Rockhurst News

There is a lot of buzz around soccer in the United States with the recent news that North America will host the 2026 World Cup, and for Tom Heinemann, ’09, even moreso.

He’s not just a lifelong soccer fan (who played for the Hawks during his time here), he’s also starting a new job at this moment in the sun for the sport he loves — in February he was named head coach of the of the U-15 Boys’ National Team, where he will be guiding the next generation of U.S. National Team stars. It’s a new challenge, but one Heinemann said he is very excited about.

Dominique Washington is a 2016 graduate of Rockhurst University, where he also played basketball for the Hawks. He is the new director of the MAC and intramural coordinator.

What’s it been like to be back on campus? Talk to us about your experience as a student here.

Sometimes there are obvious clues left behind at a crime scene.

Broken glass can indicate a point of entry. Missing items point to a robbery, etc.

But there are less obvious clues, too — things left behind at the molecular level.

Meet the Expert

Patrick Mitchell, SHRM-SCP, ’05, ’09 MBA, is vice president for human resources, diversity, equity and inclusion at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. He is an enthusiastic people and culture leader with a passion for helping others become the very best version of themselves.

From performing in a film for the first time to starting a podcast from scratch to jumping at leadership opportunities, freshman Chidera Okafor has embraced what Rockhurst University has to offer.

But it could have gone another way — Okafor said she came to Rockhurst to be a nursing student after being waitlisted for medical school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She decided not to wait — instead choosing Rockhurst’s nursing program — but it has been anything but a backup plan.

Rockhurst University has announced the dean’s list for the spring 2022 semester. This honor recognizes students who have achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or above.

The following students were named to the list:

Yasmeen Abutineh

Courtney Adams

Lauryn Adams

Nate Adamson

Peyton Aerni

Oscar Ahumada

Erica Akins

Mehdi Al-Amood

Shereen Al-Saoudi

Lucas Alaback

Balem Alamerew

Karen Alba

Le'Bonet Alfaro

Celeste Allen

Megan Allison

Drew Altic

Litzy Alvarado Islas

On Saturday, close to 750 students will participate in Rockhurst University’s commencement ceremony — returning to Municipal Auditorium for the first time since the pandemic forced the 100^th commencement ceremony to the virtual realm in 2020.

Four members of Kansas City’s unique entrepreneurial landscape took the stage Thursday in the third annual “Meet the Makers” event.

And though they represented different focuses — socks, whiskey, coffee and ice cream — they shared an appreciation for the hard work it takes to be a business owner and for those who supported them along the way.

In 2018, Rockhurst University began offering college courses, taught by its own faculty, to a small cohort of 20 incarcerated individuals and 10 staff at the Chillicothe Correctional Center. Progressing through disciplines and a pandemic, they’ve continued to learn.

Two MBA concentrations from the Helzberg School of Business in the College of Business, Influence and Information Analysis have earned top 20 national rankings in U.S. News & World Reports’ 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings.