Rockhurst University | Learning, Leadership and Service in the Jesuit Tradition

Rockhurst University has an excellent resource for reporters on deadline — our faculty. Faculty members listed in this online guide have agreed to share their expertise with members of the media.

To reach any of the experts listed in this guide, or to inquire about a subject that’s not represented, call the Rockhurst director of public relations at 816-501-4151, or the Office of Public Relations and Marketing at 816-501-4895.

Katherine Frohoff, APR
Director of Public Relations
816-501-4151
816-501-4895
katherine.frohoff@rockhurst.edu

ACCOUNTING

Business/Social Issues
Tax
Cheryl McConnell, M.P.A., C.P.A.
Professor, Accounting

Acquisitions
Financial Reporting
Managerial Reporting
Stock Market (Market Analysis and Mergers)
Tax Reporting
Tony Tocco, Ph.D.
Professor, Accounting

ADVERTISING

Pete Bicak, Ph.D.
Professor, Communication and Fine Art

ASSESSMENT

Steven Brown, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Faculty-in-Residence for Assessment

AUTISM

Judith Carlson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Education

Carol Koch, M.A.
Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders

BIOLOGY

Blister Beetles
Global Positioning Systems
Insects
Invertebrates
K-12 Science Education
Parasites
Spiders
Mary Haskins, Ph.D.
Professor, Biology

BUSINESS (see also Economics, Communication, Finance, Management)

Business Writing
Joseph Cirincione, Ph.D.
Professor, English

Business Leadership
James Dockins, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Health Care Management

Business and Technology Alignment
Leadership
Strategic Planning
Richard Graham, MBA
Associate Professor, Management

BRAIN

Cognitive Neuroscience
William Sturgill, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

CAMPUS MINISTRY

Maureen Henderson
Director, Campus Ministry

CAREERS AND INTERNSHIPS

Mike Theobald
Director, Career Services

CATHOLICISM

Daniel F. Stramara Jr., Ph.D.
Professor, Theology & Religious Studies

Catholic Education Social Teaching
Curtis Hancock, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

Catholic History and Tradition
Catholic Thought and Culture
Richard Janet, Ph.D.
Director of Thomas More Center for the Study of Catholic Thought and Culture

St. Thomas More
Charles Kovich, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Director, Plays in Progress Workshop

American Catholic History
Catholic Economic Thought
Craig Prentiss, Ph.D.
Professor, Theology and Religious Studies

CHEMISTRY

Biochemicals, role in vision process
Biochemistry
Vitamins and their effects on the body
James Chapman, Ph.D.
Professor, Chemistry

CHRISTIANITY

Curtis Hancock, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

Early Christianity
Eastern Christianity
Daniel F. Stramara Jr., Ph.D
Professor Theology and Religious Studies

COMMUNICATION

General Persuasion
Pete Bicak, Ph.D.
Professor, Communication and Fine Art

Corporate Communication
Joseph Cirincione, Ph.D.
Professor, English

Body Language
Gender Communication
Group Communication
Interpersonal Communication
Listening Cognitions and Behavior
Laura Janusik, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Communication and Fine Arts

Autism
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Early Intervention
Pediatric Speech Language Pathology
Speech Sound Disorders
Carol Koch, M.A.
Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Criminal Justice Policy
Criminal Offending
Law
Prisons and Corrections
Ken Balusek, Ph.D., J.D.
Assistant Professor and Director, Criminal Justice & Paralegal Studies

CYBERBULLYING

Mandi Sonnenberg, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Education

ECONOMICS

International Economics
James Dockins, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Health Care Management

Economic Development
Bob Jacobi, M.B.A.
Executive Director, Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Domestic
International
International Trade
Michael Stellern, Ph.D.
Professor, Economics

African Crises
Asian Crises
Change
Deflation
European Crises
Inflation
Mergers
Stock Market
Michael Tansey, Ph.D.
Professor, Economics

