Magis Leaders Program

Magis - To seek excellence in all aspects of life; to find more purposeful and effective ways to carry out our work every day; to give greater love, care, and compassion to our neighbor. 

Introduction

The Magis Leaders Program (MLP) is designed to assist students as they navigate early career decisions and give participants a competitive advantage when applying for jobs. These twin objectives are accomplished through the sharing of insights, strategies, and mind-sets by successful c-suite business, professional and civic leaders. Further, the subject matter of these seminars is focused on key areas of applied personal and professional development. This program is relevant for students of all backgrounds, majors, and professional aspirations.

Admission to the MLP is via a selection process which begins with submission of the MLP application and a recommendation from a Rockhurst University community member (see link at bottom of this page to both). All applications and recommendations are then reviewed by the Selection Committee and invitations are extended to those students who qualify. The criteria used in the evaluation includes academic scores, leadership experience, and community engagement.  

Students admitted to the MLP will participate in eight two-hour sessions throughout the fall and spring semesters. Admission to the program carries with it the understanding that the two courses must be taken sequentially. Each course is valued at .5 credit hours or 1 full credit hour for the entire sequence. (This sequence can be used to replace Professional Readiness II MG 3001.)

Academic Component

With an emphasis on career readiness, seminars will cover personal branding, networking, mentorship, working smart, building and leading teams, interviewing, professional conduct and diversity and inclusion. The MLP topics are presented by leaders considered subject matter experts in their fields.

About the Professor

Ken Mellard is a community leader, leadership trainer, and former business leader who serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Helzberg School of Management. Prior to entering the workforce, he received degrees from Rockhurst University and Boston College. During his tenure as a business owner, he led healthcare initiatives focused on automating medical services. He also led healthcare consulting teams focused on profit improvement strategies. Ken has served on multiple community organization boards in a variety of leadership roles. He is the lead professor of the program and will be supported by other faculty of the College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis. Dave Fowler previously created and developed the Program until his retirement. 

Who Can Apply

Any Rockhurst University undergraduate student can apply for enrollment in the Magis Leaders Program. To be considered, all applicants are expected to have an overall GPA of 2.9 or above.

Applicants

Each application must be supported by one reference from a professor, instructor, or university administrator who can attest to the applicant's character, motivation, and/or leadership potential. You will be prompted to provide contact information for your reference as part of the online application.

Application Deadline: March 30, 2025