Rockhurst News

Each spring, students who distinguish themselves in what are considered the three main pillars of a Jesuit education — scholarship, leadership and service — are invited to become part of Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society.

Rockhurst University and William Jewell College already competed head-to-head in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. But this year, there was something else on the line for these two local institutions — bragging rights.

One of the Helzberg’s School of Management’s major graduate business degree programs has been recognized as one of the best in the nation, according to the 2024 Best Graduate Schools list from U.S. News and World Report.

While environmental sustainability is a global problem, many of its solutions are being developed locally.

Together, they have served Rockhurst University for 155 years, longer than Rockhurst has existed as an institution.

In recognition of that service, the University celebrated eight faculty and staff members who will be retiring this academic year in a ceremony Friday.

Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., University president, said all those retirees have made significant contributions to the University. But they also made an impact on their students and colleagues, evidenced by the heartfelt comments submitted for Cassady to read in honoring the retirees:

David Brooks, New York Times columnist, bestselling author, and guest of the 11^th annual Rockhurst University Leadership Series event on Tuesday evening at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, knows how to work a Kansas City crowd. He started with a compliment for the new Kansas City International Airport, and then quoted a familiar source in his talk about what he’s learned in a career analyzing current events and the people behind them — Kansas City’s own Jason Sudeikis.

When Nilufer Guler, Ph.D., associate professor of education, started asking for proposals for her latest project, she wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of responses.

But the theme of her new book, titled “At School in the World: Developing Globally Engaged Teachers,” must have been pretty inspiring. Guler and her co-editor, Carine Ullom, Ed.D., received 58 chapter proposals around incorporating global citizenship and intercultural competency into the classroom.

In November 2022, Rockhurst University etched a new chapter in its history, inaugurated its first lay, first female president, Sandra Cassady, Ph.D. In honor of Women’s History Month, we asked Cassady about her experience as a female leader and history maker in her own right.

Who have been some of the female leaders you looked up to in your career — either those you personally knew or who were examples from your own life?

Every name. Every stat. Every game. Every date.

Ask Dominique Washington, ’16, former Hawks basketball player and director of the MAC, a question about his experience playing basketball growing up, and recalling specifics is like second nature.

The victory parade in Kansas City celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ win in Super Bowl LVII was a memorable one for so many. And especially so for Katie Mead.