Past Headlines

Stories from the Class of 2020

May 13, 2020
A graduate following the commencement ceremony
From the moment the academic year began, it was bound to be unique. The commencement ceremony in the year 2020 will be Rockhurst University’s 100 th , a milestone worth celebrating. While 2020 will likely be remembered for the global pandemic that forced the closure of college campuses across the U...Read More

Through Personal Writing, Ethnography and Instagram, English Students Tell Unique Stories of Pandemic Life

May 11, 2020
Phone open to a class instagram account
“Human first.” That’s what the Post-It note on the laptop of Jameelah Lang, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, has told her for years. It’s a reminder that teaching should always be student-focused — that above all else, her instruction should be a partnership with students that emphasizes...Read More

Faculty, Staff Members of the Year Honored in Surprise Drive-By Parades

May 4, 2020
A faculty member next to a sign honoring her service
Each April, students at Rockhurst University vote for the staff member and faculty member who have had an outsized impact that year on their campus and academic lives. As part of the Festival of Student Achievement, the Faculty of the Year and Staff Member of the Year are typically recognized...Read More

For Art Project, Students Look to Household Objects for Inspiration

April 20, 2020
A sculpture made by an art student
From the stylized depictions of nature from the impressionists to the stark grandeur of Ansel Adams’ photographs, artists have long looked to their surroundings for inspiration. One group of Rockhurst students were asked to do something similar in the wake of COVID-19, using objects found in their...Read More

Faculty Pitch in for Provider Protection Effort

April 16, 2020
Hospital employees accepting protective equipment donations from a RU employee
For most health care providers, staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic is simply not an option. Staying healthy while they care for the sick means having personal protective equipment up to the task — gloves, masks, and face shields. Unfortunately, the widespread nature of the disease means...Read More

University Mourns Former President

April 16, 2020
The Rev. Peter Ely, S.J., in church
Rockhurst University is mourning the death of former University president the Rev. Peter Ely , S.J., on Saturday, April 11. He earned a Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in philosophy from Gonzaga. He was ordained as a member of the Society of Jesus in...Read More

Amidst COVID-19 Crisis, Alumnus’ Restaurant Steps Up to Feed KC Health Care Providers

April 6, 2020
Health care workers accepting meals outside the hospital
For Kansas City area restaurants (make that restaurants across the U.S.), physical distancing and other precautions taken to stem the spread of COVID-19 has made business a lot harder. That’s a cause of stress for Dan Walsh, ’96, ’01 MBA, owner of Spokes Café, but it’s also been an opportunity to...Read More

With “Work of Art Wednesday,” Center for Arts and Letters Offers Cultural Enrichment, Even in Isolation

April 1, 2020
Madonna and Child with the Infant St. John
Spanning centuries, styles and places of origin, the Van Ackeren Collection of Religious Art at Rockhurst University is something of a treasure on campus. Each piece in the collection has a story behind it, but unfortunately are currently unavailable for viewing both because of ongoing renovations...Read More

Leadership Series Guest Carly Fiorina Breaks Down The Lessons Behind Her Leadership

March 9, 2020
Carly Fiorina with university president and student during Q&A
The guest of Thursday’s Rockhurst University Leadership Series luncheon, Carly Fiorina, told the audience that when she started her career as a receptionist at a small real estate office, she didn’t necessarily have eyes on the corner office. In spite of that initial lack of ambition, she would...Read More

It’s Official: Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences Will Join Rockhurst University

March 5, 2020
Bell tower inscription. Learning, leadership, and service in the Jesuit tradition
The Higher Learning Commission, which accredits Rockhurst University, has approved the University’s application to acquire the Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences — a move that will significantly expand Rockhurst’s ability to meet the region’s growing need for health care professionals. The...Read More

Pages