disparities in their communities,” said Kristina Henry, DNP, associate dean for nursing and chief nursing academic administrator.
Assistive Technology Lab Opens Opportunity to Serve Community
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ockhurst University’s campus is home to a new resource for those with disabilities, thanks to a partnership with the state of Missouri. Inside St. Ignatius Science Center is the Missouri Assistive Technology lab, a place where the community can come and learn about available assistive technologies and how to use them. It’s a service provided by the state. The main facility for the region is located in nearby Blue Springs, but the University campus provided a prime location for a second site, according to Tammy Bruegger, OTD, assistant professor of occupational therapy. Bruegger and Pam Hart, Ph.D., professor of communication sciences and disorders, worked with the state to become a partner site and set the lab up with tools to aid those with visual, communication, cognitive, learning, or physical needs. “This is all about meeting people where they are and asking about their unmet needs,” Bruegger said. “Then we can demonstrate how these devices work and match the person with the assistive technology that helps fill that need.”
The Missouri Assistive Technology Lab serves people with disabilities.
The lab is much more than a resource for those in the community. It’s also an opportunity for students from across the health sciences and other disciplines to make a difference in their community. Students will be able to demonstrate assistive technology and gain experience working with the community.
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Rockhurst University Names Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., Next President
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he last day of February proved to be a day of firsts for Rockhurst University. That’s when the board of trustees announced to an enthusiastic crowd of students, faculty and staff that Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., would make history as the first female and first lay president of Rockhurst. Cassady, who earned a Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Iowa, comes to Rockhurst from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, where she serves as vice president for strategic initiatives and dean of the College of Health and Human Services. In these roles, she works closely with each division of university administration, including enrollment management, finance and fundraising. In addition to leading the development of new academic programs across the university, she provides oversight for undergraduate, graduate and transfer admissions, advising and academic student services.
Sandra Cassady, Ph.D.
“Dr. Cassady’s lengthy record of service in Catholic higher education and health care makes her ideally suited to lead Rockhurst University.” —Thomas F. Hastings, M.D., ’81, chair of the Rockhurst University Board of Trustees
“Dr. Cassady’s lengthy record of service in Catholic higher education and health care makes her ideally suited to lead Rockhurst University,” said Thomas F. Hastings, M.D., ’81, chair of the Rockhurst University Board of Trustees. “In addition, her extensive work in higher education accreditation and experience as a faculty member will be invaluable as she assumes her new role.” At St. Ambrose, a university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport, Cassady has led the development of new mission-focused academic programs that strengthen partnerships with area agencies serving the underserved, such as social work and public health. “Dr. Cassady’s commitment and contribution to the Catholic intellectual tradition has been stellar,” said the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., president of Rockhurst University. “Her desire to become a companion in our Jesuit way of proceeding, expressed in a faith that does justice, is humbling and gratifying.” Cassady will officially join Rockhurst July 1. “I believe a Catholic university president must ensure that the Catholic and religious order identities of the institution remain vibrant, while personifying, articulating and celebrating the Catholic mission of the university,” Cassady said. “The Catholic, Jesuit mission of Rockhurst University and its vision to create a more just world through inclusive, innovative and transformative education are what drew me to Rockhurst and are closely aligned with my own values and experience. I look forward to leading and partnering with the Rockhurst community and greater Kansas City community as we continue the work toward realizing this vision.”
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ROCK REPORT
For Freshman, Second Choice is First Rate
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rom performing in a film for the first time to starting a podcast from scratch to jumping at leadership opportunities, freshman Chidera Okafor has embraced what Rockhurst University has to offer. But it could have gone another way — Okafor said she came to Rockhurst to be a nursing student after being waitlisted for medical school at the University of MissouriKansas City. She decided not to wait — instead choosing Rockhurst’s nursing program — but it has been anything but a backup plan.
Chidera Okafor, freshman
“I looked at Rockhurst’s website and saw the values and that it was ‘where leaders learn,’” she said. “I see myself as a leader, so I knew that if I went here, I would become the person I’m called to be.” Okafor said she was involved in a lot of different activities as a high school student. In college, she’s pared that involvement back, choosing instead to focus on those activities she’s passionate about. That includes serving as part of Student Senate and Black Student Union, through both of which she effects positive change on campus. That’s not to say that Okafor isn’t branching out. This year, she was part of a Rockhurst theater program film project, a first. And, spurred by an experience in high school and an internship with a podcast producer, she launched a podcast of her own, called The Chidera Brittney Show, with interviews and topics aimed at helping other young people. “What I’ve realized is that when we think about leaders, we think about older people who already have that influence,” she said. “I want to tell my generation, Generation Z, that we’re all leaders in different ways. It’s all about embracing the power we have.”
HEARD ON CAMPUS “My hope is that as we witness what is happening in Ukraine and the categorical imperative to do something, we will reflect and ask ourselves why we have made it so incredibly difficult for people from south of the border to make an asylum claim.” Ruben Garcia, ’69, who has dedicated his life to working with migrants, immigrants and refugees on the U.S.-Mexico border, during the Visiting Scholar Lecture Series, March 22
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FACULTY KUDOS Shatonda Jones, Ph.D., associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, was elected to a four-year term on the Council on Academic Accreditation. The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association offers voluntary accreditation to graduate degree programs in audiology and in speech-language pathology housed within institutions of higher education. Missy Ling, visiting clinical assistant professor of accounting and finance, and Acey Lampe, Ph.D., executive adjunct assistant professor of management, are serving on the Missouri State University Women in Leadership Advisory Board. In addition, Lampe moderated the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s GenKC Panel event Nov. 18. The panel discussed ways to appreciate, collaborate and uplift all five generations living in today’s workplace. Leslie Merced, Ph.D., associate professor of Spanish, wrote a book chapter titled “Subversive, Combative, Corrective: Carmen de Burgos’ Interventionist Translation of Möbius’ ‘Uber den physiologischen Schwachsinn des Weibes’ [The Mental Inferiority of Women]” in a new critical anthology titled “A Laboratory of Her Own: Women and Science in Spanish Culture.” The volume addresses women’s interaction with STEM fields in the context of Spanish cultural production and was published by Vanderbilt University Press.
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Biology Faculty Inspires Future Scientists With Her Own Story
Joanna Cielocha, Ph.D.
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t was a transfer from a large state university to one not dissimilar to Rockhurst that might have changed the life of Joanna Cielocha, Ph.D.
