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THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
Bringing It All Together In Catholic Intellectual Tradition, faith and reason are companions.
LEADING THE WAY
“ If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” —John Quincy Adams
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n this space, there is typically a quote about leadership from one of our outstanding Rockhurst University alumni. In this issue I am sharing a quote from the sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams. I believe it perfectly describes the current leader of Rockhurst University, Fr. Tom Curran, S.J.
On Sept. 7, Fr. Curran announced that he has decided to make this his final year at Rockhurst University and will then move on to his next assignment with the Society of Jesus. I’m sure you will join me in gratitude for Fr. Curran’s service to Rockhurst since his arrival in 2006. As chairman of the Rockhurst University Board of Trustees and of the search committee to seek our next president, I have received many messages describing the profound impact Fr. Curran has had on the University and on the lives of those who are part of our community. As we move forward with our search, we know that we cannot find a new president with exactly the same gifts and talents that Fr. Curran has brought to his work. But I can assure you that I and the other members of the search committee are making it a priority to find the very best leader for the University at this time — one who will bring a dedication to our Catholic, Jesuit mission, a genuine interest in the lives of our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and a deep understanding of and reverence for the complex role this individual will fill. In the message I sent to campus, also on Sept. 7, I explained that we have engaged AGB Search, a firm with extensive experience in higher education, to assist us in identifying qualified candidates. We plan to announce the 15th president of Rockhurst University in early 2022. Until then, I know you will continue to offer prayers of thanksgiving for Fr. Curran’s dedication and accomplishments, and for our hope-filled future as we boldly move forward, united in this enterprise of Jesuit education. — Thomas M. Hastings, M.D., FACP, ’81
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THE MAGAZINE OF ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS LEADING THE WAY
10 BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER Four faculty members share what Catholic Intellectual Tradition brings to the classroom and what it means for their students.
Inside Front Cover
Thomas Hastings, M.D., FACP, ’81 ROCK REPORT 4
Leadership Series
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Student Profile
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Faculty Profile
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Athletics News
FOR ALUMNI Class Notes
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Alumni Awards
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In Memoriam
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Career Center
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Alumni Q&A
IN CLOSING Madeline Romious, ’95 MBA
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TIME AND PLACE Inside Back Cover
Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021
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LOOK AT OUR CAMPUS MAKEOVER(S)! Lots of improvements are underway at Rockhurst. If you haven’t been to campus for a while, here’s your quick guide.
18 TU LEGADO Learn how a late alumna’s legacy is helping Latina students at Rockhurst fulfill their educational dreams.
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
Examining and Nurturing Our Roots … to be in the city for good… “ We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time.” —T.S. Eliot, from “Little Gidding,” Four Quartets, 1943
I Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., president, Rockhurst University
n our opening of the year session, which we call our All Companions Gathering, I shared these words in response to the question, “Where do we go from here?”
My intent in beginning the year by acknowledging the shifting of the tectonic plates as a result of the pandemic, racial unrest and political rancor was to offer the best antidote, which is to consider and examine our roots: our Catholic Intellectual Tradition. I did this because I believe it gives us the basis for who we are and how we are to proceed as a Catholic Jesuit university. For many, this approach is summarized in the expression of “educating the whole person.” But it is more than getting students to think for themselves (critical thinking). Rather, it consists in coming to the realization that there is something more and greater than ourselves — the transcendent. Through a rigorous and thoughtful intellectual inquiry, rooted in freedom, one moves toward the integration of all knowledge. This approach can withstand the criticism that we are religiously superstitious or pursue an incomplete approach to intellectual inquiry. Rather, we can show that our roots reveal a 2,000-year-old tradition rooted in a dialogue, between faith and reason, that provides a basis for understanding and engaging reality. Additionally, it’s important to acknowledge that we did not create these roots but we are entrusted with the responsibility of cherishing, nurturing and growing them. In the Jesuit tradition, we refer to this as “the service of faith and the promotion of justice.” The term comes from the 1975 General Congregation of the Society of Jesus. It captures what is to be the integrating approach of Rockhurst University
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and all works of the Society of Jesus. St. Ignatius Loyola wanted love to be expressed in deeds and not just words (Contemplation to Attain Love, The Spiritual Exercises). To this end, we are intent on establishing a Center for Faith and Justice on Campus. It will incorporate existing efforts such as our mission and ministry; campus ministry; service learning; our community outreach efforts; our Prosperity Center for Financial Opportunity; our prison education program in Chillicothe, Missouri; our Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and other similar expressions of who we are as a Catholic Jesuit university. It will begin with consolidating these efforts on the foundation of a “faith that does justice.” It will be further advanced through an actual campus facility that will be named in an eponymous fashion. More details will be shared during this academic year. For now, I provide you with the most appropriate answer we can give to “Where do we go from here?” It is found in our roots: we are, have been and will continue to be a Jesuit institution of higher learning rooted firmly in our Catholic Intellectual Tradition. It is no coincidence that we have these words at the bottom of the school shield: Sapientia aedificavit sibi domum “Wisdom has built her house” (Proverbs 9:1). These are the two foundational principles upon which we built our house of wisdom, Rockhurst University: the unity of knowledge and the complementarity of faith and reason. As T.S. Eliot suggests, continued exploration brings us back to where we started and to experience it more fully. It’s most fitting, now, in exploration to expand our house and form and construct a center for faith and justice. It will provide us with more capacity and space so we can give further witness to who we are and how we will continue to proceed.
ROCK REPORT
Nelson-Atkins Brings Campus Art Collection to New Eyes F
or nearly 50 years, the Van Ackeren Collection of Religious Art has been giving viewers on campus a glimpse at sacred works of European art from the 15th18th centuries. Until next summer, some of those same objects are being shared with the broader public, courtesy of an exhibition at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. “Objects of Devotion” opened in June 2021 and will remain on view until June 17, 2022, at the NelsonAtkins. The exhibition represents a sample of the Van Ackeren collection, which is currently stored at the museum until the Greenlease Gallery reopens after the completion of Sedgwick Hall’s renovation in fall 2022. It offers insight into how people centuries ago would have expressed their faith through sacred objects and images. The exhibition also gives the collection, which originated in 1967 with the first in a series of gifts from benefactors Robert and Virginia Greenlease and the help of Nelson-Atkins curators, additional context and a larger stage. “This is a fabulous opportunity to allow a broader general public to experience part of our collection while our gallery is temporarily offline here on the Rockhurst campus,” said Kristy Peterson, director of the Rockhurst University Center for Arts and Letters.
Works from the Greenlease Gallery of Art are on display at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in an exhibition titled “Objects of Devotion.”
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.; Katherine Frohoff, ’09 EMBA; Thomas M. Hastings, M.D., FACP, ’81; Dave Hunt; Tim Linn; Madeline Romious, ’95 MBA; Chad Schnarr PHOTOGRAPHY Caroline Adams, ’20; Gabrielle Brancato, ’18; Mark Brown; John Dodderidge; FJ Gaylor Photography; Tim Linn; Kristy Peterson; Earl Richardson; the University of San Diego 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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(From left) Lisa Ginter, ’87, Kathy Nelson, John Sherman, Clark Hunt and the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE: PRESENTING SPONSOR CommunityAmerica Credit Union MAGIS SPONSOR Anonymous RECEPTION SPONSOR Tria Health JESUIT SPONSOR Kansas City University KANSAS CITY SPONSORS Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City George J. Shaw Construction Co. and Site Rite Construction Co. Husch Blackwell LLP JE Dunn Construction Lynn & Tom DeBacco
KC Sports Leaders Share Challenges From a Tough Year
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he year 2020 wasn’t easy for anyone. That’s especially true for sports leagues whose business model revolved around having large crowds.
