Rockhurst News

A member of the Rockhurst University mathematics faculty has been honored alongside other local female leaders in STEM for work that seeks to inspire a love of math in young people, particularly girls and young women.

Zdenka Guadarrama, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, received the WiSTEMM Educator STEMMy Award from women’s leadership organization Central Exchange during its 9^th annual STEMMy awards ceremony Oct. 27, recognizing her contributions to STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) disciplines through her Mathapalooza program.

Nearly every nurse has a story of why they got started in the profession, and almost all involve a nurse providing care and comfort to them or a loved one.

Today’s workplace is diverse in both its composition and responsibilities. Interdisciplinary classes, minors, and majors encourage students to think critically and creatively to properly prepare individuals for this evolving professional world.

Rockhurst’s College of Arts & Sciences built a multi-disciplinary approach and team-teaching into its 2020-2025 strategic plan to incorporate two or more areas of study to prepare students for the more varied careers in today’s global job market.

Just a few years ago, Hasina Lokhandwala Siraj was working as a senior human resources executive in her home country of India. Today, she’s a wife, mother and professional living in the U.S. as a Rockhurst MBA student.

In a life filled with big changes and important decisions, Lokhandwala calls her choice to pursue an MBA a Rockhurst after starting a family “one of the best decisions of my life.”

The NCAA reminds us that most collegiate student-athletes will turn professional in something other than sports.

Two Hawks, Tera Reberry (volleyball) and Parker Esparza (men’s soccer), are well on their way to living that dream as medical professionals, while still being key contributors to their respective teams.

The inauguration of Rockhurst University’s 15^th president, Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. The afternoon of events will mark Cassady’s ceremonial installation as president and a milestone for Rockhurst as the first woman and first lay president of the institution.

Rockhurst business students are getting a head start as data scientists by doing everything from assisting sports and entertainment businesses with fan engagement to attempting to measure trust in order to reduce crime in Kansas City.

The projects are all through partnerships between RU’s Master of Science in Data Analytics program and organizations in the local community. Students use the partnerships to open doors for internships and career development.

In keeping with Rockhurst’s Catholic, Jesuit tradition, the University is debuting its Wisdom Core Curriculum this year. The updated curriculum helps create and reflect Rockhurst’s culture, mission and identity while keeping up with a changing world.

RU students will be challenged to discover the best version of themselves while learning to inspire others. Through its instructors, the curriculum connects with the students to promote the development of their intellectual, spiritual, moral, and imaginative capacities.

Luke Spencer repeatedly refused to accept defeat when pursuing his dream of being a naval officer – until a severe car accident left him no other choice. Now the Rockhurst University junior has a new dream, and he’s once again overcoming obstacles and using hard lessons learned to make that happen.

When Spencer graduated high school his sole goal was to get into a service academy to become a naval officer. This was his career goal since he was a kid, aiming to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Emma Miller, ’22, came to Rockhurst prepared to pursue an undergraduate degree on her way to medical school.

But, like many, the COVID-19 pandemic led to soul-searching about whether that was the path for her. A biology major and career in medicine, she said, might not be her calling. But, still loving science, she wondered — what is?