A group of more than 20 students spent a Saturday morning painting a new colorful U.S. map on the playground at this school in Kansas City’s Brookside neighborhood.
There’s no better place for intellectually curious undergraduate students than Rockhurst University. Research opportunities, and faculty support, abound.
Is east or west best? See how these two cities, both home to generations of Hawks, stack up in all the things that really count.
Societal changes are shaping workforce needs at a rapid pace. Rockhurst is keeping pace by rolling out new academic programs to ensure our graduates remain in demand.
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., John Dodderidge, Katherine Frohoff, Tim Linn; Photographers: John Dodderidge, Emma Koca, Tim Linn, Mark McDonald.
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.
Sandra Cassady, Ph.D. President
I love to invite students and alumni to share their journey to Rockhurst with me. With over 5,000 colleges and universities in the United States, how did they choose to join this Jesuit, Catholic university in the heartland?
For some, they always planned to enroll at Rockhurst as siblings, parents or grandparents attended and they wanted to continue the legacy. For others, the search involved campus visits to many schools and then they weighed factors determined to be important to them, such as the availability of certain majors and programs, financial assistance through scholarships, and the ability to continue to participate in their sport or favorite activity.
Another common response I hear is, “When I toured Rockhurst, I could see myself here — it felt like coming home.” As we unpack that comment, the size of our campus and student population is commonly mentioned. With some colleges and universities in the United States enrolling fewer than 500 students and others serving over 50,000 students, our size — now 2,300 undergraduate students and almost 1,300 graduate students — is attractive for many reasons.
On one hand, Rockhurst is large enough to offer a wide variety of undergraduate majors and programs with early admission and accelerated pathways into our graduate programs. Nearly 600 studentathletes compete in our 22 NCAA Division II men’s and women’s varsity sports. More than 50 clubs and organizations provide opportunities for students to engage in service and hone skills in leadership and planning. Our students love to keep busy and many seem to do it all — a busy major or two, playing a sport, joining a fraternity or sorority and being active in learning outside of the classroom.
On the other hand, current students and alumni find the smaller size of Rockhurst presents opportunities they value. “At Rockhurst, I am a person, not a number. I get to know the faculty and staff and they get to know me.” Through these relationships, many doors are opened. For example, being well known to advisers helps students stay on track and graduate on time at high rates compared to our peers. Some begin doing research with faculty as early as their freshman or sophomore year and other campus resources help students build experiences that prepare them for the workforce, graduate school, or both. Alumni frequently mention the lasting friendships formed during their years on campus. Seeing them come together on Family and Alumni Weekend and at other alumni events throughout the country reinforces the impact these strong relationships had on the student experience.
And, it’s difficult to imagine the Rockhurst experience without mentioning all that Kansas City has to offer. So many students and former students benefit from the rich connections we have with this community. The rich history, growing economy and Midwest hospitality provides extensive opportunities to learn outside of the classroom through service learning, internships and clinical placements. It’s no wonder so many Rockhurst graduates receive job offers and stay in this region.
To sum it up, Rockhurst University in Kansas City provides endless opportunities and for many, we are just the right size. P
It has been said that success is all about connections. And connections are what the Rockhurst University Alumni of Color Network is all about.
The group was started in 2022 to help alumni get connected with each other, reacquainted with Rockhurst and connected to students.
The intention is to foster deeper and even more meaningful engagement as bonds are strengthened.
“As we bring people back into the community, it helps us get involved in other spaces, such as mentorship and student recruitment,” said Alicia Douglas, ’20 M.A., director of community relations and outreach and one of the network’s organizers.
The network has hosted a variety of activities, including a Building Your Professional Network workshop with students and alumni during Family and Alumni Weekend in October.
Meeting the needs of both students and alumni is of primary importance, said Estuardo Garcia, ’18 M.A., who helped launch the group.
“We wanted to connect with current students to let them know that a group of alumni understands what it is like to attend Rockhurst as a student of color,” Garcia said.
“We also wanted to connect to a group of alumni who can be overlooked and feel no need to reengage with the University. We see you. We hear you.”
Learn more by following the Rockhurst University Alumni of Color on LinkedIn and Instagram. P
(From left) The Rev. Stephen Hess, S.J., Alvin Brooks and Rockhurst University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., attend the beam topping ceremony for the new chapel and the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice.
The distinctive lines of the new Mabee Chapel and the Alvin Brooks Center for Faith-Justice are now apparent on the southwest side of the Rockhurst University campus.
And in early September, students, faculty, staff and alumni had a chance to etch their names into a beam for the chapel that was featured in a topping out ceremony for this soon-to-be campus landmark.
The new Mabee Chapel features an approximately 140-seat worship space, and the Brooks Center includes office space and areas designed to foster community collaboration. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2025. P
Coming fresh off a jump in U.S. News & World Report and Niche rankings (see page 13) recognizing it as an elite university for undergraduate and graduate education, Rockhurst is launching a brand campaign that includes a new tagline and brand anthem video.
The campaign is grounded in research conducted earlier in 2024 to discover perceptions prospective students, current students and alumni hold of Rockhurst and what is important to them when choosing a university. Surveyed alumni overwhelmingly said they would recommend Rockhurst to others.
The new tagline — Lead with Courage, Live with Purpose — is aligned with Rockhurst’s mission and values, its emphasis on leadership development and position as an academically prestigious institution.
Rockhurst partnered with marketing firm Crux to develop the campaign. Melea McCrae, ’20 EMBA, is founder and CEO of the agency. P
In November, Rockhurst University flipped the switch on a newly redesigned website that features many enhancements.
The new rockhurst.edu offers a noticeable visual upgrade, with content reorganized in a way that makes information more visually engaging and easier to find and read for visitors.
The site structure features a heavy emphasis on academics, which consistently ranks among the top reasons prospective students visit the site during their selection process. And you’ll find a lot more information on the home page — the “hamburger menu” at the top right of the screen, denoted with three lines and next to the search tool, gives visitors easy access to most content. Clicking the search tool gives you both a search bar and an A-Z menu.