But as three of Kansas City’s sports leaders told an audience at “Leadership Lessons From the Toughest Competition in 2020” event June 17 in Arrupe Hall auditorium, the year would bend but not break them. Clark Hunt, chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs; Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission; and John Sherman, owner of the Kansas City Royals, sat down for a panel discussion led by Lisa Ginter, ’87, CEO of CommunityAmerica Credit Union, touching on everything from the pandemic to the reckoning over racial injustice to the everyday pursuit of excellence. Their experiences were in some ways vastly different — Hunt is an experienced sports executive, Sherman a new owner of the Royals in 2020, and Nelson and her organization coordinate a host of events, from the Big 12 Tournament to the Kansas City Marathon. As a result, each were faced with unique challenges, but all three agreed they were positioned to come out stronger on the other side because of strategic decision making and the teams around them who helped guide them. “Billie Jean King said, ‘Champions adjust,’” Nelson said. “And that’s all we did, every day, every hour, we were adjusting and we had to have that championship mentality.”
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Rockhurst Community Welcomes Three Jesuits
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ockhurst University welcomes three members of the Society of Jesus to campus this year to serve in a variety of roles. The Very Rev. Derrick Weingartner, S.J., and the Rev. Michael Sheeran, S.J., will serve part-time with the Office of Mission and Ministry, accompanying faculty and staff and supporting mission integration and animation. Fr. Weingartner comes to Kansas City from Grand Coteau, Louisiana, where he served as superior of the Jesuit community and pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church. In addition to serving at Rockhurst University, he is the new superior of the Kansas City Jesuit community, recently formally named the St. Peter Claver Jesuit Community. A graduate of Rockhurst High School, Fr. Sheeran relocated to Kansas City from St. Louis. He formerly served as president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) and, prior to that, as president of Regis University in Denver, Colorado. The Rev. John Thiede, S.J., joins Rockhurst as the inaugural recipient of a yearlong executive leadership exchange program
(From left) The Very Rev. Derrick Weingartner, S.J.; the Rev. Michael Sheeran, S.J.; and the Rev. John Thiede, S.J.
— the Currie Fellowship Program — sponsored by AJCU. Fr. Thiede is an associate professor of systematic theology at Marquette University. Through the fellowship, Fr. Thiede will gain experience working closely with the president, board of trustees, administrators and faculty at Rockhurst throughout the academic year.
Familiar Face Retires After 35 Years
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or 35 years, Susan Janet provided a friendly and familiar face to generations of Rockhurst students in the dean of students office. From the same desk for the better part of four decades, her duties went far beyond “administrative support” for the vice president, director and assistant director of student life — she was the department’s direct connection to the student body. “Rockhurst has always had wonderful students and watching them grow from freshman year to graduation was amazing. Students were energetic, thoughtful and caring. I was able to get to know them on a more personal level and I stay in touch with many of them today.” Moving from job-to-job has become commonplace in today’s society, but Janet said she was drawn to, and remained with, Rockhurst because of the values the university stands for to this day. “I appreciated working in a Catholic institution, one driven by mission and values to make a difference in the lives of students, staff and faculty. Having attended Catholic schools all my life, I liked knowing that the place where I worked reflected many of the values I was taught and have tried to live up to since I was a child.”
Susan Janet with her sons Ben (Left) and Sam
Thirty-five years of creating lasting relationships with countless students, faculty and staff who walked into Massman 1 leave Janet with a lot to reflect on. “Most memorable for me are the service immersion trips to Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, New Orleans and Joplin,” Janet said. “I discovered new things about myself, the country I was in and the students I was with.”
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For This Student Leader, Connecting Others Is Key
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n some ways, the upcoming year is the culmination of a journey that started in elementary school for junior Nhukim Nguyen.
The biochemistry major and psychology minor will serve as president of Rockhurst’s Student Senate this academic year, something she traces in part to her experience as mayor of her fifth grade class. “I always tell people that this has been a childhood dream of mine,” she said, laughing. The desire to have a positive impact on those around her has endured. But it has been shaped, too, by her own experience at Rockhurst and by the example of her older sister, Nhukha Nguyen, ’20, a campus leader in her own right who even served on Student Senate. “She was not only a big sister, but a mentor for me,” Nguyen said. “She introduced me to so many different organizations like Student Senate. So I owe a lot of my experience and my interest in going to Rockhurst in the first place to her.”
Nhukim Nguyen, junior
In addition to Student Senate, Nguyen is active with the University’s ambassadors program, Gamma Phi Beta, vice president of recruitment for the medical fraternity Phi Delta Eta, and is the vice president of student experience for the University’s honors program. On top of all of that, she works in a CVS pharmacy and volunteers both as a medical scribe for a local pediatrician and a community resource intern at the JayDoc clinic, a free health care facility associated with the University of Kansas Hospital. None of this is resume-filler, by the way — Nguyen said she believes that serving different populations, in different ways, will make her a stronger health care provider in the future and a better student leader now. “I love to see all of this connect together,” she said. “I think it’s all about connecting people and connecting with people to make the community better.”
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Faculty Member Explores the Big Meaning Behind Little Things FACULTY KUDOS
Laura Forsberg, Ph.D.
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t’s time to sweat the small stuff, says Laura Forsberg, Ph.D., associate professor of English.
In a new book, “Worlds Beyond: Miniatures and Victorian Fiction,” published by Yale University Press in May, Forsberg takes a closer look at miniature making in 19th century England, and what the phenomenon says both about that society and our own. It’s a project that Forsberg said has been in the works since 2011 and has taken her to libraries and archives across the globe, thumbing through complete recreations of notable books, sometimes so small they are unreadable, and inspecting toys and miniature portraits. Though long dismissed as ephemeral or as the hobby of women at the time, Forsberg argues these works are instead significant as a representation of where art and technology, science and enchantment intersect. “I think there’s a traditional narrative of the Victorian period that says that the 19th century is when we stop believing in enchantment, that science comes in and eradicates all of our fantasies and it introduces this new sort of empirical approach,” she said. “What miniatures do is suggest there’s something else going on at the same time.” But the unorthodox approach has required changing some minds. She recalled specifically weathering criticisms from Harvard English graduate students because her work centered objects instead of authors. She kept going, and that new perspective eventually led to interest from publishers. “It became very clear that doing something that mattered to me, doing something that felt right, opened up possibilities that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she said.
Risa Stein, Ph.D., professor of psychology, is featured in a documentary, “American Happiness,” which shares how everyday Americans in all 50 states have found happiness and fulfillment. Michael Stellern, Ph.D., professor of economics, was interviewed by KMBC TV for a story looking back at the initial collapse of the stock market in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer Wessol, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing, co-authored a manuscript titled “Clinical Reasoning, Judgment, and Safe Medication Administration Practices in Senior Nursing Students” that has been accepted for publication in Nurse Educator. The same research findings were co-presented at the Midwest Nursing Research Society as a poster presentation titled “Clinical Reasoning, Judgment, and Safe Medication Administration Practices in Senior Nursing Students.”
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Six From Women’s Golf Named All-American Scholars
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ix members of the Rockhurst women’s golf team were named All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association.
