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
Cheryl McConnell, Ph.D., M.P.A., C.P.A.
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, Ph.D., 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