But it’s not just about what you see on the screen — under the hood, the upgrade to a more advanced platform makes it easier to implement new features and ongoing security updates and strengthens search engine optimization. P
The Rockhurst University Board of Trustees has deepened its bench with six new members this past year.
Susan Krug is chief nursing executive at Saint Luke’s Health System. She has more than 20 years of experience in providing nursing strategic planning, ensuring high quality and safe operations in both routine and crisis operations, fostering clinical staff engagement and shaping culture.
Drew Hatten, ’04, is vice president, underwriting and strategic accounts, at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. He leads the underwriting division, including setting direction for commercial pricing strategies to achieve corporate goals. He was selected by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce for the Centurions Leadership Program, class of 2022, and has served on the Rockhurst University Leaders Council.
Ben Geis, ’00, is a managing director of Eagle Private Capital. His experience in the financial industry includes reinsurance contracts, acquisitions and divestitures of blocks of business, operational reviews, benchmarking and mergers. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of CPAs.
Luis Martinez, ’18, ’19 MBA, is associate producer at Lockton, working in risk management in the Property and Casualty practice in the firm’s Kansas City office. Prior to Lockton, he held positions at KPMG and Piper Sandler. He is an active member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City.
Caroline Adams, ’20, is social supervisor at Barkley. While a student, she served as Panhellenic president and created her own photography business, Capture With Caroline, through which she continues to give back to Rockhurst.
Thomas J. Higgins is chairman of the board of Prosetta Biosciences Inc., a San Francisco based biotech company focused on novel drug discoveries for cancer, respiratory, viral and neural degenerative diseases. He is founding CEO of Prosetta, serving as president and CEO from 2003-08. Earlier in his career, Higgins served in the administration of President Jimmy Carter, beginning as the Kansas City regional director of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He later served on the White House senior staff as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet. P
James Brown, host of “The NFL Today” on CBS and a five-time Emmy Award-winning network broadcaster, will be the guest of the 2025 Rockhurst University Leadership Series with presenting sponsor Tria Health speaking on how to “Break the Huddle and Run the Play” at the event scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri.
Elected to the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in August 2020, Brown is one of the most recognizable faces and voices in television. He is a record-setting 11-time host for the Super Bowl and a contributor to programs such as 60 Minutes, CBS Mornings, CBS Evening News and 48 Hours.
Among his many honors, Brown is the recipient of the 2016 Pete Rozelle Award by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes “longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football,” and “The Uncommon Award” from Tony Dungy for his “uncommon leadership through character and faith.” In May 2024, Brown was presented with the Lifetime Achievement honor at the 45th Annual Sports Emmy® Awards.
Brown was named the Best Studio Host of the Decade by SI.com in 2010 and in 2022 he received the Jackie Robinson Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism by One Hundred Black Men of New York.
This year’s event marks the 13th edition of the Rockhurst University Leadership Series, a long-running tradition bringing some of the world’s foremost thinkers and luminaries to Kansas City to speak on aspects of their leadership. Past guests have included David Brooks, Caroline Kennedy, Joe Montana, Condoleezza Rice and Capt. Scott Kelly.
Also during the event, Rockhurst University will honor the recipient of the 2024 Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics. P
In November, the Rockhurst University Leadership Series in St. Louis welcomed the Rev. Gregory Boyle, S.J., for its annual luncheon event.
Fr. Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles-based organization recognized as the largest and most successful gang intervention and rehabilitation program in the world. His vision and dedication have created a sanctuary of hope, opportunity, and transformation for former gang members.
During the event, the University also awarded its Magis Award for Leadership and Service to members of the
St. Louis community who exemplify the Jesuit core value of “magis,” or “more.” Recipients Ben, ’99, and Angie Geis and Bill and Chris Newbold, ’86, have grown Noboleis Winery into a beloved destination and award-winning winery. Ben and Bill have served as founding members of the St. Louis RU Leaders Council, leveraging their professional skills to support Rockhurst University’s mission and initiatives.
The University also presented the Faber Young Alumni Award to Beverly and Paul Hughes, ’17. Read more about their outstanding contributions to the St. Louis community on page 31. P
Holding a place of honor, front row center, in the new bank of seats in the Rockhurst University softball field is a nameplate that reads “Galen Struve, RU Hall of Fame Softball Coach, Head Coach, 2005-17.”
But that’s only part of the story. Look at the seat directly behind it and you will see “Elaine Struve, Dana, Shayla and Emily, Proud Family of Galen and RU Softball.”
“I want my legacy seat to symbolize that I was always behind Galen and his vision, dedication and hard work for building the softball program,” Elaine said. Coach
Struve led the program from its inception in 2005 until retiring in 2017. He died Dec. 16, 2022.
The legacy seat program allows Rockhurst softball fans like Elaine to purchase a nameplate to honor a loved one, commemorate their own time on the field or thank a coach — almost anything that has meaning for them.
Occupying the spaces next to Coach Struve’s seat are seats for Suzie Muenz, assistant softball coach, 2014-17, and Head Coach Dana Goss, who served as assistant under Struve 200712. Nearby are Alexandra Jacobson, ’14, and Emily (Dye) McVey, ’08, who both played for Struve and continue to be involved with the program today.
“As alumni, we know first-hand the impact this program has had on our lives,” Jacobson said. “Through the legacy seat program we have the opportunity to continue the work that Coach Struve did and provide new opportunities for student-athletes.” P
Legacy seats at Loyola Park, Bourke Field, or Mason-Halpin Fieldhouse can be purchased with a minimum $500 contribution to any athletic program. To learn more, visit rockhursthawks.com/ legacyseats.
As the fall semester ended, so too did senior Molly Morris’ competitive cross country career.
But this biochemistry major, who is also philanthropy chair for Gamma Phi Beta sorority, part of the grounds crew for campus and the president of Student Senate, is looking forward to a unique new challenge — being a yearround student-athlete on Rockhurst’s recently added track and field team and spending some additional time with her teammates. Molly Morris, senior
“Just this morning, our run today didn’t feel like practice. It felt like I was hanging out with my best friends,” she said. “You only get to be a college athlete once, so I’m thankful I get this opportunity.”