Emma Hughes, junior; Caroline Lynch, sophomore; Emma Mullendore, sophomore; Caroline Setter, sophomore; Katie Gerschke, sophomore; and Carly Krause, freshman, received All-American Scholar honors with a 3.50 or higher grade point average. The six golfers helped Rockhurst succeed both on and off the course under head coach Richard Konzem. In the classroom, the Hawks posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.707. On the course, they finished first at the KC Cup last fall. Hughes earned her third selection as a WGCA All-American Scholar. Mullendore, Lynch and Setter earned their second academic honors from the WGCA. In total, 1,432 collegiate golfers from all three division programs were recognized. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics. Emma Hughes, junior
Global Signings Highlight 2021-22 Hoops Team
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hen the Hawks men’s basketball team tips off their season Nov. 6, it will be with a newfound international flair. Head coach Drew Diener has restocked his roster for the 2021-22 season with a number of players, including three international signings — Mikal Gjerde of Haugesund, Norway; Maxim Romanov of Hahariya, Israel; and Davit Kakushadze of Tbilisi, Georgia. Gjerde, a 6-foot-7-inch forward, played the past two seasons at the University of San Diego after attending Woodstock Academy in Woodstock, Connecticut. Gjerde averaged 18.5 points and 11 rebounds per game in the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championships (Division B) while playing for Norway. Romanov is a 6-foot-8-inch guard who has played the past two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana University. He combined for 110 points and rebounds in 45 games for the Lions. Forward Kakushadze spent last season with Brewster Academy in Connecticut. He averaged 6.1 points per game for Georgia in the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championships (Division B).
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Mikal Gjerde, junior, transferred to Rockhurst from the University of San Diego.
They join other recent signings guard Rron Thaci and guard Damari Nixon (both of Chicago, Illinois) and forward Connor Renard (Lincoln, Nebraska).
ROCK REPORT
Bayer Named Rockhurst’s First Female Director of Athletics
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risty Bayer joined Rockhurst University as the new director of athletics in July. Bayer previously served at Emporia State University, where she was deputy director of athletics and senior woman administrator. Bayer is the first female director of athletics at Rockhurst and the third active female director of athletics in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Kristy Bayer
“We welcome Kristy’s experience in every aspect of Division II athletics, including studentathlete development and support, strategic planning and fundraising,” said the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., Rockhurst president. “More importantly, her demonstrated commitment to community service, diversity, equity and inclusion, and relationship building will make her a great companion in expressing Rockhurst University’s mission and core values.”
Prior to her time at ESU, Bayer spent 14 years at Arkansas Tech University as the associate athletic director/senior woman administrator and head volleyball coach. She was an All-American volleyball player at Grand Valley State University (Michigan) and is now in the university’s Hall of Fame. “Rockhurst University has a strong tradition of academics, athletics, and community engagement,” Bayer said. “I am honored to have been chosen as Rockhurst University’s next athletic director. From the moment I stepped on campus, I have been graciously welcomed by the Rockhurst community. I truly love being a Hawk!” Bayer holds a Master of Education in higher education from GVSU and is pursuing a Doctor of Education from the University of Memphis. Gary Burns previously served as Rockhurst’s director of athletics (2011-2021). He will now focus on his role as head baseball coach and assist RU’s advancement division with relationship building and fundraising.
Nearly 50 RU Student-Athletes Post 4.0 GPAs
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hen it comes to performance in the classroom, Rockhurst University student-athletes are running up the score.
Rockhurst finished the 2020-21 academic year with 49 of its studentathletes earning the Brother James Gaffney, FSC, Distinguished Scholar Award from the Great Lakes Valley Conference in which Rockhurst plays, a recognition given to competitors who post a 4.0 GPA. The volleyball team led Rockhurst with 12 representatives, followed by women’s lacrosse and baseball with seven recipients. Women’s cross country had four members. Men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer had three members, respectively. Though he said he regularly checks in with players about their classroom work, the success is more a reflection of the players’ mentality toward their schoolwork, said Trent Jones, head volleyball coach. Forty-nine Rockhurst student-athletes were recognized for earning a 4.0 GPA in 2020-21
“When it comes down to it, the student-athletes are self-motivated, driven, and are as competitive in the classroom as they are on the court,” he said. “I would like to say I had something to do with their success, but it is all them and how they attack being a successful student-athlete here at Rockhurst.”
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BRINGING It All Together
Service immersion trips, such as this one to the Dominican Republic in 2018, allow students to learn from those they work alongside.
At Rockhurst University, Catholic Intellectual Tradition underpins our intellectual inquiry. Even if you haven’t heard this term, if you’ve taken a class at Rockhurst, you’ve likely benefited from its wisdom. Faculty members from four disciplines share what it means for their students. 10
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What is Catholic Intellectual Tradition?
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t. Augustine of Hippo famously wrote that “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You (God).” Throughout human history, this restlessness has fueled the search for ever deeper knowledge of reality, a search for greater understanding of the truth that permeates all. At Rockhurst, a Catholic institution of higher education, this search is uniquely evidenced in the intellectual inquiry at the heart of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. Spanning over two millennia, the Catholic Intellectual Tradition honors the reality that everything — all of creation, all disciplines, theories, experiences — has the capacity to reveal to us something more about God, a subject we can never fully exhaust. It is rooted in the premise that faith and the intellectual life are compatible. As St. John Paul II noted, “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” Through such searching and contemplation, we are continuously invited to engage the insights we uncover. We are called ever more to fully participate in God’s vision for the world, drawn to collaborate with God and with one another in using our knowledge for the construction of a more just world. Cindy Schmersal Vice president for mission and ministry
In Communication Sciences and Disorders The Catholic Intellectual Tradition offers two underlying convictions, 1) that as humans we desire to discover truth and 2) the belief that the universe is intelligible. As a professor at Rockhurst in communication sciences and disorders (CSD), I strive to create a learning environment in which students seek understanding that leads to wisdom and a greater connection to the world around them, including nature, each other, the divine and themselves. I encourage students to consider that the work they do, inside and outside the classroom, whether conducting research for their capstones, seeing clients, doing homework, or contributing to discussions in the classroom based off their studying exemplifies working toward unity of knowledge. I challenge students to dig deep and have a willingness to answer the hard questions. CSD students (and professionals) are called to accompany people with compromised ability to communicate due to various diseases and health conditions as they are some of the most vulnerable among us. I ask students to sit with the discomfort of not having immediate answers, yet be willing to journey into concepts arising from other disciplines to inform their understanding and ultimately serve their clients. I have an expectation in our learning community that each of us are lifelong learners and that the ability to be in this learning space, Shatonda Jones, Ph.D. at this time, together, is a gift given to us by something greater than ourselves to be used in service to others. Most importantly, I ask students to consider who they are as CSD students, future SLPs, and humans in this beautifully flawed world. In doing this, I am really asking them to consider their own beliefs, biases, strengths and opportunities for growth so they can continue to journey toward truth and understanding, which ultimately leads to wisdom. Shatonda Jones, Ph.D. Associate professor of communication sciences and disorders Continued on page 12