The associate professor of biology was planning to be a doctor, convinced that was the most likely and logical career for her. That changed when she transferred to the smaller Peru State College and met a faculty member who invited her to help him with an ongoing parasitology research project. “Every time I wasn’t in class, I was in the lab,” she said. “I was doing primary research. I actually wrote a paper that was published in a peer-reviewed journal. I got the full scope of what it’s like to be a scientist from the beginning.” It’s a story she retells to undergraduate students in her own courses — a reminder that studying the sciences can lead one in a lot of different directions, and that being an undergraduate or at a smaller institution doesn’t have to mean giving up on meaningful research experiences. Cielocha does more than share that wisdom — as an instructor, she lives it out, providing interested students an opportunity to work alongside her doing research in parasitology, mostly looking at tapeworms that live in the guts of stingrays — identifying new species, analyzing their behavior and more. It not only means a lot of experience in the lab, but a chance to answer questions and have conversations about future careers and paths in science, she said. “I want them to see that I am working as a scientist alongside them and I want them to feel that they are scientists, too,” she said.
ROCK REPORT
The Nurse at the Net G
iven her first name, it makes sense that senior Justice Wingate was drawn to join the ranks of superheroes.
It’s just that this daughter of a lawyer and court reporter (hence the name) has always thought nurses were real superheroes. That’s why she chose a nursing degree at Rockhurst, where she also has played as middle hitter on the Hawks women’s volleyball team. “It’s the only job I’ve ever wanted to do,” she said. “I have this piece of paper from fifth grade where I said I wanted to be a nurse, because it seemed like nurses are always saving lives.” That said, it was actually volleyball that brought the Toledo, Ohio, native here in the first place. “I had a tournament here and Tracy Rietzke (former head coach) said, ‘We like you, you should play here,’ and I said OK,” Wingate said. “I’ve never been in a new place without a team, so when I came to KC I didn’t know anyone.” Now, Wingate said her teammates are some of her closest friends — experiencing the ups and downs of the season together will do that — making the end of the season bittersweet. She and the other upperclassmen have had to step up as leaders, helping younger students navigate the realities of life as a college athlete in a pandemic. It’s made the team a more cohesive unit, something Wingate stresses when talking about being named to the D2CCA (Conference Commissioner’s Association) All-Midwest Region Second Team at the end of this season. “As a middle, you have to be a good pass and a good set,” she said. “So I’m really proud of these awards, but it really shows how good my teammates are.”
Justice Wingate, senior
Wingate said she has a particular bond with setter Gabbie Inman, a fellow nursing student. Having someone who was going through the same rigorous curriculum and clinicals in addition to the team’s schedule made it all a little easier. Together, the pair also helped in a monumental way a year ago, volunteering to deliver some of the first COVID-19 vaccines in the area. Wingate said she jumped at the opportunity to be part of history and do some good. “It was the first shot I ever gave a human and I was so nervous,” she said, laughing. “I’m a pro now, but it’s definitely one I’ll never forget.”
“As a middle, you have to be a good pass and a good set. So I’m really proud of these awards, but it really shows how good my teammates are.” —Justice Wingate, senior
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Experienced Dancer Returns to Alma Mater to Lead Spirit Squad
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elanie Dailey has comfortably stepped into her role as the head coach of the Rockhurst Spirit Squad. The 1993 graduate of Rockhurst University brings 30 years of experience in dancing, teaching, choreographing and staging productions. Dailey, who was the captain of the Rockhurst Rockettes dance team, taught dance workshops and clinics across the country for Dancz America. She has enjoyed commercial dance success, but her first love has always been dance team. She has choreographed award-winning routines for state and national contests with Larkspur Dance and Choreography. The Rockhurst Spirit Squad had the unique opportunity to participate in a collaborative video project with Grammy-winning country music recording artist Jamie O’Neal and 20 college and high school spirit teams across the country. The project was spearheaded by Dailey, who was inspired by O’Neal’s song “The World Goes On.”
Melanie Dailey, ’93
“It was at the height of the pandemic when so much had been canceled and everyone was feeling very isolated,” Dailey said. “I was really inspired by Jamie’s song that was released at that time that communicated a message of hope.” The idea was formulated and most of the planning had been done before Dailey became head coach of the RU Spirit Squad. “Having so many fantastic teams participate was more than I ever hoped for or expected,” she said. “And then being able to include my team from Rockhurst made the project even more special.” Dailey says she’s excited to be back at Rockhurst and is looking forward to building the cheer and dance programs at her alma mater. Her husband, Craig Dailey, is also a Rockhurst graduate, and they have two college-aged children.
Hawks Score Big Once More in Academic Honors
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f you follow news about Rockhurst University student-athletes, you are not surprised to know they excel in the classroom as well as during competition. This marks the 11th consecutive year the University has received the NCAA Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence for achieving four-year Academic Success Rates of 90% or higher.
Hawks receive academic accolade for 11th straight year.
Forty-three Division II member schools are recipients of the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. Rockhurst is one of 10 schools to have earned the recognition every year since the award was started in 2011. Rockhurst finished with a 95% ASR in 2020-21, which ranks in a tie for ninth among NCAA Division II institutions. Rockhurst led the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and all Division II schools in Missouri and Kansas.
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“We’re immensely proud of the academic accomplishments of our Hawks,” said Kristy Bayer, director of athletics. “This honor demonstrates they are able to successfully set priorities and excel despite the many competing demands on their time.”
ROCK REPORT
The 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame class includes (From left) Kim Martin Noegaard, ’98; Cindy Cernech Hamilton, ’94; Coach Tracy Rietzke; Kecia Jennings, ’05; Diego Gutierrez, D.B.A., ’04, ’14 EMBA; and Aaron Hill, ’08, ’10 MBA.
Rockhurst University Athletics Hall of Fame Inducts 2022 Class
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he 2022 Rockhurst Athletics Hall of Fame class was formally inducted Feb. 12, with Carolina Cruz, ’16, news anchor at KCTV-5, as master of ceremonies.
Kecia Jennings (Volleyball and women’s basketball) was an All-American in 2005 and was honored as the 2004 Heartland Conference Player of the Year.
Tracy Rietzke (Volleyball and women’s basketball coach) is the fourth winningest women’s volleyball coach in all NCAA levels with 1,277 victories. Rietzke guided the Hawks to 18 national volleyball tournament appearances in 32 years.
Aaron Hill (Men’s basketball) was a two-time All-American guard who played on two NCAA Tournament teams. He was named the 2008-09 Player of the Year in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Al Payne (Men’s basketball) helped the Hawks capture the NAIA national championship in 1964 and holds the school record for rebounds in a season (414). Kim Martin Noergaard (Women’s basketball) was an NAIA All-American forward and was named the Midwest Region Independent Player of the Year in 1998. The 1973 Men’s Soccer Team, under the guidance of legendary head coach Tony Tocco, posted a 10-3-2 record and was the national runner-up in the NAIA national tournament. (See page 27 for photo.)