Awake at 5 a.m. for practice, then to class, then activities after — Morris said a Google calendar broken down into 30-minute increments is her secret weapon. As is a determination to use her time well. This year, she committed to bringing to reality a project from Student Senate last year — a partnership with a company called Aunt Flow that supplies menstrual products for organizations to provide free of charge. Morris said she’s proud that the senators worked together to make it a reality, and that the effort is being well-received on campus.
“It’s been really great to see people interested in getting involved with it and embracing it,” she said. “I think it makes campus more inclusive.” P
The first-year head coach for the Rockhurst men’s basketball program is not new to RU. Kyle Blackbourn spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach for the Hawks.
Blackbourn has spent the past eight years on the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball staff. He spent his last four years as the director of recruiting and scouting for the Badgers.
During Blackbourn’s time at Wisconsin, the Badgers won two Big Ten regular season championships and played in five NCAA Tournaments. Wisconsin played in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2017 and the NIT Final Four in 2023.
A native of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, Blackbourn earned a physical education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 2011. He also received a master’s degree in educational leadership from Benedictine College in 2014.
The Hawks opened the regular season on Nov. 8-9 against Davenport University and Purdue University Northwest in the GLIAC-GLVC Challenge in Grand Rapids, Michigan. P
Rockhurst University has received the NCAA Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence for achieving four-year Academic Success Rates of 90% or higher for the 14th consecutive year.
Rockhurst finished with a 92% ASR in 2023-24, which ranks in a tie for 12th among NCAA Division II institutions. Rockhurst led the Great Lakes Valley Conference and all Division II schools in Missouri and Kansas. P
Rockhurst University celebrated 60 years of men’s soccer during the weekend of Oct. 25-27. The event reconnected men’s soccer alumni going back to the 1960s. Alumni, families and fans honored the program at a Saturday evening dinner program centered around home games on Friday and Sunday. Hall of Famer and Head Coach Tony Tocco, Ph.D., joined the program in 1969. P
Jennifer Rinella, Ed.D., associate professor of management and associate dean of academic programs in the College of Business and Technology, co-authored a case study with Merritt Neil, ’97, president and principal of Merrigan and Co. and adjunct professor of marketing, titled “#StillServing: Engaging younger veterans in continued service,” published in the Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing in April. P
Mary Poskin, Ph.D., assistant professor of nursing, attended the national Social Mission Alliance conference hosted by Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
She was part of a poster presentation on an integrative review she conducted in fall 2023 on the health beliefs and practices of youth who identify as LGBTQIA+ experiencing housing insecurity. P
Senior Melody Palma was looking for a chance to help her community and bolster her resume for a career in criminal justice. In her summer internship, she found both.
Palma, a criminal justice and Spanish major, was an intern in summer 2024 at the Police Athletic League of Kansas City. There she developed a digital records system for the young people who come to the athletic league for activities, and a “culture board” — a collaborative bulletin board with information on everything from birthdays to resources, to connect families and the league. As one of the faces the young people and families would see, she made her own connections.
“I got to talk one-on-one with these kids and talk to them about my experience here at Rockhurst,” she said. “I learned a lot of these kids, without the police athletic league, would not have much to fall back on. Here they had a place to feel themselves and they kind of had their own little family and community.”
Palma said the experience showed her another side of law enforcement and reminded her that she was first drawn to the field as a way of helping Spanish-speaking families like her own. P
Yu Liu, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, knows that organic chemistry has a bit of a reputation.
It’s an innately difficult subject; a crucible for generations of science majors at Rockhurst. Despite being the face of what many consider Rockhurst’s most difficult class, Liu was named Faculty of the Year by students at the Festival of Student Achievement in April 2024.
How does he do it? Liu said it’s important to him to give students pathways to understand a challenging subject. Examples, cartoons, humor — it’s all on the table. He also makes it known that his door is open if students want to drop in to better understand the material, or just vent.
“I play the role of supporter and cheerleader to make sure they can get the most out of my class,” Liu said. “I can see
that students view organic chemistry as a fierce adversary but at the same time, I think you need a worthy opponent to get the most out of yourself.”
As a result, he also gets to know many students on a personal level. For this native of Kansas City’s sister city, Xi’an, China, who wants to connect with students just like his hometown is linked with KC, helping current students understand organic chemistry reflects the value of “cura personalis,” or “care for the whole person.”
“To see them being successful outside of their academic life as a result of their experience in my class is gratifying,” he said. P
“You have embraced us companions here at Chillicothe with love, respect and compassion that go beyond the scope of education, but touches to the core of humanity...”
—Vermonn Roberts
In 2017, Rockhurst University started a program at Chillicothe Correctional Center, about an hour and a half northeast of Kansas City, with a simple promise: an education, no strings attached.
About 40 students, both from the facility’s staff and its incarcerated residents, said yes, growing along with the program. In August, 11 of them saw the culmination of that promise, becoming the first-ever recipients of Associate of Arts degrees in liberal studies through the program.
“I feel like this kind of says that it’s never too late for you to go after your dreams,” said Lisa Smith, an institutional parole officer who said she put dreams of a college degree on hold when she started her family.
Every week, faculty have traveled to the facility to teach courses, with one offered per term. Experiencing everything from English to biology, theater to theology, the students engaged not only with each other across the understood boundaries of the criminal justice system, but also with the broader University community. In the process, they said, they were able to gain wisdom and reclaim a sense of humanity.
“Thank you to Rockhurst University and the Jesuit family,” said Vermonn Roberts, one of the students from the incarcerated population. “You have embraced us companions here at Chillicothe with love, respect and compassion that go beyond the scope of education, but touches to the core of humanity within each individual student here at the Chillicothe campus. For that I am beyond grateful.” P
ROCKHURST NAMED
BEST REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES in the Midwest #7
U.S. News & World Report ranked Rockhurst University No. 7 on its list of Best Regional Universities in the Midwest, our highest position EVER.
So,
ROCKHURST HAS GAINED
19 owing to continued improvements in peer assessment, support for Pell eligible students and graduation and retention rates.