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In Business Education The Catholic Intellectual Tradition provides a framework for examining big, important questions and determining our way of proceeding. This great gift animates my approach to teaching and helps learners become leaders who foster ethical organizational cultures and shape the future of business for the better. One of my favorite courses, Business Leadership and Social Issues, explores perspectives on topics like corporate social responsibility, employee loyalty, leaders’ values in action, meaningful work and the good life. I urge students to take each topic personally — to grapple with the issues, think critically and propose solutions. Classic texts and current events along with the practice of contemplation in action support our learning. For example, Aristotle, Kant and Mill offer approaches to determining ethical obligations and inform discussions about dignity, respect, justice and freedom. Meanwhile, parables and poems, images of tragic heroes, Wall Street Journal articles and TED Talks by modern leaders deepen our understanding of human yearning, actions and consequences. Vignettes based on workplace dilemmas challenge student teams to consider context, facts, assumptions, priorities and implications, and then to make and defend decisions aligned with their values. Peers must practice listening to others’ perspectives, questioning, discerning truth and meaning, and being open to the possibility of changing their views. Throughout the course, I am encouraged as students identify their values, pursue vocations, and reflect on (Above, left) Jennifer Rinella, Ed.D., CNP (Below, right) Kelly M. Meiners, PT, MPT, Ph.D., ATC, CSCS what living well means for them. I’m inspired by the ways they integrate faith, knowledge and reason in their search for understanding…and I trust that as they go forth, their leadership will be a force for good. Jennifer Rinella, Ed.D., CNP Associate professor of management and nonprofit leadership
In Physical Therapy Through Ignatian spirituality we believe that “God can be discovered, through faith, in all natural and human events.” One of the first challenging courses in the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum is EvidenceBased Practice. Students learn principles of scientific inquiry and research methodology as it relates to patient care. Course content is interwoven with the most critical skills of physical therapy: communication, listening, empathy and using sound judgment. Though research may dictate the best practice intervention for a specific patient population, each patient’s individual needs must
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be evaluated when determining appropriate intervention. Excellent physical therapists have both the wisdom to appreciate the balance of evidence-based content knowledge and exemplary communication skills to provide the best care. Beyond individual patient care, physical therapy students are challenged to apply scientific research to the social determinants of health. Student are charged with the responsibility to educate patients as well as the public to make a positive, impactful change in their communities. Through advocacy efforts that focus on health (instead of the traditional U.S. disease model), physical therapists have an opportunity to make a broader impact on public health. They can truly make “God’s good world better.” Kelly M. Meiners, PT, MPT, Ph.D., ATC, CSCS Associate professor physical therapy
In Philosophy The Catholic Intellectual Tradition is first and foremost about our commitment to the discovery of the truth, both through the life of faith and through the life of reason and inquiry. That commitment to truth unites all intellectual inquiries or disciplines, and each discipline has an integral role in discovering the truth about the world and human life and revealing thereby the design of creation in ever greater depth. While the Catholic Intellectual Tradition believes that all intellectual disciplines eventually lead us to the ultimate questions of the meaning and purpose of human life in the cosmos, philosophy makes those questions central to its work, exploring in a rational and not a religious way the connections between what we consider a good or happy life and what it means to be a moral or just person. Each person is naturally part of many relationships, as members of families, communities and societies, and we quickly realize that each person’s well-being and fulfillment is connected to that of everyone else’s. With this realization, we see that being a good person and working toward a just society for all persons is a fundamental requirement for one’s own well-being and fulfillment. My role as an instructor of philosophy is to help students to examine their own beliefs about these crucial questions and ideas and to arrive at their own well-reasoned conclusions about them.
(Above) Catholic Intellectual Tradition tells us that all of creation can reveal something of God to us. (Below) Robert Vigliotti, Ph.D.
Robert Vigliotti, Ph.D. Associate professor of philosophy
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Look at Our
CAMPUS MAKEOVER(S)! BY KATHERINE FROHOFF, ’09 EMBA
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f you haven’t been to the Rockhurst University campus for a while, you may find things look a bit different than you remember. If you’re not able to visit quite yet, there will soon be more new sights to see. Either way, we’ve got you covered. Consider this your insider guide to the many recent campus improvements, large and small, and those coming soon.
SEDGWICK HALL Sometimes called the “Grand Dame of Rockhurst,” Sedgwick Hall has graced the Rockhurst campus since 1914. This historic structure, the centerpiece of the “For the Greater” comprehensive campaign, is more than halfway through reconstruction as it becomes the new home of the Saint Luke’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Its façade has been preserved and looks much the same from the Troost Avenue side, while the side facing the Kinerk Commons will acquire a great deal of glass, opening and lightening the structure.
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GREENLEASE LIBRARY ENTRANCE The concrete platform leading a half-century’s worth of patrons into the Greenlease Library was in need of repair and summer 2021 was the perfect time to do it. Construction next door at Sedgwick meant materials and workers were readily available. With the opportunity to make the entrance more accessible and inviting, the area was replaced with ramps and steps, including a center section that can serve as seating for students who want to relax in front of this midcenturymodern icon. THOMAS MORE DINING ROOM Known fondly among students as TMDR or “the caf,” the Thomas More Dining Room has been getting more crowded in recent years. Looking ahead to when students from Saint Luke’s College will be on campus full time, work to expand the facility began right after the spring semester ended. More importantly, this complete makeover expands dining options and features, elevating the experience for all diners. One of the most noticeable changes for regulars at the facility is the removal of the wall between the TMDR and the famous “Fishbowl,” resulting in a larger contiguous dining area. It’s the most significant upgrade to the space since 2014. Continued on page 16
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THE BIRD HOUSE As the result of a partnership between the student-activities-fee budgeting committee, who supplied the vision and the funding, and physical plant staff, who supplied the ingenuity and elbow grease, an outdoor living room of sorts was constructed on Lower Bourke Field on the former handball courts site. Soft seating, tables and chairs, media screens, large grills and a fire pit make a cozy spot for studying, events or just hanging out in what has been christened the “Bird House.” ANGELS UNAWARES Inspired by the scripture Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” — Timothy P. Schmalz interprets the belief that the sacred may be encountered in the stranger in his bronze sculpture titled “Angels Unawares.” In spring 2022, the piece will be installed near the entrance to Arrupe Hall. The work depicts migrants and refugees from all cultural and racial backgrounds and from all historic periods of time together — shoulder to shoulder. A plaque nearby will provide an opportunity for members of the Rockhurst community to honor the names of angels in their midst.
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FEATURES
MARY STATUE One of the most recognizable features on campus is the statue of Mary, located beneath a canopy of evergreens on the northeastern portion of the Kinerk Commons. Thanks to a gift from Rosemary Kilker, Mary will be moved to a new home nearby and placed in a partially enclosed stone grotto, creating a place of peace and prayer. The grotto will contain built-in lights and spaces for candles, kneelers and seats to invite prayer, along with a displayed prayer for the city, with Mary positioned looking out from the hill between Conway and Massman halls onto Rockhurst Road.
SEVERAL NEW GRAPHICS have brightened walls around campus, including this tree of life design (Left) in the biology department and this design in the remodeled Thomas More Dining Room that combines notable elements from Rockhurst and Kansas City.
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Tu Legado
Late Alumna’s Memory Lives on in Scholarship
BY TIM LINN
D
ec. 14, 2002, was a joyous day for Sylvia Raya and her family. Her oldest daughter, Olivia, earned her degree from Rockhurst University. The family would host a huge party, surrounded by friends and family, to celebrate. A week later, by contrast, would be one of the family’s darkest days, when Olivia and her boyfriend were murdered in his apartment on Dec. 21, 2002. Sylvia and her family were crushed. A beautiful young life was lost and, for a long time, there were no answers on who or why. Moving on was difficult, she said. “My friends, they told me I should do something,” Sylvia said. “But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to do anything until an arrest was made.”