Cindy Cernech-Hamilton (Women’s basketball) led Rockhurst to a 24-7 record in her senior year while earning NAIA AllAmerican honors in 1994-95. Diego Gutierrez (Men’s soccer) was a two-time NAIA All-American in 1994 and ’95. He helped lead the Hawks to a 44-9-1 record in his two seasons.
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A Legacy of Leadership THE REV. THOMAS B. CURRAN, S.J.
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FEATURES
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fter 16 years as president of Rockhurst University, the imprint of the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., can be felt, seen and heard nearly everywhere. The physical geography of campus simply would not be the same without his leadership. His way of proceeding, steeped in Ignatian spirituality, has inspired countless numbers of students, faculty, staff and alumni. His influence and personality are evident in the stories shared by those who say he’s touched their lives through the sometimes small gestures. Call it a scrapbook, a retrospective, a tribute — here are just a few of the highlights from a tenure to be remembered.
2006 The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S., becomes the 14th president of the University and is formally inaugurated Oct. 27. By the following year, he begins to lead the institution through a strategic planning process that will set the tone for the next decade.
2010 Rockhurst celebrates the centennial anniversary of its charter with the theme “Learn, Lead, Serve, Celebrate!” A series of events culminates in an evening dinner under a large tent on Kinerk Commons followed by fireworks.
12,586 DIPLOMAS SIGNED You might assume those signatures on your diploma are printed by a computer. But if you’ve graduated at any point in the last 16 years, you can be sure it’s the real deal. Not only does Fr. Curran take care in personally signing every single diploma, he also says a prayer for every single recipient.
11,700 THANK YOU CARDS WRITTEN AND HAND-SIGNED TO DONORS If you’ve supported Rockhurst’s mission with a gift, you might have received a handwritten and signed card from Fr. Curran.
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2013 Rockhurst University opens the Prosperity Center for Financial Opportunity, a facility in the North Parking Garage offering free employment and financial coaching and access to income support to the Kansas City area. It would be the first of several University initiatives focused on serving the community.
60+ WEDDINGS CELEBRATED A testament to the impact that Fr. Curran has had on so many alumni is that he has regularly been asked to officiate one of the most important days of their lives (other than graduation, of course). And in some cases, he also performs the baptisms of the babies that follow!
2015 In May, Fr. Curran professes his final vows with the Society of Jesus, capping a yearslong process of study and discernment. In the summer, the man already known for walking takes on a long one — the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage through Spain, France and Portugal ending at the site where the remains of St. James the apostle are said to be buried.
100+ PANCAKES FLIPPED At the end of the fall semester, Student Senate hosts the midnight breakfast to provide brain food for students studying for finals. Administrators often grab the spatulas to serve food, including Fr. Curran staffing the pancake station. Now, how many of those ended up on the floor, who’s to say?
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FEATURES
2018 The University announces its five-year “Go Forth” strategic plan, focusing on Jesuit identity, sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The “For the Greater” fundraising campaign begins. The University announces the launch of the Companions in Chillicothe program, providing educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals and staff at the Chillicothe Correctional Center, a women’s prison. Fr. Curran has taught one of the courses.
$120 MILLION IN GIFTS SECURED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS The Rockhurst University campus simply would not look the same without Fr. Curran’s tenure. Under his leadership, the University built a new central academic building— Arrupe Hall, the North Parking Garage and retail space, the Rock Row housing on the south side of campus, the MAC fitness center, and renovated or added to a number of other spaces, including the current $23 million renovation of Sedgwick Hall.
2019 The University welcomes its first chief inclusion officer to lead the newly created Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a direct result of the 2018 campus climate survey. On July 31, the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, Rockhurst University announces that Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences will become part of the University, allowing Rockhurst to greatly increase its capacity to meet the region’s need for skilled and compassionate health care providers.
5 SOLIDARITY-IMMERSION TRIPS ATTENDED Fr. Curran will always be known for how he accompanied students, from joining them at lunch to attending studentled events to taking part in five different solidarity-immersion trips both domestic and abroad. He also taught countless students in his Catholic social teaching course.
2021
In his final year, Fr. Curran announces one last goal — the establishment of the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice, a building on the campus’s south side that will house many of the University’s faith-justice related efforts, including a chapel, mission and ministry programs, and space for convening community. He announces the project as he is being honored by the Jewish Community Relations Bureau in November with its Henry W. Bloch Human Relations Award.
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Walking With
FR. CURRAN
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hether he is heading to a destination, getting some exercise or just enjoying the day, one of the most common sights in midtown Kansas City since 2006 has been Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., walking or running. Near the end of 2021, we joined Fr. Curran on a walk through campus and the neighborhood to reflect on the many changes that have taken place since he became president. Q. Why do you like walking so much and what’s your rule? A. If it’s two miles (to a meeting or gathering) or less I walk. That’s the rule. I enjoy walking but I also find that the time I walk is my time. I get to reflect, pray, prepare for the meeting, process, come up with ideas. It’s also an issue of reducing our carbon footprint — two miles, I can build that into the schedule.
Q. How do you feel when you walk past the Jesuit seal on the side of the Magis Activity Center? A. I think of it as an invitation to us who are entering to be mindful of the work we’re about, whether it’s working out or convening with others. These aren’t markers on a building to dedicate it but an invitation to be very intentional about who you are and what you’re about.
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FEATURES Q. The statue of Mary has been such a central part of our campus quadrangle for so long, what impact do you think it will have to move her so that she’s facing outward? A. There’s a little story behind that. She was on a plank and many referred to her as “diving board Mary.” When one of our benefactors, Rosemary Kilker, gave the money to build a grotto, I was concerned that to take the space — which is a very popular place for people to sit — and build a grotto behind it to be a place for intentional prayer, would compete. I really saw it as a chance to reimagine. So, I asked, “What if Mary faces out, so she’s welcoming?” I believe people will be invited to come and pray. It is structured so that it’s not just a grotto, but it’s a curved arm in a way, an embrace, it’s a gesture that says “come, come sit a while, reflect and be at home.”
Q. Making a home for all has been a focus of your presidency. Why is that important to you and how does it reflect our mission? A. We’ve made progress and there’s lots more we can do. It’s consistent with the vision of Ignatius when he started his group and he called it un Compañia de Jesús, the Company of Jesus (Jesuits), and he was thinking that God was calling him to be engaged with others in companionship. So, who are those who are not feeling like companions, who are marginalized, who do not feel like they have a place at the table? We need to keep asking ourselves that question, not just “Who is here and do they feel welcome, and if not, why?” But, “Who is not here and who has not been attending because they don’t feel welcome?” I think that’s consistent with Ignatius’ call that we move in this company, that we move as companions to the end for which we’ve all been created.