RANKING SPOTS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS,
30% PERCENTILE RANK nationally for our nursing program
3
UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS PROGRAMS are ranked in the TOP 30
nationwide.
MARKETING, MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICS
IN MISSOURI FOR NURSING PROGRAM #1
ACCORDING TO NICHE.COM
In summer 2024, more students than ever eschewed the beach in favor of the Rock, setting a record for graduate enrollment during the summer term.
A total of 1,023 graduate students enrolled in summer courses at Rockhurst, led by continued growth in the Doctor of Education and Master of Science in Nursing degree programs.
Total summer enrollment reached 1,396, which again was the highest in recent history.
In fall 2024, the University also welcomed its largest transfer class on record.
By Tim Linn
Rockhurst students Grace Olson, Khushi Patel, Rahi Patel and Caroline Saunchegraw are sitting in the relative calm of Kansas City’s sprawling Loose Park.
But their minds are anything but. Stationed in different environments within the park’s expanse, they are watching carefully, meticulously cataloging bird species with the help of an app as part of a research project they designed and executed and would later present at Research Day, an annual celebration of the research-based work that students at Rockhurst take on.
At Research Day — which grew out of the annual Festival of Student Achievement — students prepare posters and discuss their work with faculty, staff and fellow students, like academic speed dating. And it highlights the many undergraduates — from the humanities
to health care — who are taking advantage of research opportunities on campus. In that open session, the Loose Park research group happily discusses the process, the results and the implications of the project.
“You can see where this data could help plan for future parks or other spaces,” Olson said. “If you want to attract certain species or if you want to create diversity, these are the environments to have in mind.”
It’s part and parcel with a Jesuit approach to engage with the world as part of education. And while the cycle of research is familiar in graduate education, it’s something faculty across disciplines at Rockhurst strive to provide to undergraduate students, too, said Joanna Cielocha, Ph.D., associate professor of biology. Students in the biology program often approach faculty with an interest, she said. As a smaller, teaching-focused institution, Rockhurst doesn’t have the same volume of opportunities that larger research institutions do. But faculty have their own research specialties, and an organic network among them allows students to be plugged into ongoing projects.
Cielocha, for instance, has had multiple groups of students working on research related to parasites. As someone for whom undergraduate research was a formative part of her own education, Cielocha said she believes conducting research alongside faculty is a critical experience.
“I want undergraduates to have that same experience I had getting a broader sense of what it means to be a scientist,” she said. “It’s so important in their formation — as scientists, as thinkers, as members of a community here and beyond.”
In addition to the opportunities on campus, faculty help provide students access to a growing network of valuable internship opportunities at the University of Kansas Medical Center or Stowers Institute for Medical Research, among others.
“So many of our students go into medical school or health care,” Cielocha said. “But think about how much more knowledge you’d have if you understand the genetics behind a disease. Or the techniques behind the innovations. It’s hands-on learning that makes them better.”
The students who work with faculty like Cielocha get the chance to present, publish and hone their skills for their future careers. But there are other benefits to working alongside faculty as peers in research. Andrew Burnside, ’19, just earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University and started his own career in academia. The goal existed when he started at Rockhurst. But he thanked the experience of working alongside Robert Vigliotti, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, on a summer research project centered on questions about political violence through the Dean’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship for giving him an opportunity to spend time with a working academic outside of the classroom.
“It was an amazing experience,” Burnside said. “Those one-on-one sessions, the feedback I received and the skills I built up were invaluable. Research methods, writing, presenting — I leveraged all of that for my graduate school applications.”
For other students, research offers the opportunity to have a real-world impact, a cornerstone of Jesuit education. Each spring, students in Rockhurst’s criminal justice program are chosen to be part of the Innocence Project, in which they conduct a semesterlong legal review of an existing case and make a recommendation to the Midwest Innocence Project in Kansas City on whether to pursue it. A number of colleges and universities have Innocence Project chapters in their law schools, but Rockhurst is one of only a few in which undergraduate students are leading the review. Craig Watz, J.D., assistant professor of criminal justice and instructor for the class, said the course is more than research — it’s the holistic Jesuit education in action.
“For the students, this is about showing them how the criminal justice system works — both good and bad,” he said. “It teaches them to critically think as they seek justice and take ownership in something that is necessary in our society.”
Shana-Kay Durrant, a senior criminal justice major who was part of last spring’s group, said for the first time, the group was asked to review a life sentence case. It was a hefty project, but one that prepared her especially well for a potential career in law. And it’s one in keeping with all of the promise of Jesuit education — that wisdom should be used in the service of making the world a better place.
“It was a huge case, and I think we all approached it that way. It was a lot of work, but I learned that I could contribute, and that I could play a big role in someone’s freedom,” she said. “It makes me want to do more.”
Sofia Torres-Aranda, ’22, experienced that sense of self-empowerment, too. In her capstone project for peace and international studies, she said she interviewed immigrant women from Mexico for insights into how their Catholic faith informed their experience. It all gave TorresAranda the kind of insight that extends far beyond the classroom.
“(It) was so validating and inspiring,” she said. “I’m so grateful that my time as an undergrad student at RU allowed me to dive into my interests and passions. This has helped me now that I’m in my career because I have come to learn that curiosity should be a lifelong journey.”
P
Shana-Kay Durrant, Craig Watz, J.D., assistant professor of criminal justice, and Emeri Pasley review case files, part of the Innocence Project course.
By Tim Linn
It’s a tale as old as time (and older than Rockhurst) — the mostly friendly rivalry between Kansas City and St. Louis, the two anchors on Missouri’s western and eastern borders. We’re not sister cities, exactly, more like siblings with a healthy sense of competition. It’s no surprise, then, that throughout its history, Rockhurst University has seen some of this firsthand, as St. Louis and Kansas City together make up the largest share of both alumni and current students. Does either city have an argument for superiority? Let’s look at the data (a term we admittedly use pretty loosely) and hear from some alumni in both cities.