Sylvia Raya in cap and gown attending Rockhurst University’s commencement ceremony in December 2002.
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That day wouldn’t come until 2006, but soon after, Sylvia and her closest friends made good on the promise to pursue something in Olivia’s memory, launching what was initially a grassroots effort to secure funds for a scholarship at Rockhurst. Sylvia remembers her daughter as outgoing and compassionate, thinking about others in need both in the Kansas City community and around the world, a perspective gained in part through her volunteer work with Catholic Charities helping refugee children. Olivia was, Sylvia notes, very happy to call herself a Rockhurst University student and graduate, keenly aware of how much it meant to her parents.
FEATURES
“ I know it meant a lot to her to earn a degree and she was very proud of it.” —Sylvia Raya, mother to Olivia Raya,‘02 “She did that for her dad,” Sylvia said of her daughter’s decision to come to Rockhurst. “But I know it meant a lot to her to earn a degree and she was very proud of it.” All of the parts of Olivia’s personality are embodied in the Olivia Raya Memorial Scholarship, which each year awards $4,000 to a Latina student living in the Kansas City area demonstrating financial need. That amount can be a difference-maker in being able to afford college. With 15 recipients so far and no end in sight, that’s a lot of doors opened. Sabrina Diaz, a junior biochemistry major, said she had been working nights at a medical lab and going to school full time during the day, a schedule that often left her exhausted. “I was going on three hours of sleep a lot of nights,” she said. “And it just made everything more difficult.” With the scholarship, Diaz said she’s been able to go part time at work and focus more on school. It has also given her an opportunity to connect with the campus community in new ways. “Before, I wasn’t even considering undergraduate research or being part of the ACS (American Chemical Society) chapter here. But now I have the chance to do those things.” For Wendy Alvarez Barrios, ’12, who came to the U.S. from Mexico at age 15 with her family and struggled to find financial aid in the time before the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the scholarship — and the opportunity to attend Rockhurst — would also prove pivotal.
Rockhurst junior Sabrina Diaz during a physics lab.
Continued on page 20
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Continued from page 19
“At Rockhurst, I took a cell biology class where we talked about cancer cells,” she said. “That just really opened my eyes, I was so fascinated with those types of cells.” After Rockhurst, Alvarez Barrios spent a year as a volunteer at a University of Kansas Medical Center research lab before pursuing her doctorate at Notre Dame, where she took part in potentially groundbreaking research into the ways breast cancer cells spread throughout the body. She has also helped keep the Notre Dame campus safe as a member of the university’s COVID surveillance lab. Claire (Garcia) Phillips, ’11, echoed the sense that the scholarship was a game-changer. As an analyst for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, she oversees processes that support the adjudication of immigration benefits. She said the seeds for that career were planted as a student, particularly during her three service immersion trips. “Being able to immerse yourself in these people’s lives, even for a moment, can only give you a snapshot,” she said. “That really motivated me to do more to serve people no matter where they were from.”
Wendy Alvarez Barrios, ’12, in the University of Notre Dame COVID surveillance lab.
In addition to gratitude for the opportunities it gave them, several recipients said the story behind the scholarship, and the family who picked up the pieces from immeasurable tragedy to make it happen, have stuck with them. Megan Sneed, ’13, who was a nontraditional student and the first in her family to go to college when she enrolled at Rockhurst, said the significance of the Raya scholarship as a gesture of love has only increased with time, and not only because of what it meant for her professional career, which has taken her from finance to Kansas City startup C2FO. “Now I have my own daughter, and so I think about them even more now,” she said. “Just to be who they are after what they experienced… they are incredibly gracious and incredibly humble.”
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Megan Sneed, ’13, (Far right) poses on her graduation day.
Before retiring, Sylvia and her husband, Lou, owned and operated Sylvia’s Deli on Kansas City’s Westside. For years, it was tradition for recipients of the scholarship to connect with the couple at the restaurant, often bringing family or loved ones. Sylvia said that, and the annual fiesta that helped secure the scholarship’s endowed status, helped create a familial sense of community that extends well beyond the financial help provided. The scholarship can never replace the life of her daughter that was cut short. But while scars remain, that newfound community has imbued the somber moments with a sense of hope. “Thanksgiving and Christmas are hard,” Sylvia said. “Christmas was her favorite holiday, and mine too. So there are always tears — tears of sadness, but also tears of happiness. When I hear these young women say they are Raya scholars, that makes me so proud. That consoles me.”
“ Just to be who they are after what they experienced… they are incredibly gracious and incredibly humble.” —Claire (Garcia) Phillips, ’11
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Newly FALL minted alumnae 2021join Rock E. Hawk and Rockhurst President the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., at the celebration following commencement in May.
FOR ALUMNI
CLASS NOTES
’66 Michael Bashwiner, writing under the name of Mike Shaw, ’79 James W. McCormack was the subject of an article in
the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette upon his retirement as clerk of the Eastern District Court of Arkansas after 28 years.
’84 Tom Petersen, CFO of PB&J Restaurants, was named a
Kansas City Business Journal 2021 CFO of the Year Honoree.
’90 Thomas Yearsley was named senior director of tax resolution services at Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, launching a tax problem-solving service from Kansas City and leading a remote team located primarily in Sarasota, Florida.
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is co-author with Federal Reserve System Economist Thomas J. Cunningham of “Understanding Economic Equilibrium: Making Your Way Through an Interdependent World,” published by Business Expert Press, released May 2021.
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.
’97 Chris Javillonar has been named general counsel for Honeywell PPE.
’97 MOT Craig Willeke was recently named a member of the
Million Dollar Round Table as a New York Life Agent.
’90 EMBA ’99 MBA Lawrence M Drake II, Ph.D., is part of a recent collaborative Sara Hilliard has been named the chief operating officer book published by Simon & Schuster titled “Business Success Secrets: Entrepreneurial Thinking That Works” that has been named a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller.
’92 Fred Kaffenberger was promoted to director of marketing at P3 Adaptive.
at Q Wealth.
’00 MOT Brian Mills is the current president of the Kansas
Occupational Therapy Association and was appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Kansas Occupational Therapist Council.
’93 ’02 Gordon Reynolds and his company, Ridgway Private Wealth, Michael Hiatt started a new position as local sales manager ’96 Shelley Griffiths-Deady earned a Master of Arts degree in
marriage and family therapy from Mercer University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, in August 2020. She is now working in group private practice as a psychotherapist and trauma specialist for individuals and couples at Wise Heart Families in Roswell, Georgia.
for Steel City Media in Kansas City, which includes radio stations Mix 93.3, Q104, KFKF 94.1 and KC 102.1.
CONNECT WITH ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
››››››››››››››››››››
have been added to Kestra Private Wealth Services.
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
’02 MBA Stephen Coppinger has been appointed to the board of regents at Northwest Missouri State University.
’08 Annie Lehwald gave birth to
’04, ’08 MBA Rebecca Wimbish Bruce, D.O., a physician and part
Hattie Elizabeth Lehwald on May 20, 2021. She joins big siblings Sadie, Dean and Beau.
owner of Sunflower Medical Group, recently helped lead a two-year project to build a new building for her clinic.
’07 M.ED. Jennifer Newman has been named head coach of cheer and ’09 Erin Flaherty has been named STUNT at Ottawa University.