Q. We’ve acquired the statue of St. Ignatius since you’ve been here. Sometimes students rub his head for good luck. Is that disrespectful? A. No, I encourage it. That statue is St. Ignatius sitting by the Cardoner River. After he’s struck by the cannonball, he goes off to this little town called Manresa, but first lays his sword before Mary at Montserrat. He then spends the next 10 or 11 months in Manresa in seclusion, as a beggar, writing the Spiritual Exercises. Along the Cardoner River he gets clarity about what it is that God wants him to do. And the clarity is that he sees his own reflection. Our statue was put there in 2010, the hundredth anniversary of Rockhurst. It was gift from the Jesuit community, who wanted it to be Ignatius in his moment of clarity. So, yes, I strongly encourage faculty, staff and students, go rub the head and say that prayer that you’ll receive clarity about what it is you’re about, the decisions you’re making and what it is you’re facing at this time.
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Q. One of our most significant projects is the reimagining of Sedgwick Hall. What does that mean for Rockhurst’s past and its future? A. This building definitely is the link. It was the Jesuit residence, there were students living there, it was the high school, it was the college, close to 50 percent of classes took place there, a gym was added, the gym became a theater, so many accretions and additions, which is why it was uneven. So why is it significant now? We literally took it back to what was about 90 percent of the original building. It will be the new home of Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences, it will be high tech. But I think the greatest thing about this, is that this building built over 100 years ago has had its place here and all the things around it grew up with it. The trees in the front on Troost were not getting the moisture they needed, so they started competing with the building and affecting the structure of it. By doing this project, we’ve actually created greater harmony as a result of the work. The trees now are thriving and the building is secure. I think it’s really an example of how we don’t just build, we need to build in harmony with our natural environment. So, for me, it’s in harmony with our past, it’s in harmony with the place it occupies, it’s united with the Earth that we all have a responsibility for.
Q. Where are you going next after you leave Rockhurst? A. I will miss Rockhurst and I will miss Kansas City. It has been my home. I would like to stay, but I don’t think it’s fair for me to stay. The best way I can assist the new president is to move on. I’ll take a little sabbatical (Via Franicigena – walking from Swiss Alps to Rome) and then prepare for my next work. I will be moving on to work full time with prison education. We started our program Companions in Chillicothe with the women and correctional officers there and we’re very proud that they’ve now completed 34 college credit hours and are on their way to earning an associate degree. It’s our intent to have a similar program in all six schools of this Jesuit province and then ultimately in all 27 of the Jesuit schools in the U.S. I’ve been asked to work with the existing programs and ultimately have one in all of the schools. I’m excited about that and I think it will be a great opportunity for me to be in accompaniment. To me that’s one of the greatest injustices, that we have 5% of the world’s population but 25% of the world’s incarcerated. I don’t think our rehabilitation is working, it’s more punitive. I think a better model is one of conversion, conversion to humanity, and a component of that is educating and forming students to be active and engaged members of their communities.
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To view a video of our walk-and-talk with Fr. Curran, visit rockhurst.edu/magazine
FEATURES
ROCKHURST.EDU
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True Story! I
WITH FR. CURRAN
f you’ve attended Mass celebrated by Fr. Curran, you know what’s coming after it ends – a “true story.” You also know it will be anything but. The tradition begins with that left hand going up and is followed by a laugh — or sometimes a playful groan — from the congregation in the wake of an always very “punny” joke. In gratitude for all your stories, Fr. Curran, here are a few totally true stories of our own.
ISY PEREZ, ’13 In college, Fr. Curran came to our house to enjoy dinner and break bread. We had a great conversation about how our fraternity could better serve Rockhurst. As an alumnus, he gave my wife and me a tour of Arrupe Hall. Then, while he was running out of time to get to Mass, he stopped and blessed my wife’s pregnancy. I awkwardly told him he was basically Dumbledore. Of course, every Hopkins Skip and Run, I could always count on Fr. Curran to pass me up.
BOB GARAGIOLA, ’71 When I was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2018, one of the first friends I heard from was Fr. Curran. He sent me the Peace Prayer of St. Francis de Sales (“Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow …”). I was unfamiliar with this particular prayer but was struck by its message. It gave me a perspective and a comfort to face my cancer. I said this prayer every day during my chemotherapy and hospitalizations and continue to do so, with a few exceptions. I have benefited from many prayers from family, classmates and friends in dealing with my lymphoma. But it was Fr. Curran’s that provided the “unfailing strength to bear it.” Thank you, Fr. Curran.
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FEATURES
JORDAN WRIGHT, ’21, ’22 MOT Fr. Curran has always made sure everyone he encounters feels seen and valued. I will never forget when I attended Retreat on the Rock my freshman year. I had been in a very difficult mental health spot and had just begun therapy for the first time in my life. At breakfast that Saturday morning on retreat, Fr. Curran asked me how I was doing. I was honest with him and told him I was going through a tough spot. He, knowing nothing about the specificities of my struggle or how I was transitioning into therapy, says, “Jordan, are you familiar with the Stations of the Cross?” I tell him that yes, I would like to believe so. He responds, “Do you know what Jesus said when Simon of Cyrene helped him carry his cross?” No, I racked my brain and couldn’t recall. “That’s because he didn’t say anything. He allowed himself to be helped.” Years have gone by, struggles have ebbed and flowed, but I have never forgotten these words. If Our Lord allowed himself to be helped, who am I to refuse such a service? Thank you, Fr. Curran, for these words and your constant prayer and devotion. RU will certainly not be the same without you.
HELEN HILL, ’15 Fr. Curran presided over my wedding. There could have been no one better! He gave a beautiful homily of personal facts and stories of my life and of my husband, whom he had only met in wedding prep. I asked Fr. Curran to be the one to celebrate our wedding and lead us in preparation because he is so personable and caring. When I talk to him, I feel like he is truly invested in our conversation and that he cares. He has great wisdom and understanding as well. Thank you, Fr. Curran, for making a lasting impact on my life, from my time at Rockhurst to the years beyond.
CHANDRA CLARK, ’11 Father Curran is an inspiration to me for many reasons. I specifically recall a time that I expressed struggling with my faith in a season of suffering. He looked me in the eye and spoke words of wisdom to remind me that there is always a higher purpose. I distinctly remember feeling touched deep within my heart as if I had experienced an encounter with God himself. Father Curran is a man that spreads love and light to all. He has truly blessed many and modeled by example.