EDUCATION

Accounting
Cooperative Learning
Curriculum Development
Distance Education
Experiential Learning
Internet
Teaching/Learning Research
Cheryl McConnell, M.P.A., C.P.A.
Interim Dean - Helzberg School of Management
Professor, Accounting 

Assessment in Education
Composition Pedagogy and Assessment
Culturally Responsive Teaching
Kenan Metzger, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Education

Learning Styles
Teaching Styles
Michael Clump, Ph.D.
Interim Chair, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders 
Associate Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies 

Middle and Secondary Education
Mary Pat Shelledy, Ed.S.
Department Chair of Education
Instructor of Education 

Online Learning and Course Development
History
Ethics
Margaret Enright Wye, Ph.D.
Professor, English

Special Education
Judith Carlson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Education

ETHICS

Curtis Hancock, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

Brendan Sweetman, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

John Morris, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

ETHNICITY

Being Hispanic in the United States
Rocio de la Rosa Duncan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Foreign Languages and Literature

EUTHANASIA

John Morris, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

Brendan Sweetman, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

EXERCISE AND WELLNESS

Prevention of Chronic Disease
Prevention of Heart Disease
Exercise, Physical Activity and Health
Exercise and Weight Loss
Jeffrey Roitman, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Exercise and Sport Science

FINANCE

Investments
Brian Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Professor, Finance

Derivatives Markets
International Finance
Portfolio Management
Risk Management
Sudhakar Raju, Ph.D.
Professor, Finance

GRAMMAR

Margaret Enright Wye, Ph.D.
Professor, English

HEALTH CARE

Vitamins and their effects on the body
James Chapman, Ph.D.
Professor, Chemistry

Health Economics
Health Policy
James Dockins, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Health Care Management

Health Care Policy
Health Economics
Managed Care
Myles Gartland, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Economics

HISTORY

History of the Middle East
Faith Childress, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, History

History of Modern Britian
Modern European History
Richard Janet, Ph.D.
Professor, History

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Online Learning and Course Development
History
Ethics
Margaret Enright Wye, Ph.D.
Professor, English

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND RELATIONS

Globalization
Business Intelligence and Analytics
International Business and Strategy
MBA and Graduate Education
European Union
Business Strategy
Myles Gartland, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Economics

JESUITS

Ignatian Spirituality
Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Joseph Cirincione, Ph.D.
Professor, English

Jesuit notion of an educated person
Charles Kovich, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Director, Plays in Progress Workshop

LABOR

Ethics for Business
Management Issues
Unions
Workplace Leadership
Bob Jacobi, M.B.A.
Executive Director,
Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City

LANGUAGE

Importance of learning a second language
Rocio de la Rosa Duncan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Foreign Languages and Literature

Autism
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Early Intervention
Pediatric Speech Language Pathology
Speech Sound Disorders
Carol Koch, M.A.
Associate Professor, Communication Sciences and Disorders

Psychology of Language
William Sturgill, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

LEADERSHIP

James Dockins, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Health Care Management

Bob Jacobi, M.B.A.
Executive Director, Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Ken Mellard, M.B.A.
Director, Leadership Studies

James Millard, Ph.D.
Professor, Leadership Studies

Randolph Schwering, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

LIBERAL ARTS

Liberal Arts and Education
Joseph Cirincione, Ph.D.
Professor, English

History and role of liberal arts education
Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Editor, Rockhurst Review

LIBRARIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Archives
Open Access
Scholarly Communication
Social Media
Technology
Laurie Hathman, M.L.S.
Director, Greenlease Library

LITERACY

Literacy in America
Charles Kovich, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Director, Plays in Progress Workshop

LITERATURE

Fiction
Poetry
Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Editor, Rockhurst Review

American Indian Literature
Kenan Metzger, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Education

Jane Austen
Margaret Enright Wye, Ph.D.
Professor, English

MANAGEMENT

Leadership
James Dockins, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Health Care Management

Information Technology
Leadership
Organizational Development
Strategic Management
Randolph Schwering, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

