Oct 10, 2024  
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Rockhurst Community



Administration as of August 2019

 President   Rev. Thomas B. Curran, B.A., M.A., M.B.A., J.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs   Douglas Dunham, B.S., M.A., Ph.D.
Chief Financial Officer   Gerald Moench, C.P.A.
Vice President for Student Development and Athletics/Dean of Students   Matthew Quick, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Vice President for University Advancement   Mary Mooney Burns, B.S.
Vice President for Mission and Ministry   Cindy Schmersal, B.A., M.A.
Associate Provost for Enrollment Services   Paula Shorter, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Associate Vice President of Technology   Bart Klein
Associate Vice President of Facilities Operations   Jason Riordan, B.S.
Chief Inclusion Officer   Leslie Doyle
University Registrar   Brenda Laney, B.S.
Director of Athletics   Gary Burns, B.S., M.S.
Director of Campus Ministry   Bill Kriege, B.A., M.A.
Director of Center for Arts and Letters   Cynthia Cartwright, B.S.
Director of the Career Center   Michael Theobald, B.S.E., M.S.
Director of Compliance and Risk Management   Kimberly Brandt King, J.D.
Director of Assessment and Accreditation   Annalisa Gramlich, M.S., M.A., L.P.C.
Director of Financial Aid   Maureen McKinnon, B.A., M.A.
Director of Greenlease Library   Laurie Hathman, B.A., M.L.S.
Director of Human Resources   Barbara Upton-Garvin, B.A., M.B.A.
Director of Marketing   Dave Hunt, B.A., M.A.
Director of Public Relations   Katherine Frohoff, B.S., M.A., M.B.A.
Director of Security   Chief Randy Hopkins

College of Arts and Sciences

Dean   Jennifer Friend, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Associate Dean   Michael Clump, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis

Interim Dean   Myles Gartland, Ph.D.
Associate Dean   Laura Fitzpatrick, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

College of Health and Human Services

Dean   Kris Vacek, OTR/L, B.S.O.T., O.T.D.
Associate Dean   Mylene Schriner, B.S.E., B.S., M.S.E., Ph.D.

Research College of Nursing

President   Thad Wilson, Ph.D., R.N.
Dean of Nursing   Julie Nauser, Ph. D., R.N.

Board of Trustees

Dr. Thomas F. Hastings, M.D., FACP, Chairman

Ms. Nancy Creasy, Vice Chairman

Mr. Kenneth R. Garrett, Secretary

Members

Mr. Joseph M. Agnello, ‘89

Mr. Clifford Alexander, ‘66

Mr. Don H. Alexander

Rev. Michael D. Barber, S.J.

Rev. Dr. Kent A. Beausoleil, S.J.

Mr. Gary Belske

Mr. Daniel P. Charles, ‘88

Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J.

Ms. Carol A. DiRaimo, ‘04

Mr. Robert P. Dunn, ‘82 ‘90

Ms. Lisa Ginter

Ms. Carol A. Grimaldi, ‘89

Mr. Glennon M. Heitmann, ‘83

Mr. Dennis Huber

Mrs. D’Angela Johnson

Mr. Melvin J. Lavery, ‘68

Mr. Reed F. Murphy, III

Rev. Hung Trung Pham, S.J.

Mrs. Sylvia Raya

Mr. James Reavey

Mr. John Rios

Mrs. Maryanne L. Roepke, ‘78

Ms. Madeline Romious, ‘95

Dr. Thomas M. Sack, Ph.D., ‘80

Rev. William Sheahan, S.J.

Mr. Matthew C. Stewart, S.J.

Rev. Kevin W. Wildes, S.J.

Trustees Emeriti

Mr. Arthur J. Doyle

Mr. Richard W. Miller, ‘52

Rev. Michael J. Sheeran, S.J.

Mr. Byron G. Thompson

Honorary Trustee

Mr. William H. Dunn Sr., ‘46

 

Divisional & Departmental Chairpersons and Directors of Special Programs

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Psychology   Jennifer Oliver, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology, Justice & Society   Ken Balusek, Ph.D.
     
Department of Modern Languages   Leslie Anne Merced, Ph.D.
Department of English   Jason Arthur, Ph.D.
Department of History   Faith Childress, Ph.D.
     
Department of Philosophy   Brendan Sweetman, Ph.D.
Department of Theology and Religious Studies   Craig Prentiss, Ph.D.
     