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CASEY, ’00, AND RACHEL, ’00, ’02 MPT, MCGRAW As alumni and newlyweds, my husband and I would use RU’s workout facilities in the early morning hours. There were days when a very nice gentleman would join us on the treadmills. Unbeknownst to us at the time, this was the new president of RU. He would come in and turn on a variety of news channels to stay informed. I told my husband, whoever this guy was, I appreciated his interest in staying informed and his speed on the treadmill. We even raced each other, although Fr. Curran didn’t know. In those early morning hours, we developed a friendship with Fr. Curran. He brought us a lovely housewarming gift over for dinner one night that hangs in our entryway to this day. He has blessed us with good wishes and deeds through the birth of our two children. We feel so grateful to have him in our life and will truly miss his presence in the Kansas City area and on RU’s campus. Fr. Curran pushed me to believe in myself enough to join the RU faculty as an adjunct. He has made us better, better people, a better faculty member and a better runner.
MARY BURNETT, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, 2004-13 I served as the director of human resources at Rockhurst University from 2004 to 2013. Naturally, Fr. Curran worked through some very difficult situations during my tenure. Certainly, some of those situations are memorable. But what I remember and appreciate most is the fact that he took time from his busy schedule to attend my choir concerts. I sang in the Festival Singers, and he encouraged me to let him know when they were taking place. Much to my delight and surprise, he often attended. He clearly supported my way of “cura personalis.” Eight years after I left Rockhurst, he learned that my husband was ill. The very week that he found out, he sent a prayer of comfort that helped us both through the health crisis. I will always be grateful for my time at Rockhurst and I will always be thankful for the times that he has supported me.
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FEATURES
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Rock E Hawk entertains a young future Hawk at this year’s Alumni Night at the Ballgame.
SPRING 2022
FOR ALUMNI
CLASS NOTES
’65 SLCHS Janice Spiewak Potts retired after 41 years in a family practice office.
’85 SLCHS Carol Cleek is the Regional Director of Critical Care Swedish Health Care System.
Barbie Kierl Wheeler was inducted into the Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
’85 MBA Gary Creason has been named to the Missouri Science and Technology Academy of Civil Engineers.
’87 Lisa Ginter was profiled by the Catholic Key.
Gigi Lombrano was the recipient of eight awards from the American Society of Interior Designers during the Pinnacle Awards Competition.
’90 EMBA Lawrence Drake II has been named the dean
of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Bethune-Cookman University.
’92 Fred Kaffenberger is a Power BI Evangelist at Cerner.
STAY CONNECTED
You’re part of the Rockhurst University community. That means you belong to an organization that’s changing the world one leader at a time. Don’t miss out on news meant for you. Go to engage.rockhurst.edu/
register/update and update your information today.
Be sure to share your email address to receive the latest University and alumni news.
’93 Stefani Weeden-Smith was
recently named director of the newly formed St. Louis Anchor Action Network, comprising 11 major employers with a goal of hiring more people of color from the high-poverty areas of St. Louis City and County.
’94 De’Carlon Seewood was named the city manager for Columbia, Missouri.
’95 Subbu Sarma has joined
Arista Recovery as medical director at the Kansas location.
CONNECT WITH ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
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Jean Clark celebrated her 100th birthday Sept. 22.
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’45 SLCHS
through your favorite social networks.
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.
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››››››››››››› SUBMIT
A CLASS NOTE
We’d love to hear from you. Submit a class note online at engage.rockhurst.edu/register/update
’96 Brian Wright has joined Roth Capital Partners
’12 Wendy Alvarez Barrios, received the Recognition Award
’04 Ryan Sands has been named senior vice president
at the University of Notre Dame for dedication beyond the normal expectations, including overseeing daily operations of the COVID-19 Surveillance Laboratory and leading sustainability efforts in the lab. She has since joined the team at Siemens Healthineers.
’04 MBA Mark McNemar has been named the president of
’13 SLCHS Rachel Brewer started
as managing director and senior research analyst.
at Fusion92.
Mercy Clinic Joplin.
’05 David Darr was named chief sustainability officer at Vanguard Renewables.
’05 MBA Erika Ramirez Hamilton has been named the vice-
president and assistant general auditor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
’06 MBA Kevin Witte was profiled in YorkPedia. ’06 M.ED. Leslie McTighe is the director of curriculum and
programming for the Kansas City Teacher Residency.
’07 MBA Todd Shaffer was quoted in a story about medical
working as a KU blood and marrow transplant nurse at the cancer center in 2016, was married in 2019, moved to a 1903 fixer upper house in 2019, received a DAISY Award in 2020, started a booth in a marketplace selling home decor and accessories in 2020, opened a second one in another marketplace in 2021, and is launching a modern dollhouse furniture and accessory businesses in 2022.
’13 Cole Loftus has been named market development manager at IMPACT Strategies.
Jessica (Murphy) Schaller and Daniel Schaller welcomed their first born, Rory Michael Schaller, on Sept. 13, 2021.
professionals seeking MBAs that appeared in Medical Economics.
’10 SLCHS Angie West won a DAISY Nurse Leader Award in 2020. ’11 Phil Bennett was interviewed for a story on KCUR
about the people who perform as Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr.
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’13, ’14 MBA Nate Kulla has been named to the board of operations of the Buddy Fund.
FOR ALUMNI
HAWK HANGOUT After you leave the Rockhurst University campus, you remain a Hawk for life.
Connect with Hawks in your hometown by checking the calendar at rockhurst.edu/alumni. Looking to organize a Rockhurst gathering where you live? Contact Brent Blazek at brent.blazek@rockhurst.edu.
ALUMNI OF COLOR NETWORK Members of the Black Student Union met and mingled with alumni Feb. 22 to formally launch the Alumni of Color Network. The group will provide special opportunities for alumni of color to engage with the University, connect with one another, and provide support and mentorship for current students at Rockhurst.
1973 HAWKS MEN’S SOCCER TEAM The 1973 Hawks men’s soccer team gathered along with head coach Tony Tocco (Back row, far left) for their Rockhurst University Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony Feb. 12. The team finished the season with a 10-3-2 record and was the national runner-up in the NAIA national tournament.
GO CHIEFS! A group of Rockhurst University alumni enjoyed each other’s company and the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High Saturday, Jan. 8. (From left, front row): Benjamin Sheard ’12; Christina Komonce, ’09, ’10 MBA; Kaitlyn Troske, ’12; and Arielle Byrnes, ’12, ’13 MBA (Back row) Chad Kilpatrick, ’09
WE WANT TO SEE YOUR PHOTOS! Do you get together with fellow Hawks for fun, fellowship or service? Send them to brent.blazek@rockhurst.edu.