’08 Katie (Cotter) Kelsheimer
and Brad Kelsheimer welcomed a daughter, Anna Ruth Kelsheimer, on Feb. 11, 2021. She joins her proud big sister Molly.
an associate at Finegold Alexander Architects.
’10 Trey Malone is a co-author of an article titled “CBD,
marijuana and hemp: What is the difference among these cannabis products, and which are legal?” that appeared in The Conversation in April.
’10 MBA Karisa Booker has been named vice president of customer knowledge at H&R Block.
’13 Brandon McCann and
Mary Walterbach were married Sept. 1, 2019, at St. Francis Xavier College Church in St. Louis, Missouri. They reside in Lake St. Louis. Several Rockhurst University alumni were part of the wedding party or in attendance.
CONNECT WITH ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY
››››››››››››››››››››››››››
through your favorite social networks.
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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.
CARDINALS VS. ROYALS Cardinals fans showed their colors at the Cardinals vs. Royals watch party Aug. 13, held at Failoni’s Restaurant and Bar in St. Louis. (From left) Maggie Witt, ’20, Mia Zanaboni, ’18, Greta Thompson, ’20, Mary Zanaboni, ’20, Justine Howell, ’20, and Hope Zanaboni, ’20
IRISH FEST Green joined Rockhurst blue as the favorite color for alumni and friends visiting the Kansas City Irish Fest Sept. 4, where Jim and Ellen Glynn, ’74, sponsored the Rockhurst hospitality tent. (From left) Dan and Cindy Mitchell, Jay Surber and Clare Mitchell, ’18
GOLF TOURNAMENT The team of Denny Thum, ’74, Phil Bower, ’71, George McDonnell, ’77, and Rick Knapp won the 2021 the Fr. Joseph M. Freeman, S.J., Rockhurst Cup golf tournament Aug. 2 and took home the Reggie Thorpe Memorial Trophy.
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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Four Outstanding Alumni Honored for Achievements Four Rockhurst University alumni who exemplify the University’s mission will be recognized for their accomplishments this fall as alumni award recipients. ANNIE HART, ’11 Annie Hart has been selected as a Faber Young Alumni Award winner in recognition of her community leadership and living the Rockhurst and Jesuit mission as a young professional. Since earning her degree in elementary education, Annie has served St. Benedict’s Catholic School in Atchison, Kansas, as a physical education teacher, athletic director and marketing manager. She was named teacher of the year by both VFW Post 1175 and the Atchison Rotary Club. In addition to her outstanding work as an education professional, Hart continues to give back to her community through service to St. Benedict’s Parish and the Rockhurst University Young Alumni Council.
MELODY SCHAEFFER, ’12 The Faber Young Alumni Award will be presented to Melody Schaeffer because of her commitment to Rockhurst University and its mission. Melody is a member of the Rockhurst University St. Louis Leaders Council and is a champion of health care in the St. Louis area. She is committed to the service of others through her work as a community health manager at BJC Siteman Cancer Center. Melody is an adjunct faculty member at Lindenwood and Saint Louis universities, where she teaches nonprofit business. She will receive her Ph.D. in public health next year.
SALVATORE “TORRE” NIGRO, ’81, ’99 EMBA Torre Nigro has been named the Xavier Medal of Honor recipient in recognition of his continued commitment to serving the Greater Kansas City community. Throughout his adult life, Nigro has been a dedicated volunteer and board member for several major nonprofit and community organizations, including Don Bosco Center, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph Foundation and Rockhurst University. His impact in the community is seen not only through his own personal service, but also through the service of his many colleagues and friends whom he has inspired to remain engaged in their communities.
REGGIE THORPE, ’71 Rockhurst University will posthumously honor Reggie Thorpe with the 2021 Magis Award. Thorpe’s love for RU, his friends, fraternity brothers and family was undeniable. He organized the golf tournament for Rockhurst University for many years and was a faithful attendee at Hawks soccer games. Reggie served in the National Guard, had a distinguished career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., was a champion fundraiser through his EMD Company, loved golf, travel, Cardinals baseball, supporting and fundraising for Rockhurst and spending time with his large circle of friends. Reggie died April 11, 2021. His legacy continues with an endowed scholarship, organized by his family friends. To make a gift to the Reggie Thorpe Memorial Scholarship, visit rockhurst.edu/give.
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FOR ALUMNI
’14 Jennifer Schenk married Brian Hogan June 20, 2020, in Leawood Kansas.
’16 Carmelita Bahamonde earned a Master of Library
’20 M.S. Andrew Barlow was hired as a business intelligence developer for a company in Overland Park called Moonshot Innovations.
Science degree in May from Emporia State University.
, ’21 MBA ’20 Alyssa Woodman has been hired at BKD.
’17 Elizabeth Frans graduated with a Doctor of
’21 Sarah Barkofske is a NICU nurse at Overland Park
Audiology degree from University of South Dakota.
’18 Hannah Davison married Aaron Williams on May 14, 2021. The couple are living in Iowa, where Davison works in wound care.
Emilie Lai, a chemistry and biology instructor at Notre Dame de Sion High School, was awarded the excellence in education award after her first year and has taken on a new role as Sion’s STEAM director.
’18, ’21 MBA Emily Allen earned her medical degree at Kansas City
University and will be moving to Louisville, Kentucky, to complete her residency in pediatrics at The University of Louisville.
’19 MBA Andrew B. Williams has been named dean of the Citadel School of Engineering.
’20 Jack Oxley has joined Holy Family School of Faith as a data analyst.
Erica Wiethrop is working as a business operations analyst for U.S. Bank.
Regional Medical Center.
Sydney Cole is working as a nurse at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Kiri Evans will attend Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in the fall. Heather Pond has started a position as a medical assistant at Saint Luke’s Health System. Vince Rosqueta is working as an ICU nurse at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. Jessica Russell has accepted a position as substance abuse case manager and MAADC II counselor for Heartland Center for Behavioral Change in Kansas City, Missouri. Stephen Wingo is a civil engineer at POWER Engineers.
’21 DPT Alyssa Luedtke has started a job at Athletico Physical Therapy.
’21 MOT Jared Beck is working at Bates County Memorial Hospital. ’21 MBA Babir Sultan was featured in a profile of Fav Trip, the chain of convenience stores he co-owns, in C Store Decisions.
RETRO
ROCKHURST
On Sept. 11, 2001, the contrails from a plane turning around following the nationwide closing of airspace left a halo over the Rockhurst campus.
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UPCOMING EVENTS OCT. 26
NOV. 9
NOV. 11
Visiting Scholar Lecture: The Honorable Sly James
RU St. Louis Leadership Luncheon
Jesuits on Tap
Sly James, ’80, former mayor of Kansas City, presents “A Passion for Purpose: Building Cities for our Children,” based on his latest book.
Join Rockhurst and other Jesuit alumni in Kansas City for a fun evening at Boulevard Brewing Company.
Meet us in St. Louis for “Leadership Lessons On and Off the Field,” with former Cardinals pitcher and nonprofit entrepreneur Kyle McClellan.
DEC. 4
Ceremony of Lessons and Carols
Don’t miss this annual tradition featuring contemporary, classical and traditional music accompanying scriptural readings of the Christmas story.
›››››››››››››››››››››››››› For more information, visit rockhurst.edu/alumni
New Platform Provides Career Network for Hawks of All Ages
H
awks past and present don’t have to wait for a reunion to connect.
