Area Civic, Corporate Leader to Receive Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics from Rockhurst University

As part of the annual Rockhurst University Leadership Series event on Tuesday, March 28, Rockhurst University will honor Madeline Romious, a 1995 graduate of the school’s MBA program, with the Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics.

Romious currently serves as Regional Vice President of External and Legislative Affairs with AT&T Missouri. She has been responsible for AT&T’s external, legislative and civic engagement in the Kansas City area since 2005. Prior to that she served in various leadership roles in network at AT&T, having joined the company in 1988.

Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, Romious received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Northwestern University in 1988 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rockhurst in 1995.

In addition to her prestigious career with one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, Romious has long held a deeply held passion for civic engagement. She currently serves as board chair for the Kansas City Police Foundation, as co-chair of the Inclusive Prosperity Leadership Workgroup with the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, as a member of the board directors for PREPKC, as vice board chair for ArtsKC, as board secretary and treasurer of The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, and as a board member for The Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and The YMCA of Greater Kansas City Foundation. She is a former member of the Rockhurst University Board of Trustees and is a member of the International Woman’s Forum Kansas Chapter; The Women’s Public Service Network; the Greater Kansas City, Missouri, Chapter of the Links Incorporated; and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Beta Omega Chapter.

“Madeline not only has a warm presence, but she is such an inspiring example of what Jesuit leadership looks like,” said Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., president of Rockhurst University. “Her love for this community is evident in the many organizations with which she serves and the many areas that she chooses to lend her gifts. We applaud her dedication to servant-leadership.”

The Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics is named for two of Rockhurst’s influential leaders: the late Tom Lyon, Ph.D., and the Rev. Nick Rashford, S.J. Established in 2014, the Rashford-Lyon Award for Leadership and Ethics honors recipients who exemplify high ethical standards of business conduct with excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work and inspiration to others. Past recipients include Tom Lyon, Ph.D.; Jane Chu, Ph.D., ’05 EMBA; Mayor Sly James, ’80; Patricia Cleary Miller, Ph.D.; Tom McCullough, ’64, and Tom McDonnell, ’66; Jean Dunn, Wendy Doyle, ’94, Lisa Ginter, ’87, Ama Karikari, M.D., ’07, Marny Sherman, ’75, and Bridgette Williams, ’16 EMBA; and Joe Reardon, '90.

Romious will receive the award during the March 28 event featuring keynote speaker, New York Times columnist David Brooks, which begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108. More information about the event, including individual and group ticket sales, is available here.