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’13 M.ED. Hillary Parker-Thomas
was re-elected to the City Council in Mission, Kansas.
’15 Emily DeVore earned a
in the top 20 of the Battle of the Brains competition.
’18 SLCHS Caitlin Lamb is an ECMO specialist in the pediatric ICU.
Master of Arts in children’s literature from University of Roehampton in London.
’18 Anna Lister is a national campus recruiter for CBIZ.
’16 Nick Blair has joined the
Zach Pohlman is the winner of the Judge John R. Brown Scholarship Foundation legal writing award, one of the nation’s largest student writing contests.
Society of Jesus in the Central and Southern Province.
Josh Brannon has been named assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs. Logan Heggemann was named senior director, development, at Union League Boys & Girls Clubs in Chicago.
’16, ’17 MBA Lynn Stegall married Christopher Stegall June 1, 2019. She works at Seaboard Foods as a senior accountant.
’17 Anne (Carron) Federico
married Bennett Federico on Nov. 7, 2020. Their daughter, Gianna Leigh, was born Nov. 11, 2021. John Holden is the community development lead for the Venture Community Association in London. Nick McDonald is the subject of a feature article in the Blue Springs Examiner.
’17, ’18 MBA Ryan Kelly married Sarah (Cook) Kelly on July 10, 2021. 28
’17 M.ED. Sean Klippel was recognized for his third-grade class finishing
SPRING 2022
’19 Maddie Dierkes is the author of “How to Flag Rows of Interest in Tableau” on the Playfair Data blog.
’19 M.S. Lauren Wade is a speech language pathologist at a children’s center for special needs in Independence, Missouri.
’20 Lily Buehler is the guest relations coordinator at the
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in Kirkwood, Missouri.
’21 Courtney Haid is serving with City Year as part of the Americorps program.
Dani Prusha was quoted in a story that appeared on Victory Sports Network about the College of Saint Mary volleyball team winning its final match of the season.
’21 EMBA Bess Wallerstein Huff has been named vice president of marketing and sales for Starlight Theatre.
FOR ALUMNI
IN MEMORIAM Martin Guilfoil, ’48 — Nov. 12
Walter Greene, ’74 — March 18
Joseph Halpin Jr., ’50 — Sept. 17
John Clabaugh, ’75 — Feb. 19
Richard Stock, ’50 — Jan. 19
Ronald McLean, ’75 — Jan. 15
Richard Connor, ’52 — Jan. 3
Larry Glavas, ’76 — Nov. 21
William Pendergast, ’52 — Sept. 14
Herbert Haimerl, ’76 — Oct. 31
Sidney Bordman, ’54 — Dec. 20
Dr. Gregory Muleski, ’76 — Feb. 3
John Burke, ’54 — Feb. 10
Terence Connealy, ’77 — Nov. 17
William Espinosa, ’54 — Dec. 16
Rev. Paul Hartley, ’77 — Jan. 12
Paul Heilman, ’54 — Nov. 25
George Mosbauer, ’77 — Dec. 15
Charles Samenus, ’54 — Oct. 11
Gerald Dietrich, ’78 — Nov. 25
Rev. Thomas Kearns, ’56 — Dec. 16
John Round, ’78 — Nov. 1
Robert Bates, ’57 — Oct. 21
Robert Wonder, ’78 — Feb. 16
Richard Enna Sr., ’58 — Sept. 26
Michael Ermey, ’79 — Dec. 13
James Gilbreth, ’58 — Nov. 8
Paul Wrabec, ’79 — Oct. 20
Charles Gosselin Sr., ’58 — Feb. 20
Timothy Morris, ’80 — Feb. 2
Dr. John Melland, ’58 — Dec. 15
Patrick Cooper, ’83 — Nov. 17
Milton Mulligan, ’58 — Nov. 28
Charlotte Tomlinson, ’83 — Dec. 12
Dr. John Kelly, ’59 — Sept. 28
Samuel Martin, ’84 — Sept. 26
Robert McGowan, ’59 — March 11
Michael Curran, ’85 — Nov. 24
Joseph Torrez, ’59 — Oct. 08
Patrick Tracy, ’85 — Sept. 29
Norman Majors, ’62 — March 29
Laura Hale, ’86 — March 9
John Springer, ’63 — Feb. 10
John Klemm, ’86 — Jan. 27
Charles Weinzerl Sr., ’63 — Oct. 16
Chris Terwilliger, ’87 — Oct. 13
Thomas Farrell, ’65 — March 20
Patrick Brennan, ’88 — Sept. 24
Joseph Bartley III, ’66 — Oct. 10
Dr. William Soper, ’89 — Nov. 21
George Polallis, ’67 — Sept. 30
Kelly Ross, ’90 — Sept. 24
Dr. Bernard Powell, ’67 — Dec. 14
Arthur Webb, ’91 — Nov. 30
Albert Pugh Jr., ’67 — Feb. 5
John Braklow, ’92 — Jan. 27
Kenneth Marx, ’68 — Nov. 7
Richard Hernandez, ’93 — Sept. 27
James Sprague, ’70 — Jan. 6
Dana Bowers, ’94 — Oct. 27
Richard Fabac, ’71 — Dec. 26
Laura Davidoff, ’94 — Jan. 2
Michael Frechin, ’71 — March 4
Daniel Warren, ’97 — Dec. 31
Joseph Rysko, ’71 — Nov. 20
Katherine Burton, ’11 — Nov. 13
Paul Warrington Sr., ’71 — Jan. 16
Philip Hageman, ’13 — Dec. 11
Richard Brummel, ’72 — March 5
Andrew Soloducha, ’14 — March 12
Jerry Hawken, ’73 — Feb. 6
Stanley Counts Jr., ’15 — Dec. 9
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UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 10
Rockhurst University Night at the Royals
Join the RU community for a fun night at the Royals and celebrating Fr. Curran in the Buck O’Neill Legacy Seat.
JUNE 27
Fr. Joseph M. Freeman, S.J., Rockhurst Cup
Support student-athletes in this annual golf tournament for alumni and friends.
SEPT. 30 – OCT. 1
Family and Alumni Weekend
Don’t miss this opportunity to gather with current and former Hawks for soccer, celebrations, class reunions and more!