508,090 (State Rank: 1)
2,392,035 (State Rank: 2)
1853
318
“Heart of America”
City Limit Population Metro Area Size
Established Area (in Square Miles) Motto
There are some arguments between our two cities that will just never fade. Like which fans are more loyal? Hard to argue that St. Louis does not show up to support its teams (“Play ‘Gloria!’”), and the St. Louis Cardinals are second only to the Yankees in World Series titles. On the other hand… Kansas City has a love for the Chiefs and their four Super Bowl titles that borders on unhealthy. During 2024’s subzero Wild Card round game against the Dolphins, it actually was unhealthy.
This one’s too close to call (or we just don’t want to out of fear).
301,578 (State Rank: 2)
2,809,299 (State Rank: 1)
1764
66
“Justifiably Proud”
Or whose food is better? St. Louis gave the world some unique concoctions toasted ravioli, St. Louis style pizza and gooey butter cake — and for that we thank you. But in Kansas City, barbecue is king, especially when it comes to burnt ends, the crispy pieces cut off the edge of brisket. Famed author Calvin Trillin considered them the best thing served (for free!) at the best restaurant in the world, Arthur Bryant’s barbecue.
Hard to not give this one to KC, but wherever you are, you’re eating good.
If sports and food weren’t controversial enough for you, here’s another one — is it soda or pop? It feels like one of the third rails in intracity relations. “Pop” is common in Kansas City and is reportedly the preferred term for about 23% of the country, where St. Louisans are more likely to say “soda,” a sentiment shared with about 47% of Americans (both according to the Washington Post).
The stats don’t lie – give the edge to St. Louis. Just don’t call all soft drinks Coke — that’s kind of weird, honestly.
Both KC and St. Louis claim some iconic foods.
Both cities can claim some famous faces — Chuck Berry and Maya Angelou in St. Louis and Charlie Parker and Robert Altman for Kansas City, to name a few. Two of the biggest stars in American comedy — Jason Sudeikis and Paul Rudd, are proud Kansas Citians. But a decent portion of “The Office” cast — Pam, Phyllis and Erin — are from St. Louis, just outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
In addition to the fantastic people, both places have produced household name products. St. Louis is, of course, the home of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the largest brewer in the world. Hallmark Cards, a name synonymous with greeting cards, is headquartered in Kansas City.
Obviously, there’s room for disagreement here, but we’re calling this one a draw.
The conversation about landmarks in St. Louis essentially begins and ends with the Gateway Arch, a towering monument (the world’s largest arch, at 630 feet) that is recognized across the country. Completed in 1965, the Arch symbolizes Westward expansion.
Maybe Kansas City doesn’t have a landmark of that national renown, but it does have some iconic structures, including Liberty Memorial, sitting atop the hill overlooking Union Station and our downtown skyline. Completed in 1926, the 217-foot tower was built as a monument to World War I by civic leaders and in 2004 was designated the official national memorial to the conflict.
Gotta give this one to St. Louis, but the story of Liberty Memorial is one of the civic pride that still defines Kansas City.
For St. Louis, 1904 was a huge year. At the time, it was one of the biggest cities in the country and hosted both the Summer Olympics and the World’s Fair. The latter is credited for popularizing iced tea and the ice cream cone and introducing X-Ray technology. The marathon that took place at the former lives in infamy, with tales of participants chased off the course by wild dogs and other competitors drinking poison or cheating by hitching rides to the end of the course. Look it up, it’s a wild story.
Kansas City’s history is also fascinating, though at times grisly, to read. The city’s early 20th Century boom and
reputation as a place that Prohibition forgot goes hand in hand with visits from Al Capone and other famous mobsters, the Union Station Massacre, and the Pendergast political machine that played some part in giving the U.S. the Harry Truman administration.
Kansas City’s past has inspired numerous movies, books and TV shows. We’re giving it the edge here.
There’s one question every St. Louisan loves and/or hates to ask and/or answer — “where did you go to high school?” Kansas Citians field geographical questions a lot: “Yes, I live in Kansas City. No, not in Kansas. Why, yes, there is also a Kansas City in Kansas.” And don’t get us started on “Kansas City, North” versus “North Kansas City.”
This one’s a push – both questions are likely to inspire eye-rolls from locals.
OK, so this was never really about competition — we really wanted to celebrate the communities that Rockhurst graduates continue to impact in many ways. The head-to-head is too close to call (and we wouldn’t have it any other way).
What Defines the “Spirit of St. Louis” for You?
“There are so many great ethnic neighborhoods. It’s a big part of our history and identity as a city. You can go from the Italian area on the Hill, the Dutchtown area that was traditionally German, and all of the different places in south St. Louis. From festivals to food, it’s great to see so many of these traditions live on.”
Rich Grawer, ’65, retired basketball coach at Saint Louis University
What Makes Kansas City the “Heart of America?”
“Kansas City is often referred to as the ‘Heart of America’ not only due to its historical significance as a strategic hub for industry, natural resources, and power but also because of its vibrant presence in sports, culinary arts, entertainment and innovation.” Davin Gordon, ’13, program officer at the Hall Family Foundation
What’s Something You Have to Experience Your First Time in Kansas City?
“A visit to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a must for anyone new to Kansas City. It’s a place where you can lose yourself in masterpieces and uncover new favorites. Personally, I always make a point to visit ‘Venus Rising From the Sea – A Deception,’ by Raphaelle Peale — it’s a stunning piece that never fails to captivate me.” Bess Wallerstein Huff, ’21 EMBA, vice president of marketing and sales at Starlight Theater
What Does Kansas City Do Better Than Anywhere Else?
“It seems to be forming its modern-day identity with people who have invested a lot in shaping the city.” Garret Prather, ’13 MBA, vice president of strategic partnerships for Sandlot Goods
What Does St. Louis Do Better Than Anyone Else?
“Parks! Especially Forest Park with its free museums, the Muny, and the Saint Louis Zoo. Those are such a gift to have. And since they are free, there are accessible to everyone in the community. I’m also partial to Tower Grove Park for their weekly farmers markets and events.” Katherine Casey, ’13, marketing manager at St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation P
City landmarks include Liberty Memorial and the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
By Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA
For years, the field of higher education seemed a bit like the banking industry – predictable, rather uniform and unchanging. Today? Not so much. Just as in about every other sector of the economy, the pandemic forced higher education to do some soul searching and a bit of reinvention.