MARKETING

Marketing Strategy
Business Communication
Writing
Presentation Skills 
Anna (Acey) Lampe, Ph.D.
Executive Professor of Management 

MEDICINE

Cancer Drugs
Drug Design
Vitamins and their effects on the body
James Chapman, Ph.D.
Professor, Chemistry

MEMORY

Normal Memory Processes
William Sturgill, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

MEXICO

Contemporary Mexican Novel
Mexican Culture
Rocio de la Rosa Duncan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Foreign Languages and Literature

Politics in Mexico
Charles Moran, Ph.D.
Professor, Political Science

MIDDLE EAST

History of the Middle East
Faith Childress, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, History

Business
James Dockins, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Health Care Management

MUSIC

History
Performance
Timothy McDonald, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

People With Upper-Extremity Amputations
Prosthetic Use Training
Kris Vacek, Ph.D., OTD, OTR
Professor, Occupational Therapy

PHILOSOPHY

John Morris, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

History of Ideas
Political Philosophy
Curtis Hancock, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Brian McKiernan, Ph.D.
Professor, Physical Therapy

Pediatric Physical Therapy
Prevention Practice
Using Motor Imagery
Catherine Thompson, PT, PhD, MS
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Education

POLITICAL DEBATES

Pete Bicak, Ph.D.
Professor, Communication and Fine Art

POLITICAL SCIENCE

R. Matthew Beverlin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Political Science

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Professional Development for Teachers
Mandi Sonnenberg, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Education

PROTESTANTISM

Bill Stancil, Ph.D.
Professor, Theology and Religious Studies

PSYCHOLOGY

Students and Stress
Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling Center

Forensic Psychology
Relationships
Sexuality
Kate Nicolai, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychology

Developmental Issues
Paul Scott, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychology

Cognitive Neuroscience
Language
Memory
Perception
William Sturgill, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

PUBLIC POLICY

R. Matthew Beverlin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Political Science

RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships
Sexuality
Kate Nicolai, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychology

RELIGION (see also Catholicism, Protestantism, Theology)

History and American Life
Interaction between religious ideology and ethnic groups
New Movements
Religion in America
Religion in Politics
Craig Prentiss, Ph.D.
Professor, Theology and Religious Studies

Apocalyptic Movements
Bible
Fundamentalism
Millennial Movements
Scripture
Bill Stancil, Ph.D.
Professor, Theology and Religious Studies

Religion and Politics
Religion and Science
Evolution vs. Creationism
Intelligent Design Movement
Theism vs. Naturalism
Brendan Sweetman, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

SERVICE-IMMERSION TRIPS

Bill Kriege
Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, Social Justice, CLC, Service Trips

SMOKING CESSATION

Risa Stein, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Psychology

STUDENTS

Faith issues of college-age students
Maureen Henderson
Director, Campus Ministry

Student Life
Matthew Quick, Ph.D.
Dean of Students & VP for Student Development/Athletics

Students and Stress
Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
Director, Counseling Center

Retention and Attrition
Transition Issues: homesickness, time management
Sandy Waddell, M.S.Ed.
Assistant Dean of Students

TECHNOLOGY

iPad Integration in the Classroom
Technology in Teaching
Web Resources for Teachers 
Mandi Sonnenberg, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Education

Online Learning and Course Development
History
Ethics
Margaret Enright Wye, Ph.D.
Professor, English

THEATER

Susan Proctor, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Communications and Fine Arts

THEOLOGY

Bible
Bill Stancil, Ph.D.
Professor, Theology and Religious Studies

WORK FORCE

Development
Leadership
Politics
Workplace Issues
Bob Jacobi, M.B.A.
Executive Director, Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City

WRITTEN WORD

Influence of print on education
Charles Kovich, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Director, Plays in Progress Workshop

Writing
Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.
Professor, English
Editor, Rockhurst Review

Margaret Enright Wye, Ph.D.
Professor, English