›››››››››››››››››››››››››› For more information, visit rockhurst.edu/alumni
Support Student-Athletes With Day of Golf at the Rockhurst Cup
T
here’s no better way to support Rockhurst University student-athletes while enjoying one of the Kansas City area’s premier golf clubs than playing in the Joseph M. Freeman, S.J., Rockhurst Cup. This popular annual event returns Monday, June 27, at 9 a.m. at Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate in Overland Park, Kansas. The day includes a four-person scramble with prizes to the top teams, gifts for all players and sponsors, and a post-tournament reception with food and drinks.
This year’s Joseph M. Freeman, S.J., Rockhurst Cup will be held June 27 at Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate.
Individual golf tickets begin at $250 per golfer, with sponsorship options available as well, including a new Reggie Thorpe Legacy Sponsorship in honor of longtime tournament coordinator and Rockhurst athletics fan, Reggie Thorpe, ’71. “Everyone who knew Reggie is aware of the passion he held for Rockhurst University athletics,” said Brent Blazek, ’17 MBA, associate athletic director for development and engagement. “We look forward to continuing this event that he loved so much, and are happy to introduce this new sponsorship option in support of the scholarship that was created in his memory.”
LEARN MORE ›››››››››››››
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To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets, visit rockhurst.edu/rockhurstcup22
FOR ALUMNI
CAREER CENTER TIPS for Landing a Job You Love
1 2 MEET THE EXPERT Patrick Mitchell, SHRM-SCP, ’05, ’09 MBA, is vice president for human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. He is an enthusiastic people and culture leader with a passion for helping others become the very best version of themselves.
3 4 5
FROM PATRICK MITCHELL, SHRM-SCP, ’05, ’09 MBA
FIND MEANING
Don’t worry so much about climbing the ladder. Worry about whether it is leaning against the right building. You spend roughly one third of your life working. Make sure what you dedicate your time, energy and talents to matters … to you.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
Take an honest inventory of your skills, abilities and interests. You can utilize tools such as journaling, vision boarding, and personality and cognitive assessments that can help you align your natural gifts with your purpose. But don’t be fooled into thinking you must have a certain skillset for a particular job. It is more of an exercise in thoughtfully deploying the tool kit that you already have within you to produce the outcomes you desire. Where you identify gaps, take proactive steps to build the skills and knowledge that will enable your success.
LEVERAGE YOUR NETWORK
The key to unlocking your dream job may very well be hiding amongst your network of personal and professional connections. But beware of being solely a consumer. Practice feeding your network as well. Creating connections and bringing value to others manifests goodwill that will be returned to you.
BE PASSIONATELY CURIOUS
The best way to demonstrate your ability to learn, think critically and apply knowledge is being known as an asker of great questions. This kind of next-level thinking shows that you will be passionately curious about advancing the mission of an organization and your role in it. When I’m building a team, I look for people that are constantly thinking about how we can be better and will then pour themselves to making it so.
BE BOLD, YET THOUGHTFUL
Confidence is a wonderful trait when paired with introspection and thoughtfulness. Bring your knowledge and expertise to the table, but also leave room for the possibility that your perspective can be improved upon through interaction with others. Step into every room as though you belong there. Exercise bold thoughtfulness so that you get invited to stay.
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&
QA
WITH LARRY DRAKE, PH.D., ’90 EMBA,
dean of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Q: You spent almost 30 years working at CocaCola and currently work as an academic dean. What led you to transition from the corporate world to higher ed? A: About 10 years before I retired from my corporate and entrepreneurial career, I decided that I wanted to return to school and seek a terminal degree. While living outside this country for almost the last decade of my career, I noticed that that there were significant differences between the U.S. educational system and job and career readiness versus those that I hired from Europe, Africa and the UK. This is despite how much we spend per pupil at both the K-12 and post-secondary level. Although I already I had two bachelor’s degrees and an Executive MBA from Rockhurst, I wanted to better understand this phenomenon and pursue a terminal degree. Ultimately, I obtained both another master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology. Q: Can you tell us a little about your experience as a speaker on the topic of Black fatherhood, and what has been most impactful to you from this experience? A: The majority of my conference speaking on the topic of “Black Fatherhood” has centered on encouraging Black fathers from around the country to continue to do the wonderful work many of them are doing with their own children and in the communities where they reside, as well as eradicating the myth that Black fathers are not present. In fact, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, Black fathers were the most involved with children no matter if they lived with them or not. A greater percentage of Black fathers,
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when compared with white and Hispanic fathers, fed or ate meals with children daily, bathed, diapered or dressed children daily, played with children daily, and read to children daily (Education Equalizer Magazine: June 18, 2018). The study also proved that overall, American dads are more involved with child care than in years past. Q: Where does your passion for this work come from? A: Being a father was life changing for me, and my passion for this work stems from knowing the challenges that Black men, and more specifically Black fathers, face in America. Our challenges are different from other men and fathers, and have been since our ancestors arrived on these shores 400 years ago. Q: Your book “Color Him Father” gives voice to a group of Black fathers – including yourself – who have suffered the tragedy of losing of a child. Yet instead of being a tale of mourning, you aimed to make it a celebration of each man’s family and story. What was it like to tell these stories? A: Writing the book was an amazing journey as it chronicled the lives and relationships of six Black men, including myself, with their children. We actually started with 10 men, all of whom are close friends of mine. How ironic is it that I would know nine other Black fathers who had experienced something so devastating? In any event, two father friends simply were unable to recount their experience because the pain was too much. I understood this completely as it still hurts today, almost five years later. I believe it will always hurt.
Rockhurst University Honors National Health Care Leader David Wild, M.D.
R
ockhurst University honored national health care leader and physician David Wild, M.D., ’19 EMBA, with the 2022 St. Ignatius Award. The award is presented annually to a Rockhurst graduate in recognition of outstanding accomplishments, leadership, and reflection of Jesuit values in the person’s professional career. Wild is a board-certified anesthesiologist with expertise in anesthesia for solid organ transplantation, major vascular procedures, and adult spine surgeries and an accomplished health care executive leader. He is a clinical quality expert, speaking and writing regularly at the national level, advising and coaching growing individuals and new and experienced organizations in improving performance, removing barriers in accessing care, and developing and deploying new solutions and technologies. Wild completed his undergraduate and M.D. degrees at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, his residency training in anesthesiology at Saint Louis University, a fellowship in health policy and leadership in 2018 through the Advisory Board and his executive MBA in 2019 at Rockhurst University. He then spent nearly a decade in a number of roles at Saint Louis University Hospital and the University of Kansas Health System and University of Kansas Medical Center, including serving as a faculty member and in multiple operational and leadership settings.
Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., presents the St. Ignatius Award to David Wild, M.D., ’19 EMBA.
Wild and his wife, Kayla, a breast cancer nurse, have two boys, Carter, 13, and Owen, 5. The award was presented at a reception for executive MBA faculty, students and alumni April 8.