Fast forward to today and you’ll find Rockhurst University in a tie for the sixth most innovative University in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings. The ranking was the result of surveys of college presidents, provosts and admission deans that asked them to name institutions that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.
So, what earned RU this new accolade? We turned to the man with innovation in his title to enlighten us — Myles Gartland, Ph.D., associate vice president of strategy and innovation and dean of the College of Business and Technology.
“One of the most significant things we’ve done in recent years is acquire the Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences from the Saint Luke’s Health System,” Gartland
said. “We’re now seeing many of our plans for that academic division come to fruition and the possibilities for the future are almost limitless.”
Nowhere is the idea of the University as an ivory tower more outdated than in health care education.
For Kristina Henry, DNP, associate dean and chief academic officer of nursing, it’s all about keeping abreast of societal changes that are informing changes in health care and, as a result, in health care education.
“It’s a balance between implementing evidence-based strategies while being adaptable and innovative for the changing health care environment,” said Henry. “For example, 20 years ago the need wasn’t great for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, or we didn’t know that was the case. Our primary responsibility is to provide an educated and critically thinking health care work force.”
Henry said Saint Luke’s College has started to reimagine flagship programs to make them more flexible for the current workforce. In fall 2024, the college piloted a part-time traditional BSN program. With this model, there’s an extra semester but students are working in health care while earning the degree.
Armed with data that showed 10% of the college’s undergraduate nursing population spoke English as a second language, the college launched an ESL mentoring program, an online-based resource where peer and faculty mentors discuss cultural and language barriers, challenges and solutions. Forty students participated this fall.
One of the fastest growing nursing programs at Rockhurst is the Master of Science in Nursing, which went from 80 students to 400 in three years. It’s a hybrid program with the didactic portion completed online, complemented by an on-campus immersion. It’s the only program in the state that provides practicum placements rather than asking students to find their own preceptor. Students in the MSN can choose from five tracks depending on the practice area that interests them.
“Through this program, we’re expanding access to care for Missouri, Kansas and our region, especially in rural areas,” Henry said.
Another academic program that is experiencing phenomenal growth and that is also expanding Rockhurst’s footprint nationally is the Ed.D. in Education and Leadership. This online program has experienced a 340% growth rate since the summer of 2023 and draws more than half its students from beyond Missouri and Kansas, from states as far away as Washington, California, New York and Florida.
Although the Ed.D. program is offered entirely online, the full-time faculty are all on ground at Rockhurst so they can build community and collaborate for the best interests of students, according to Sarah Hicks, Ph.D., professor and chair of the School of Education.
“Our Catholic, Jesuit identity, with ‘cura personalis,’ or ‘care for the whole person,’ ‘magis,’ or ‘more,’ and
contemplation in action as three of our guiding values, provides a caring and rigorous learning environment, which sets us apart from other institutions,” said Hicks.
“Faculty are committed to the vision and mission of Rockhurst University and prompt students to reflect upon how their work is situated within their communities and will impact society and our world.”
Changes in consumer behavior following the pandemic have occurred across industries and higher education is no exception, according to Gartland. Rockhurst has made it a priority to be at the table when industry leaders and organizations in Kansas City are laying out strategies for the region regarding growth areas and subsequent workforce needs. We’re then right there to show what Rockhurst University has to offer and where we’re resource heavy in terms of knowledge and graduates.
“We’ve been especially able to step up in terms of technology and health care,” Gartland said. “We have become part of the supply chain, helping employers meet those needs.”
Sometimes that involves developing new academic programs in response to what shoes employers are looking to fill and to help them get filled with much sought-after Rockhurst graduates.
Rockhurst has been steadily introducing new academic programs in the past couple of years and has established a strategy for continuing that trend.
Gartland says the first consideration when evaluating a program to pursue is whether it serves our mission. In addition, it should tie into the economic development for this region and job opportunities for our graduates. It should also complement current programs.
Building the strategy and process for continuously introducing new offerings is crucial for any organization, said Gartland.
“A lot of people think of innovation as technology, such as Apple, when in fact the biggest innovations are organizational — how to do things differently. One of the most important classes an MBA student can take is change management.” P
Rockhurst University and Kansas City University signed partnership agreements in November that open accelerated pathways for Rockhurst students to earn medical degrees at KCU. (From left) Rockhurst University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D.; Kansas City University President Mark B. Hahn, DO
Master of Science in Nursing – five tracks
Doctor of Education in Education and Leadership – four tracks
New Stackable MBA format, including stand-alone certificate options
Master of Science in Data Analytics
Master of Science in Information Systems (starting fall 2025)
Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology (starting fall 2026)
In partnership with Kansas City University
• Early Acceptance Program for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), and the Master of Health Science –Anesthesiologist Assistant (MHS-AA) programs
• Post-baccalaureate pathway to health care programs at KCU
In partnership with Regis and Creighton universities
• New locations for Master of Science in SpeechLanguage Pathology: Denver, Phoenix, Omaha (starting fall 2025)
In partnership with Saint Louis University
• Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Certificate Programs
• DEI graduate certificate
• Medical Spanish graduate certificate
• STEAM graduate certificate
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner post graduate certificate
• Registered Nurse First Assistant certificate
• RN Return to Practice certificate
John Holtz is retired from a 50-year health care career. In recognition of his 18 years of service to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, he was given a Pendleton blanket with the tribal insignia from the Tribal Chairman, Joseph Rupnick. In Indigenous communities, a Pendleton blanket award is a treasured honor.
Richard Stephens has retired after 50 years in real estate development and brokerage.
Robert Crossley is the author of an essay titled “The Silencing of Ophelia,” which appeared in the winter 2024 issue of The Hudson Review.
Michael Canella is retired as a CRNA.
Jim Healey, a Rockhurst All-Century Basketball Team member, just published “125 Years of Golf in Forest Park (St. Louis),” the 39th book he has completed about golf or related activities in the St. Louis region since 1997. He also published “100 Years of Rockhurst Basketball” in 2021.