Department of Biology   Laura Salem, Ph.D.
Department of Chemistry   Petia Bobadova, Ph.D.
     
Medical Laboratory Sciences Program   Janet L. Cooper, Ph.D.
Biochemistry Program   Annie Lee, Ph.D. and Laura Salem, Ph.D.
Catholic Studies   Brian Frain, S.J., Ed.D.
School of Education   Sarah J. Hicks, Ph.D.
Field Experience Director   Janet Spallo Mitchelson, M.A.
Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies Program   Leslie Anne Merced, Ph.D.

College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis

Directors:    
Senior Director of Graduate Business Programs and Strategic Initiatives   Myles Gartland, Ph.D.
Curriculum Management & Assessment   David Vicknair, D.B.A.
Cohort Program Executive M.B.A.   Craig Sasse, Ph.D.
Cohort Program D.O., M.B.A.   David Lingerfelt, M.B.A.
Undergraduate Programs   Jeremy O’Connor, Ph.D.
Strategic Planning   Kelly Phipps, J.D., Ph.D.
     
Coordinators:    
Leadership Development Minor   Kenneth Mellard, M.B.A.
BA Nonprofit Leadership   Jenny Rinella, Ed.D.
BA Economics Program   Mike Stellern, Ph.D.

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders   Katherine Ermgodts, M.A.
Department of Physical Therapy   Mohamed Kohia, Ph.D.
Department of Occupational Therapy   Lynne Clark, B.S., M.S., O.T.D.
Department of Health, Physics, and Applied Sciences   Janet Kupperman, Ed.D.
     

Full Time Faculty

Sunni Alford
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
B.S., University of Kansas, 1990; O.T.D., 2012.
Assistant Professor, 2015-

Shahid I. Ali
Professor of Business Intelligence and Analytics
B.S., N.E.D. University of Engineering and Technology, 1982;
M.B.A., Emporia State University, 1987; Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 1998.
Assistant Professor, 2000-06; Associate Professor 2006–15; Professor, 2015-

Jessica Allen
Visiting Instructor of Biology
B.A., University of Northern Colorado, 1999; M.A., James Madison University, 2003; Ph.D., Bowling Green State University, 2012.                                  
Visiting Instructor, 2015-

Jason G. Arthur
Associate Professor of English
B.A., Rockhurst University, 1999; M.A., Creighton University, 2001; Ph.D., University of Missouri, 2007.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2010–11; Assistant Professor, 2011–14; Associate Professor, 2014-

Tina M. Baceski
Associate Professor of Philosophy
B.A., Assumption College, 1991; M. Litt., University of St. Andrews, Scotland, 1998; M.A., St. John’s College, 1993; Ph.D., Saint Louis University, 2007.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2007–11; Assistant Professor, 2011–15; Associate Professor, 2015-

Kenneth W. Balusek
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice / Program Director and Coordinator of Paralegal Certificate Program
B.S., Texas State University-San Marcos, 1988;
J.D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 1991;
Ph.D., Sam Houston State University, 2011.
Director of Criminal Justice Program, 2010–; Instructor, 2010; Assistant Professor, 2010-16; Associate Professor, 2016-

Elizabeth Barnett
Assistant Professor of English
B.A., University of Texas-Austin; M.F.A., New York University, 2006; M.A., Vanderbilt University, 2009; Ph.D., 2013.  Assistant Professor, 2015-

Peter J. Bicak
Professor of Communication
B.A., Kearney State College, 1989; M.A., University of Nebraska at Kearney, 1991; Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1997. Lecturer, 1995–96; Visiting Instructor, 1996–97; Visiting Assistant Professor, 1997–98; Assistant Professor, 1998–2003; Associate Professor, 2003–12; Professor, 2012–

Tracy Richardson Blasdel
Assistant Professor of Marketing and Business Communications
B.A., University of Missouri, 1997; M.B.A., Rockhurst University, 2007; Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2014-16, Assistant Professor, 2016-

Petia N. Bobadova
Associate Professor of Chemistry
M.S., University of Sofia (Physics), 1993; Ph.D., 2000.
Assistant Professor, 2008–14; Associate Professor, 2014-

Aaron J. Bossert
Lecturer and Lab Manager of Biology
B.S., University of Central Missouri, 2009; M.S., 2011.
Lecturer and Lab Manager of Biology, 2012-