RETRO
ROCKHURST This undated photo — when men wore suits and hats to football games — may be from the 1940s. According to “Rockhurst University, The First 100 Years,” 3,000 bleacher seats were constructed on the west side of Bourke Field in 1928, Mason-Halpin Fieldhouse (shown here before the Convocation Center was built) was dedicated in 1938 and Rockhurst College discontinued its football program in 1950 as the result of a coach and eight players entering the Korean War.
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: KASEY LIERZ, M.D., ’15
Goal Setting Comes Naturally to Doctor and Former Soccer Standout
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or Kasey Lierz, M.D., ’15, choosing the right college meant finding the best place to pursue two dreams — preparing for medical school and playing soccer. She now says selecting Rockhurst University was one of her best decisions. Being part of Rockhurst’s medical scholars program paved the way for Lierz’ entrance into the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, which was perfect for someone who always knew she wanted to be a doctor. Lierz says she shadowed a family friend in high school who was an anesthesiologist in the Kansas City area and became hooked. Through that experience, she got to see heart surgery, nerve blocks and epidurals being placed. Following medical school, Lierz did a surgical intern year at Duke Medical Center in North Carolina and she’s now a chief resident about to start her final year in an anesthesia residency at Saint Louis University Hospital.
“I think studying science at a Jesuit university allows you to be more mindful about the information you’re learning and how it applies to people,” Lierz said. “Instead of just learning pathways and disorders, it was beneficial to think about the whole person and how the disease affects them and their families every day.” Lierz counts the support from her parents and from women’s soccer head coach Greg Herdlick as top reasons for her successful academic and soccer careers at Rockhurst University. In addition, she said being a college athlete forced her to have time management skills and to prioritize what’s important, whether it be school, soccer or being there for a friend. Right now, Lierz is focused on finishing her residency and planning an October wedding with her fiancé, Brendan. Next up will be a fellowship in pediatric anesthesia and the completion of her formal training in 2024.
It’s no coincidence that Lierz selected two Jesuit universities for her pathway to medicine.
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HIRE A HAWK
SPRING 2022
rockhurst.edu/hireahawk Looking for the perfect addition to your team? Contact Rockhurst University’s Career Services to connect with RU alumni and students looking to start their careers and secure internships.
FOR ALUMNI
EVERYDAY LEADERS Teacher Embodies “Cura Personalis” in the Classroom
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hen Chris Shaver, ’09, was hired 10 years ago at Chaminade College Prep in St. Louis, it was for not one, but two jobs, teaching both math and theology. That’s exactly how he likes it. Shaver, a St. Louis native, said he doesn’t believe it’s oil and water — rather, he feels engaging with either subject makes him stronger in both. “I found in my personal experience a lot of value in allowing my faith experience and my theology to be in dialogue with my mathematical mind,” he said. This year, Shaver was one of the St. Louis area teachers honored with the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing his dedication to Chaminade’s students in and out of the classroom. It has been a challenging couple of years for students and teachers. Like many other schools, Chaminade closed temporarily during spring break 2020 hoping to ride out the COVID-19 wave, only to shift to completely online for the remainder of the spring semester. Making sure students felt supported and had the resources needed to be successful during that time — and since — meant sometimes doing things differently, such as hosting “office hours” over Zoom in the evenings where students could drop in or setting up Zooms with specific students learning remotely to touch base on how things were going.
Chris Shaver, ’09
“I found in my personal experience a lot of value in allowing my faith experience and my theology to be in dialogue with my mathematical mind.” —Chris Shaver, ’09
Even as they’ve come back to in-person instruction, Shaver said he’s had to adjust things to make sure that students who were at home still felt supported and part of the classroom community. “I view teaching as a form of ministry, accompanying students on this portion of their life,” he said. “So that’s what I’ve tried to do despite the challenges.”
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IN CLOSING
Ignatian Year Invites Us to Ongoing Transformation BY CINDY SCHMERSAL, ’19 M.A
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00 years! May 20, 2021, marked the 500th anniversary of the day St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (aka the Jesuits), took a cannonball to his legs. This devastating experience proved a holy disruption that radically altered the trajectory of St. Ignatius’ life and ultimately spurred his interior transformation, a conversion of heart. On this momentous anniversary, the global Society of Jesus officially commenced the Ignatian Year, a time when all Jesuit works, Jesuits and lay companions are invited to intentional awareness of our ongoing call to and daily opportunities for transformation. Admittedly, I am often tempted to romanticize St. Ignatius of Loyola’s conversion, drawn to believe that the redirected pilgrim life that followed his post-cannonball year of convalescence was one marked by a magical ease reflective of his renewed clarity of purpose. Yet, the reality is – well, just that – real, gritty and complicated, not romantic or marked by supreme effortlessness. Throughout his pilgrim life, Ignatius met with disappointment, thwarted plans, unexpected paths, and, in them, recognized invitations to deepening conversion, invitations to greater embodied love of God and of God’s creation. And so, during this Ignatian Year, I find myself challenged to recognize that invitations to ongoing conversion of heart abound if only I pay attention, allowing myself to have the eyes to see and heart open – even if only modestly so at times – to transformation. I write this in the spring of 2022, a time ripe with invitation to conversion. I write in the wake of the Feb. 3 Zoom bombing of Rockhurst Black Student Union’s online panel, an invitation to acknowledge and actively combat the evil of racism that persists in our society. I write as the world’s eyes are focused on the Ukraine and the heart-wrenching realities of war, an invitation to honor the interconnectedness of all of humanity and my call to be present to the suffering that is before me – locally and globally. I write following a February in which Kansas City experienced single-digit temperatures with snow on the ground one day and a 60+ degree day the next, an invitation to listen to the cry of the Earth and repent of the ways in which my too often blind consumptive behaviors cause irreparable harm. No doubt, our lives are replete with invitations to conversion of heart. As we journey through the lingering months of this Ignatian Year, which concludes on July 31, 2022, and beyond, may we — companions in shared pilgrimage — ever attend to these invitations that call us forth to ever greater love of others, of creation and, ultimately, of the Source of it all. Cindy Schmersal, ’19 M.A., is vice president for mission and ministry at Rockhurst University. In August 2022, she anticipates completing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in higher education leadership at Rockhurst, her fourth degree from a Jesuit institution. Cindy serves on the boards of the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City and Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society.
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SPRING 2022
TIME AND PLACE
THURSDAY, FEB. 10, GROTTO The new grotto provides a contemplative place for prayer near the statue of Mary, which was moved from its former place to face outward toward the city.
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