Russell Ascheman has retired.
Arthur Baker has been promoted from president to chairman at Peter Baker and Son Co.
Stephen Moore retired from the active practice of law, but continues to teach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where he has been for 26 years.
Pete McDonald is a volunteer teacher in the Pre-K at Resurrection at the Cathedral in Kansas City, Kansas.
Michael Hill earned a JCL degree from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in June 2024.
Katherine Ising has retired after 42 years in various roles in information technology at AT&T.
Patricia (Brown) Gaylord lives in Huntsville, Texas, and is employed as a hospice nurse for Compassus Hospice.
Gigi Lombrano was the recipient of 6 ASID MO-East Pinnacle Awards. Gigi Lombrano Interiors is also featured in a recent issue of St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles Magazine.
Sandra Souza works for Murj, Inc.
Srinivas Iyengar, M.D., delivered the keynote lecture at Kansas EyeCon in May in Chicago.
Christopher Plotz has been named president of CelluComp, a sustainable materials company.
Justin Powell has been named CFO at Mill Steel Company.
Justin Johnson has been promoted to director of service delivery for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brian Roewe and his family welcomed a daughter, Kathryn Christine.
’16
Aldair Gongora was recognized for his work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory using machine learning to design lattice structures for use in bioengineering and other applications.
Tracie Felt has been named vice president of sales operations for 4M Building Solutions.
Danny Esselman has been promoted to senior vice president financial adviser at Commerce Bank in Kansas City.
Shelby Jones is currently vice president of sales and consulting services for FuelK12.
Sean Kane published an article titled “The ‘Sufficiently Strange’ Sloth” on the early history of the three-toed sloth (Bradypus crinitus) in the June 2024 issue of EPOCH Magazine.
Adam Fatkin and his family welcomed a son, Jackson Stewart Fatkin, in February 2023. He has also been named a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.
Maria Garcia earned a Master of Arts degree in gender, media and culture from Goldsmiths, University of London.
Annika Lewis is a public librarian in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
’18
Nathaly Cifuentes Riano
moved to London, where she has been living for the past five years and worked for an NGO called World Heals the World. She was invited to the first World Youth Conference on Kindness by UNESCO MGIP and became part of their youth leadership. As part of the youth network, she was a steering committee member leading the digital communications for the Global Youth Alliance for Kindness, leading a number of webinars in that position, including one regarding systemic racism. In 2023, she began working as a digital communications lead at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, an African organization that provides an African voice on current global challenges.
has completed a year of service with Amate House in Chicago with placement as a case manager at Heartland Alliance International - Majorie Kovler Center. He was accepted to the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work, Magis program, and is a graduate intern for undocumented student initiatives at the University’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion. He is currently a social work intern at Jesuit Refugee Services USA.
Nicole Smith is the interim CEO of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy.
’20
Justine Howell is events and communications specialist at Spencer Fane LLP.
Kyle White is working as a public defender at the Los Angeles County Public Defenders Office.
Maggie Witt started her OBGYN residency at University Health in Kansas City, Missouri.
Richard Foutch is living in Golden Valley, Arizona.
Aqsa Choudhry is working as a health care associate at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Morgan (Maloney) VanGampleare married Sam VanGampleare in November 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska.
’23
Brennan Walkenhorst is working at Commerce Bank.
Jacob Hetzel is a private banker with JP Morgan in the Kansas City area.
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. Be sure to visit rockhurst.edu/alumni for a calendar of upcoming events. Connect with fellow Hawks on campus and elsewhere!
was named AmeriCorps Member of the Year for the state of Missouri and was honored in an April ceremony in Jefferson City, Missouri.
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.
Albert Portelance Jr., ’48 — February 12
Thomas Mauer, ’50 — April 06
John Fitzgerald Jr., ’51 — December 19
Daniel Marra, ’51 — July 21
Hugh Nugent, ’51 — March 11
Dr. Norman Lloyd, ’52 — February 14
Victor Summers Jr., ’53 — December 26
Thomas Curry, ’54 — March 09
William Heft, ’54 — March 18
Dennis McKee, ’54 — July 05
Dr. Florian Muckenthaler, ’55 — March 23
Dr. Joseph Grantham, ’56 — December 31
Eugene Hess, ’56 — July 29
Dr. George Myers Jr., ’56 — August 17
Francis Newton, ’56 — August 26
Bernard Schaefer, ’56 — April 18
Dr. John Thiel, ’56 — June 07
David Easterday, ’57 — April 26
Leo Kelly Jr., ’57 — August 05
Lawrence Scanlon, ’58 — January 08
Robert Switzer Sr., ’58 — March 25
John Barnard II, ’59 — February 29
Patrick Laughlin, ’59 — June 04
Neal Millert, ’59 — December 28
Michael Vogelgesang, ’59 — June 29
Jack Hughey, ’60 — March 03
Albert Joseph, ’60 — August 06
Kenneth Vardyan, ’60 — March 31
Dr. Charles Moran, ’61 — January 28
Jack Wulser, ’61 — July 31
John Kerwin, ’62 — March 27
Bernard Rupp, ’62 — May 11
Robert Koehler, ’63 — January 26
Ralph Long, ’63 — May 12
Kenneth Wolf, ’63 — February 24
Michael Brinkman, ’64 — May 23
Dr. Henry Cosentino, ’64 — August 20
Joseph Kolich, ’64 — August 17
Joseph Mulvihill, ’66 — June 10
James McManus, ’67 — February 26
Kevin Whelan, ’67 — April 23
Jack Anastasi, ’68 — May 01
Frank Conley, ’68 — June 30
C. Leroy Cundiff, ’68 — February 25
John Hendrich, ’68 — May 04
Otto Rieke Jr., ’68 — January 12
Dr. Ronald Rupert, ’68 — February 18
Albert Bales, ’69 — January 14
Richard Kelly, ’69 — May 06
Michael Cassidy, ’70 — February 26
Lois Johnson, ’70 — February 05
James Bracco, ’71 — May 21