HawkLink, a partnership between the office of alumni relations and the Center for Career Development, went live this summer as an online hub for networking and mentoring serving RU’s current students, alumni, faculty and staff. Think of it like LinkedIn, but tailormade for Hawks.
Register for HawkLink to make virtual connections with RU students and alumni.
LEARN MORE ›››››››››››››
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More than 500 alumni participants joined in the leadup to the official launch for current students at the beginning of the fall 2021 semester. That growing community will be able to take advantage of the features that HawkLink provides. Alumni HawkLink users can find opportunities to mentor current students, post job and internship openings, or join interest groups based on major or career, to name a few. HawkLink also serves as yet another way to stay in touch with what’s happening at the Rock and play a critical role in the success of future generations of Rockhurst University leaders.
Register for HawkLink to make virtual career connections with Rockhurst University students and alumni. Visit rockhurst.edu/alumni/hawklink
FOR ALUMNI
IN MEMORIAM Joseph Vowells, ’46 – May 8
Lawrence Hickey, ’66 – Aug. 15
Manuel Blando, ’51 – Aug. 27
Ronald Mayerle, ’66 – June 10
Wallace Daniels, ’51 – Aug. 5
Gregory Nitschke, ’69 – July 31
John Landers, ’51 – April 28
Donald Reese, ’70 – May 20
John Pretz, ’51 – July 7
William Bergman, ’73 – Aug. 18
John Smith, ’52 – May 11
Clayton Huskey Jr., ’75 – Sept. 9
Jerome Burke, ’54 – April 20
James Siener, ’76 – April 24
Paul Lillig, ’54 – July 3
Michele Swarts, ’79 – June 7
John Martin Jr., ’54 – Aug. 24
Paul Gibbs, ’81 – May 10
Thomas Daly III, ’55 – June 1
Mark Fox, ’85 – May 27
William Fleming, ’56 – April 17
Richard Komer, ’85 – July 24
Anthony Salucci, ’56 – May 10
Rebecca Becker, ’87 – July 4
Edward Hughes III, ’58 – July 14
Howard Hartig, ’90 – June 23
Thomas Purcell, ’58 – April 24
Shelly Hiesberger, ’91 – Aug. 5
Charles Schorgl Sr., ’59 – May 15
Michael Stewart, ’91 – May 26
Robert Henze, ’60 – July 21
Debra Bronston, ’93 – July 31
Daniel Baker, ’61 – July 9
Gail Dolan, ’93 – July 10
John Adams, ’63 – June 26
Timothy Bray, ’00 – June 26
Michael Crawford, ’63 – April 25
Bruce Carroll, ’09 – June 24
Alfred Banfield Jr., ’66 – July 5
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Family and Alumni Fun Returns Postponed for a year due to the pandemic, Family and Alumni Weekend returned again in September, featuring a Friday night tailgate, a reunion for our Golden Hawks and others, Mass, a special celebration of the class of 2020, and much more.
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FOR ALUMNI
CAREER CENTER Changing Lives, One Scoop at a Time F
or-profit businesses are often driven by the desire to provide a quality product. For nonprofits, serving those in the community is a common goal. The Golden Scoop, a nonprofit ice cream shop in Overland Park, Kansas, that gives people with disabilities meaningful jobs, aims to deliver both. The shop, which opened in April 2021, is the result of a partnership between Amber Schreiber, ’02, ’05 MBA, and her sister Lindsay Krumbholz, a behavioral therapist. Krumbholz approached Schreiber with the idea, pointing to statistics showing unemployment rates among individuals with disabilities as high as 80%. Coming from the corporate world, Schreiber said she relished the chance to Amber Schreiber, ’02, ’05 MBA try something new. “She asked if I would run with the business plan, and I did,” Schreiber said. “This wasn’t a difficult decision — a lot of the people that Lindsay worked with had become part of our family. The shop has brought that full circle in that way, which is pretty incredible.” Success required more than a sweet idea — the team spent a year talking, planning and visiting other organizations with similar missions. Schreiber said she also had to learn some new skills.
“ There is a lot of joy and happiness in that shop.” —Amber Schreiber, ’02, ’05 MBA
“I’m kicking myself that I didn’t major in accounting and finance,” she said. “I encourage everybody to take classes in finance and accounting, even if you’re not strong in math.” At the end of the day, Schreiber said the success of The Golden Scoop can also be measured by the people with disabilities who work there. “There is a lot of joy and happiness in that shop,” Schreiber said. “Everybody’s had an incredible experience where they feel accepted, and that was one of our biggest goals.”
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&
QA
WITH TODD LAWRENCE, PH.D., ’95,
associate professor of English and American culture and difference, University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Q: Do you consider yourself primarily a folklorist, or an ethnographer, literary scholar, or all of the above? A: That’s a fair question, because I do a lot of stuff. I’m a literary scholar — I teach African American literature primarily, and I write about it, too. You can think of folklore as a body of material, or different kinds of expression, and ethnography is a way of studying it. Ethnography is a particular research methodology, so when I say that I’m an ethnographer, it just means that I do a certain thing in researching about groups of people. I was always taken with ethnography as a practice, theorizing it and thinking about ways it can be more collaborative, ways that it can be more equitable, ways that it can be more honest. Q: Where does your interest in folklore come from? A: It was actually Doc (Francis) Sheeran (Ph.D., Rockhurst professor emeritus of English) who talked to me about going to graduate school because he had some connections at Creighton University, so I entered an M.A. program there. And I found out about folklore as an area of study when I went to the University of Missouri (doctoral program). I realized that people in my family were practitioners of folklore, and that you could study proverbs and you could study joke-telling cycles, and you could study traditional music and traditional knowledge. It’s all of the traditional things that people say, make, believe, know, and do, which covers a lot of area. Q: Your book When They Blew the Levee tells the story of the residents of Pinhook, Missouri, a small community that was flooded when the Army Corps of Engineers breached a levee to save the town of Cairo, Illinois. What was the genesis of that book and what was it like to tell that story?
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A: We started that in the fall of 2011. Elaine Lawless (Ph.D., Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita at the University of Missouri) asked me if I was interested in working together. We went down there and started talking to people and learned an amazing story about the people of Pinhook. It was not just about the disaster, but also about their community before the disaster occurred. The book is their story, filtered through us as writers. It’s their response to the “official” account of that whole 2011 flood. They are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Writing that book changed my life. Q: Tell us about the ongoing Urban Art Mapping Project. A: Two UST colleagues and I started that project three years ago with a team of students. We were mapping and documenting street art in a single neighborhood in St. Paul. Then the pandemic hits and then three months after that, George Floyd is murdered right here, in front of our eyes, and the Twin Cities just exploded. In the aftermath of the uprising, we saw art everywhere in the streets. The plywood boards that went up on all the buildings became outdoor canvasses. We recognized the art was amazing, but we knew it would disappear quickly. So, we went on social media and asked people out in the streets to help us by photographing George Floyd-related street art and sending it to us. A year later we have more than 2,500 pieces documented from around the world. Our goal is to create the largest digital database of street art anywhere in the world around subjects like police violence, COVID-19, global warming, elections, etc. In the case of George Floyd, this art allows us to see what people were feeling inside, both individually and collectively, during a moment of social upheaval.
FOR ALUMNI
Rockhurst to Celebrate 100 Years of Men’s Basketball Men’s Basketball 1921 - 2021
D
on’t miss the celebration of the century when Rockhurst honors its 100th anniversary of men’s basketball Nov. 12-13. The Hawks completed their 100th season in February. The celebration will include recognition of Rockhurst’s All-Century Team.
