Media Center

Rockhurst University’s Office of University Relations is eager to work with news media. And we’re also eager to connect reporters on deadline with faculty and/or staff members who can discuss a variety of topics.

News Media Guidelines

RU requires all members of the news media to contact a member of the Office of University Relations staff before coming to campus to cover a story.

First, contact Katherine Frohoff, director of university relations, at 816-501-4151 or 816-501-4895. If you’re calling after regular business hours, contact campus security at 816-501-4010.

Once you’ve connected with us, we’ll help you gain access to sources, locations and parking. We’ll also notify security of your anticipated arrival. This notification is vital as our security team routinely patrols campus looking for unauthorized people and vehicles.

A few details to keep in mind:

  • Media are allowed inside campus buildings only with prior approval to prevent disruptions to the learning environment.
  • Media are only allowed in on-campus housing in rare circumstances to protect the privacy of all students.
  • Media must be accompanied by a campus escort to gain access to many areas on campus, even if a student has given permission to enter.
  • RU security has been asked to enforce these guidelines.

Did you receive a news release from us, and are interested in covering that story? Great news. We welcome notice of your plans to cover it.

Media Resource Guide

RU offers an excellent resource for reporters on deadline – our faculty. Faculty members listed within this guide have agreed to share their expertise with members of the media.

To reach any expert listed, or to inquire about an unlisted subject, contact Katherine Frohoff, director of university relations, at katherine.frohoff@rockhurst.edu 816-501-4151 or 816-501-4895.

ACCOUNTING

Taxation
Nonprofit Taxation
Jami Shipman, J.D., Ph.D.
Assistant 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

Tracy Blasdel, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Marketing

ASSESSMENT

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

ASTRONOMY

Mark Pecaut, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Physics

BIOETHICS

Health Care and Medical Ethics
John Morris, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

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 Analytics
Myles P. Gartland, Ph.D.
Professor, Management

Xuan Pham, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Management and Analytics

Business Intelligence
Myles P. Gartland, Ph.D.
Professor, Management

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

Kelly Phipps, J.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

Craig Sasse, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

Business Writing

Tracy Blasdel, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Marketing
 

BRAIN

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

CAMPUS MINISTRY

Bill Kriege
Director, Campus Ministry

CAREERS AND INTERNSHIPS

Career Development & Employment
Mike Theobald
Director, Career Services

CATHOLICISM

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

Catholic History and Tradition
Catholic Thought and Culture
Richard Janet, Ph.D.
Professor, History

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

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
Tracy Blasdel, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Marketing

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

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Randolph Schwering, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

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

CYBERBULLYING

Mandi Sonnenberg, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Education

DATA SCIENCE

Data Mining
Myles P. Gartland, Ph.D.
Professor, Management

ECONOMICS

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

Economic Development
Bob Jacobi, MBA
Executive Director, Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Kansas City Economic Development
Regional Economics
Sustainability
Richard Wagner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Economic

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

EDUCATION

Accounting
Business Education
Cooperative Learning
Curriculum Development
Distance Education
Experiential Learning
Higher Education
Internet
Teaching/Learning Research
Myles Gartland, Ph.D.
Interim Dean - Helzberg School of Management
Professor, Accounting 

Business Education
Myles P. Gartland, Ph.D.
Professor, Management

Learning Styles
Teaching Styles
Michael Clump, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences

Elementary, Middle and Secondary Education
Hilary Harms Logan, Ph.D.
Department Chair of Education
Instructor, Education 

ETHICS

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.
Professor, Foreign Languages and Literature

EUTHANASIA

John Morris, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

Brendan Sweetman, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

EXERCISE AND WELLNESS

Sport-specific Exercise Training
Current Exercise Trends
Exercise During Pregnancy and Postpartum
Exercise for Improving General Health
Exercise and Disease Prevention
Nicole Moodie, Ph.D., CSCS
Associate Professor of Exercise, Sport, and Health Science

FILM/CINEMA

Jason Arthur, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English
Division Chair of Humanities and Fine Arts

FINANCE

Investments
Brian Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Professor, Finance

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

FRENCH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Francophone Culture and Literature
Regional French Teaching and Activities
Kathleen Madigan, Ph.D.
Professor, Modern Languages and Literature  

HEALTH CARE

Current Issues in Health Care
Health Economics
Health Policy
James Dockins, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor, Health Care Management

HISTORY

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

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

HUMANITIES

Jason Arthur, Ph.D.
Associate 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.
Professor, Management