Timothy Cooney, ’71 — July 16
John Davis, ’71 — May 11
Thomas Frichtel, ’71 — September 02
Bruce Gardner, ’71 — August 09
Richard Soenen, ’71 — August 20
Salvatore Losapio, ’72 — May 26
Joel Wallerstedt, ’72 — July 05
George Yadrich, ’72 — March 06
David Heeter, ’73 — August 15
Russell Baker, ’74 — January 07
Barbara Shamblin, ’74 — December 24
Gregory Larm, ’75 — December 23
Regina Maloney, ’76 — March 25
Kevin Bittner, ’77 — March 09
Victor Brewer Jr., ’77 — July 18
Bernard Schneider, ’77 — December 30
Robert Burke, ’79 — April 11
David Toal, ’80 — January 19
Donna Fox, ’81 — June 04
Robert Weiss, ’81 — September 08
John Gravlin, ’83 — February 27
W. Scott Herrold, ’83 — March 17
Ben Wano Jr., ’83 — May 19
Gail Meyer, ’84 — July 09
William Wilson, ’84 — July 28
David Bunce, ’85 — January 15
Harold Brown, ’88 — January 17
Troy Drew, ’88 — June 04
Scott Charbonneau, ’90 — April 08
Erica Garrett, ’90 — August 30
Michael Lewis, ’90 — July 01
William Spies, ’90 — September 06
Matthew Snow, ’91 — April 03
Lisa Sonsthagen, ’91 — February 24
Charles Pinzino, ’95 — January 21
Leigh Zeller, ’97 — August 28
Janine Lee, ’99 — February 28
Donald Evans, ’01 — September 05
Dr. Brian Smith-Vandergriff, ’01 — January 31
Jennifer Classen, ’02 — March 24
Micheal Dobson, ’07 — August 05
Justin Snead, ’13 — May 04
Preston Hickert, ’18 — May 29
Kyle Summers, ’23 — February 07
We strive for accuracy and we apologize for any errors or omissions.
Baseball fans gathered in August at Failoni’s restaurant in St. Louis for the annual St. Louis Cardinals vs. Kansas City Royals Rockhurst University alumni watch party. (From left) Victoria Zanaboni Unser, ’16, Paul Zanaboni and Mary Zanaboni, ’20
Rockhurst University once again rocked the KC Irish Fest with a hospitality tent, courtesy of Jim, ’74, and Ellen, ’74, Glynn (From left) Ann Riordan, Tim Riordan, ’70, Rockhurst University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., and Patrick Riordan, ’00
We want to see your photos!
Alumni from the 1970s gathered at the home of Marny, ’75, and John Sherman for the annual 70s Alumni Reunion, held during Family and Alumni Weekend. (From left) Marny Sherman, ’75; Denny, ’74, and Carmen Thum; and Lynne Pagano, ’74
With the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens for the NFL season opener on Thursday Night Football, two Rockhurst University alumni with team ties visited campus the day before, known locally as Red Wednesday, to talk to students about career opportunities in the business side of sports. (From left) Jeff Goering, ’91, chief financial officer for the Baltimore Ravens, and Michael Ragsdale, ’07, ’09 MBA, vice president of finance, strategy and analytics for the Kansas City Chiefs
Do you get together with fellow Hawks for fun, fellowship or service? Send photos to universityrelations@rockhurst.edu.
Rockhurst’s six Jesuit core values are like a second language for Beverly Hughes, ’17, and her husband, Paul Hughes, ’17.
The two speak often in terms of “cura personalis,” or “care for the whole person,” and contemplation in action in relation to their work and life together.
It’s no surprise, then, that they were recognized with the Faber Young Alumni Award honoring outstanding young alumni leaders in the St. Louis community.
Paul is a Neighborhood Policing Officer for the North County Precinct of St. Louis County whose approach to his work starts with dignity, no matter the circumstances of those he encounters.
“I would rather judge a person by how God sees them rather than by what they’ve done,” Paul said. “And not only do these interactions just feel good or make me feel like a decent person: They’ve helped me in my career.”
Paul decided to become a police officer to help the community where he grew up in St. Louis and has been recognized by the department for his lifesaving efforts. Beverly, who was part of VOICES for Justice as a student, helped small business owners navigate the COVID-19 pandemic at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Women’s Business Center.
“Although I was newer to the field of entrepreneurship, I strove to embody the Jesuit principle of contemplation in action, and I cherished the opportunity to uplift and support women in our community,” she said.
Beverly and Paul were honored as part of the Rockhurst University Leadership Series Luncheon Nov. 21, which featured keynote speaker the Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries. P
TO“Eight years into my engineering career, I had a feeling that it was not my calling, so I began to look at business schools. Rockhurst heard my story, they looked into my experience and they made it easy for me. It took a good four and a half years, with a lot of life events in there, but I was able to stick to and enjoy the program. The credit goes to the mentors and the instructors here.”
Lakshmi Komatreddy
’19
MBA, project manager for federal business, Black and Veatch
Josh Brannon, ’16, and Curtis Lewis II, ’21
Looking for a team to root for this NBA season? Look no further.
The San Antonio Spurs count two former Hawks among their staff — Josh Brannon, ’16, and Curtis Lewis II, ’21.
Brannon is in his sixth season with the five-time NBA champions, having landed a position as video room intern thanks to a connection through a cousin. He’s since worked his way up to player development.
“This is a very demanding position, but it’s something not everybody gets. You have to earn your stripes,” he said.
For Lewis, the journey to the Spurs staff started only last year, but similarly came through a connection — Brannon.
Brannon now works directly with players and coaching staff, travels with the team, and is a point person for scouts. In the video room,
Lewis analyzes film for coaches to develop game plans. Both say working for an NBA team is a dream come true, although one that can be demanding.
“There are a lot of early mornings and late nights. I get to work in the best facilities, stay in the nicest hotels and they feed us really well. This is amazing. I’m very fortunate and blessed,” Lewis added. P
“To me, leadership is about prioritizing people, truly valuing diverse perspectives, and turning adversity into opportunity by helping those who might not have a voice feel heard and empowered.”
Monica Ngo, ’18 M.A. Vice president of human resources, KC Current