Keith A. Brandt
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., University of California-Irvine, 1983;
M.A., University of Wisconsin, 1986; Ph.D., 1992.
Associate Professor, 2000–09; Professor, 2009–

Steven W. Brown
Professor of Psychology
B.A., Central State University, 1981;
M.S., University of Oklahoma, 1984; Ph.D., 1987.
Assistant Professor, 1988-94; Associate Professor, 1994-08;
Professor, 2008-

Steven Campbell
Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology & Religious Studies
B.A., Southwest Missouri State University, 1973;
M.Div., Saint Paul School of Theology, 1976; D.Min., 1988.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2013-

Stephen Chamberlain
Associate Professor of Philosophy
B.A., Westmont College, 1991; M.A., Boston College, 2003;
Ph.D., Fordham University, 2010.
Assistant Professor, 2011–16; Associate Professor, 2016-

Faith J. Childress
Professor of History
B.M.E., Winthrop University, 1983; M.M.E., 1985; M.A., 1992;
Ph.D., University of Utah, 2000.
Assistant Professor, 2000–06; Associate Professor, 2006–14; Professor, 2014-

Lynne Clarke
Professor of Occupational Therapy
B.S., North Dakota State University, 1996;
M.S., University of South Dakota, 1999; O.T.D., Creighton University, 2010.
Associate Professor, 2013-18, Professor, 2018-

Michael Clump
Associate Professor of Psychology
B.A., Wabash College, 1997; M.A., 1999; Ph.D., Southern Illinois University, 2001. Associate Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies, 2011–14; Interim Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies, 2014-15; Interim Dean, College of Health and Human Services, 2015-16; Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 2016-

Mary Katharine Fischer Clune
Assistant Professor of Communication
B.A., Rockhurst University, 1993; M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000; Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2009.
Adjunct Lecturer, 2006; Visiting Instructor, 2007–09; Visiting Assistant Professor, 2009–11; Assistant Professor, 2011–

Ketti Coffelt
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
B.S., Kansas State University, 1982; B.S., University of Kansas, 1989; M.S., 2004; O.T.D., Creighton University, 2013.
Visiting Instructor, 2013-14; Assistant Professor, 2014-

Janet L. Cooper
Professor of Biology
B.A., Culver-Stockton College, 1980; Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1984.
Associate Professor, 1999–2011; Professor, 2011–

Ann Marie Decker
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and Academic Coordinator for Clinical Education in Physical Therapy
B.S.P.T., Marquette University, 1986; M.S., University of Notre Dame, 1992.
Instructor, 2000–04; Clinical Assistant Professor, 2004–

Joan Ziegler Delahunt
Assistant Professor
B.S., University of Kansas Medical Center, 1998; M.S., 2002
Visiting Instructor, 2015-16; Assistant Professor, 2016-

James F. Dockins
Associate Professor of Management
B.H.S., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1984; M.B.A, Lincoln University, 1991; Ed. D., University of Memphis, 2004.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2012–13; Assistant Professor, 2013-18; Associate Professor, 2018-

Nancy Donaldson
Professor of Physics
B.A., University of Virginia, 1978;
M.Ed., University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1994;
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2004.
Lecturer, 1999–2002; Instructor 2002–04; Assistant
Professor 2004–07; Associate Professor, 2007–12; Professor, 2012–

Rocío De La Rosa Duncan
Professor of Spanish
B.A., Universidad Veracruzana, 1986;
M.A., Washington University, 1989; Ph.D., 2007.
Visiting Instructor, 1995–2001; Assistant Professor, 2001–07;
Associate Professor, 2007–15; Professor, 2015-

Douglas N. Dunham
Professor of Psychology
B.S., Ball State University, 1984; M.A., 1986; Ph.D., Washington University, 1992.
Vice President for Academic Affairs, 2014-2018; Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, 2018-

Jamie O. Dyer
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., University of Missouri, 2005; Ph.D, University of Kansas, 2010.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2013-15; Assistant Professor, 2015-

Ryan Elsenpeter
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 2005;
M.S., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2007; Ph.D., 2012.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2013-15; Assistant Professor, 2015-

Katherine Ermgodts
Instructor of Communication Sciences & Disorders
B.A., Michigan State University, 1991; M.A., University of Houston, 1994.
Instructor, 2011–