Brewery Industry (U.S. and Global)
Globalization
International Business and Strategy
Martin Stack, Ph.D.
Professor, Management

LABOR

Ethics for Business
Management Issues
Unions
Workplace Leadership
Bob Jacobi, MBA
Executive Director, Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City

LANGUAGE


Importance of Learning a Second Language
Rocio de la Rosa Duncan, Ph.D.
Professor, Modern Languages and Literature

Kathleen Madigan, Ph.D.
Professor, Modern Languages and Literature 

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

LEADERSHIP

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

Bob Jacobi, MBA
Executive Director, Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City

Ken Mellard, MBA
Director, Leadership Studies

Kelly Phipps, J.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

Craig Sasse, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director of Executive Education

Randolph Schwering, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

LIBRARIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION

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

LITERATURE

American Literature
Jason Arthur, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, English

Fiction

Latin American Literature
Rocio de la Rosa Duncan, Ph.D.
Professor, Foreign Languages and Literature

MANAGEMENT

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

Kelly Phipps, J.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management 

Craig Sasse, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Director of Executive Education

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

MARKETING

Advertising
Business Communication
Marketing Strategy
Tracy Blasdel, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Marketing

MEMORY

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

MEXICO

Contemporary Mexican Novel
Mexican Culture
Rocio de la Rosa Duncan, Ph.D.
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.
Professor, History

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

MUSIC

History
Performance
Timothy McDonald, Ph.D.
Professor, Music

NONPROFIT

Nonprofit Governance
Nonprofit Leadership
Fundraising
Volunteer Management
Jennifer Rinella, Ed.D., CNP
Assistant Professor, Nonprofit Leadership
Director, Nonprofit Leadership

Nonprofit Governance
Nonprofit Leadership
Nonprofit Taxation
Jami Shipman, J.D., C.P.A.
Assistant Professor, Accounting

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Burn Rehabilitation
Mylene Schriner Ph.D., MS, OTR/L
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy
Katie Ryan-Bloomer Ph.D., OTR/L
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Early Intervention Occupational Therapy
Ketti Johnson Coffelt OTD, MS, OTR/L
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Joan Ziegler Delahunt MS, OTR/L
Visiting Instructor, Occupational Therapy

Hand and Upper Extremity Orthopedic Specialist
Sunni Alford, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Katie Ryan-Bloomer Ph.D., OTR/L
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Ketti Johnson Coffelt OTD, MS, OTR/L 
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Joan Ziegler Delahunt MS, OTR/L
Visiting Instructor, Occupational Therapy

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

School-based Occupational Therapy (ages 3 -21)
Ketti Johnson Coffelt, OTD, MS, OTR/L
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy

Joan Ziegler Delahunt, MS, OTR/L
Visiting Instructor, Occupational Therapy

PHILOSOPHY

John Morris, Ph.D.
Professor, Philosophy

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Pediatric Physical Therapy – Motor Development & Screening for Motor Delays
Health Promotion and Prevention Care, Fall Prevention Screenings
Motor Imagery for Movement, Health, Fitness, and Wellness
Catherine Thompson, PT, Ph.D., MS
Professor, Physical Therapy Education

PHYSICS

Halloween Physics
Physics of Medicine
Nancy Donaldson, Ph.D.
Professor, Physics
Department Chair, Physics

POLITICS

United States Congress
United States National Elections
United States President
United States Supreme Court
Thomas Ringenberg, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Political Science

POLITICAL DEBATES

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

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Tracy Blasdel, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Marketing

Jeremey O'Connor, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Management

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

PROTESTANTISM

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

PSYCHOLOGY

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

Student Mental Health
Self-Help
Innovation, Creativity, and Design Thinking
Risa Stein, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

PUBLIC OPINION

Thomas Ringenberg, Ph.D.
Visiting 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

Gianna Carleo
Assistant Director, Campus Ministry, Social Justice, CLC, Service Trips

SMOKING CESSATION

Risa Stein, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychology

SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Rocio de la Rosa Duncan, Ph.D.
Professor, Foreign Languages and Literature

STUDENTS

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

Leadership learning outside the classroom
Involvement
Student Life
Angie Carr Robinett
Director, Student Life

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

SUSTAINABILITY

Laura Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.
Discipline Coordinator of Economics
Professor, Economics

Randolph Schwering, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Management

TECHNOLOGY

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

THEATER

Matthew Schmidli, MFA
Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater

THEOLOGY

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

WORKFORCE

Development
Leadership
Politics
Workplace Issues
Bob Jacobi, MBA
Executive Director, Labor Management Council of Greater Kansas City