Leadership Series

Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and acclaimed author, headlined this year’s Leadership Series.

Bestselling Author Thomas Friedman Headlines 2022 Leadership Series

Bestselling 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.

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

New Accelerated Nursing Program Reaches Rural Populations

When 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.

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.

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.

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

Rockhurst 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.