The 101st edition of the Hawks will play Davenport University at 7 p.m. Nov. 12, and Purdue University-Northwest at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 at Rockhurst’s historic Mason-Halpin Fieldhouse. The games are part of the 13th annual GLIAC/ GLVC Challenge.
Honorees include former All-Americans Jack McCloskey, ’56, Ralph Telken,’64, all-time points leader Pat Caldwell, ’66, Jim Healey, ’69, and Aaron Hill, ’08, ’10 MBA, to name a few.
Friday night’s game is Rock E. Hawk Bobblehead Night and Saturday’s game will be followed by a reception and dinner in the Convocation Center.
For information about game tickets and reception registration, visit rockhursthawks.com.
Cardinals Pitcher Headlines St. Louis Leadership Event
T
he St. Louis Leadership Series event comes back this year, with a little champion flair.
Former St. Louis Cardinal Kyle McClellan, pitcher on the 2011 World Serieswinning squad, will share lessons for “Leadership On and Off the Field,” scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021, at the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis.
Kyle McClellan
In his presentation, McClellan will talk about two life-changing experiences — being part of a championship team and a trip to Haiti that led to the establishment of the nonprofit he founded alongside his wife, Bridget — Brace for IMPACT 46. The organization has worked to support the people of Haiti through the establishment of a children’s home, educational facilities, a medical clinic, and a partnership with local coffee farmers and Kaldi’s Coffee, a St. Louis based chain. Brace for IMPACT 46 also serves families in need in the St. Louis area, purchasing and renovating housing for families and children living in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood of north St. Louis in partnership with local corporations and The Tabernacle Church. As part of the program, two St. Louis-area alumni will be honored — Reggie Thorpe, ’71, will receive the Magis Award, and Melody Schaeffer, ’12, will receive a Faber Young Alumni Award. See page 26 for more on these honorees.
For more information, including individual ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities, visit rockhurst.edu/stlleadershipseries.
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?
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: TAYLOR (SKALA) SARES, ’15
Alumna’s Experience as a Hawk Inspires Her to Give Back
T
here were a lot of people who helped Taylor (Skala) Sares, ’15, succeed as she found her passion on the field, on the court and in the classroom. A two-sport athlete in soccer and basketball, Sares said her coaches, particularly women’s head soccer coach Greg Herdlick, inspired her on the pitch and the hardwood. And her science instructors made her more aware of the role science played in her performance. “I learned the importance of maintaining my health to play from July through March, since the soccer and basketball seasons overlapped,” she said.
After Rockhurst, Sares earned a master’s degree from Butler University and has worked for the last three years as a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery near her hometown in Illinois while working toward her doctoral degree also at Butler. In this path too, Sares said the values and skills learned as a Hawk — including teamwork, communication and dedication — helped her succeed in her medical career. “I can relate with my patients who are young athletes whom I may have to sideline due to injury,” she said. “I can understand their frustration, provide quality, compassionate care and discuss their care plan to try to get them back to doing what they love to do.” Because of those experiences, Sares remains a steadfast supporter of her alma mater, including most recently as a member of the committee tasked with choosing the University’s new athletic director. She said giving back is an easy decision. “Rockhurst helped shape me into who I am today," she said. “Not only did having a Rockhurst degree help further my educational journey, it also inspired lifelong friendships. Whether it’s out on the field, in the classroom, or in the operating room, I believe Rockhurst helped me foster my passion and commitment and as a result I chose a fulfilling career and get to do what I love.”
Taylor (Skala) Sares, second from left, joins family members and University officials in opening the additions to the Loyola Park baseball field in 2016.
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FALL 2021
FOR ALUMNI
EVERYDAY LEADERS Alumna Seeks to Spread “Gwendolyn’s Gifts” Through a Simple Smile
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t was in the midst of a difficult time for her own family that Erin Walker Kramer, ’07, received a text from her husband that would change everything.
“Make a difference today for somebody who is fighting for their tomorrow,” it said. It was a quote from NFL player Jim Kelly. It wasn’t hard to see that wisdom in their own situation. Their daughter, Gwendolyn, was born in 2014, diagnosed with a rare, terminal degenerative brain disease, and was in hospice care. Inspired by those words, and by their shared goal to make their daughter smile every day, Erin decided to do something positive. On Gwen’s fourth birthday, the couple asked for homemade cards and donations that could be assembled into care packages and delivered to other children in hospice and palliative care in the hopes of coaxing a smile. The small gesture of those “September Smiles” has grown steadily into something bigger — a registered nonprofit organization called Gwendolyn’s Gifts that provides emotional and financial support to children in hospice and palliative care and their families. That can mean a small “smile bag,” gas money allowing the family to visit their child, or fulfilling special requests those children might have. It’s all, in the spirit of the quote that started it all and the daughter who continues her own fight every day, a way to make a difference for someone facing the challenge of their lifetime.
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HIRE A HAWK
Erin Walker Kramer, ’07, and her daughter Gwendolyn.
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.
ROCKHURST.EDU
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IN CLOSING
Want to Make a Difference? Learn to Be Intentional BY MADELINE ROMIOUS, ’95 MBA
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o say that we find ourselves in dynamic and challenging times in the world today is a huge understatement. In the past year and a half, we have been inundated with constant change, eroding trust, and concerns about our mental and physical health and safety. I contend that in addition to the calm that my faith provides me, maintaining a focus on intentionality in my actions and engagements and being focused on solutions more than problems has been key to my coping and thriving in today’s world. A recent opportunity that came my way and is testing my theory about intentionality and being solutions focused is being voted to serve as the chairperson of the Police Foundation of Kansas City (PFKC). I am often asked why, as a person of color, I am doing this given the attention swirling in the media about the lack of trust and concerns over policing policies toward people of color. My response is usually quick and simple. We must all make intentional choices to change the communities we live in for the better. Whether that choice is to be active in your neighborhood association, mentoring kids who desperately need role models or volunteering to make food and serve the homeless, we must take intentional steps to make an impact. I have found that it can be as complex as leading change in an organization or as simple as saying hello to the person you pass on your morning walk. The PFKC focuses on engaging communities and assisting in reducing crime by generating funds for Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department initiatives. In addition, the PFKC supports the impact of technology, social workers and community engagement on reducing crime. The PFKC also works toward supporting the phenomenal members of the KCPD who keep our city safe while at the same time trying to figure out how to make more people feel a part of the solution and build trust in our communities. In my view, the Police Foundation is just one part of the ecosystem of impact in Kansas City. I have made an intentional decision to channel my efforts there. I challenge everyone else to be intentional about your actions in a way that strengthens your personal resolve and supports your community.
Madeline Romious is regional vice president for AT&T, where she is responsible for governmental and external affairs in the Kansas City, Missouri, area. She earned her MBA from Rockhurst University in 1995 and is a past member the University’s board of trustees. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Northwestern University.
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FALL 2021
TIME AND PLACE
SATURDAY, AUG. 21, LOWER BOURKE FIELD Freshmen get to know each other during a sand volleyball game held during the block party event at this year’s orientation activities.
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
1100 Rockhurst Road Kansas City, MO 64110-2561
Members of the Rockhurst community become part of history by signing a beam bound for the reconstructed Sedgwick Hall.
Kansas City, M0. Permit No. 782