Elizabeth I. Evans
Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S., Kansas State University, 1977; D.V.M., 1980.
Adjunct Instructor, 2001-02; Visiting Assistant Professor, 2002–03; Assistant Professor, 2003–

Lisa K. Felzien
Professor of Biology
B.A., Bethany College, 1990; Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1995.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 1999–01; Assistant Professor, 2001–07;
Associate Professor, 2007–18; Professor, 2018-

Brian D. Fitzpatrick
Professor of Finance
A.A., Meramec Community College, 1973;
B.S., Southeast Missouri State University, 1975;
M.B.A., Saint Louis University, 1980; Ph.D., 1991.
Assistant Professor, 1990–98; Associate Professor, 1998–04;
Professor, 2004–

Laura E. Fitzpatrick
Professor of Economics
B.A., College of St. Thomas, 1982;
M.A., University of Notre Dame, 1985; Ph.D., 1995.
Visiting Instructor, 1992–93; Instructor, 1993–95; Assistant Professor, 1995–99; Associate Professor, 1999–10; Professor, 2010–; Associate Dean, Helzberg School of Management, 2018-19; Associate Dean, College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis, 2019-

Amy Foley
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
B.P.T., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1979; M.A., 1996;
D.P.T., Creighton University, 2002.
Adjunct Lecturer, 1997–04; Assistant Professor, 2004–10;
Assistant Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies, 2007–09; Associate Professor, 2010–

Brian Frain                                                                                                   Assistant Professor of Education; Director, Thomas More Center for Catholic ThoughtandCulture                                                                                       B.A., Saint Joseph’s University, 1986; M.S., Saint Joseph’s University, 1994; M.A., Fordham University, 1997; M.Div., Weston Jesuit School of Theology, 2002; Ed.D., University of Rochester, 2016.                                                        Assistant Professor, 2017-

Kendra L. Gagnon
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
M.P.T., University of Missouri, 2001; Ph.D., University of Kansas Medical Center, 2009.
Associate Professor, 2014-

Myles P. Gartland II
Professor of Business Intelligence and Analytics
B.G.S., University of Kansas, 1990; M.B.A., Baker University, 1995; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1998; Ph.D., 2003.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2001–02; Assistant Professor, 2002–07; Associate Professor, 2007–14; Professor, 2014- ; Interim Dean, College of Business, Influence and Information Analysis, 2019-

LaKresha Graham
Associate Professor of Communication
B.A., Saint Louis University, 2002; M.A., Howard University, 2004; Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2008.
Assistant Professor, 2008–

Mairead Greene
Professor of Mathematics
B.A., NUI Maynooth, Ireland, 2001; M.S., University of Massachusetts, 2005; Ph.D., 2007.                              
Assistant Professor, 2007–13; Associate Professor, 2013-19; Professor, 2019-

Zdeňka Guadarrama
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, 1998;
M.S., University of Arkansas, 2003; Ph.D., 2006.
Assistant Professor, 2007–13; Associate Professor, 2013-19; Professor, 2019-

Diego Gutierrez
Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor of Management and Marketing
B.A. 2004; Executive M.B.A., Rockhurst University, 2014.
Adjunct Lecturer, 2016-18; Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor, 2018-

William F. Haefele
Associate Professor of Psychology
B.A., College of St. Thomas, 1976; M.A.T.,
1978; M.S., Memphis State University, 1982; Ph.D., 1985.
Assistant Professor, 1985–91; Associate Professor, 1991–;
Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, 1999–2001;
Vice President for Academic Affairs, 2001–11;
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Development and Athletics, 2007–10

Dale W. Harak
Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Phillips University, 1989; Ph.D., Oklahoma State University, 1995.
Assistant Professor, 1995–01; Associate Professor, 2001–19; Professor, 2019-

Derrick Hart
Assistant Professor for Mathematics
B.S., University of Missouri, 2002; M.S. Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006; Ph.D., University of Missouri, 2008. Visiting Assistant Professor, 2013-15; Assistant Professor, 2015-

Pamela Hart
Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
B.S., Central Missouri State University, 1995; M.S., 1997;
Ph.D., Wichita State University, 2003.
Assistant Professor, 2007–10; Associate Professor, 2010–

Mary F. Haskins
Professor of Biology
B.S.E., Northeast Missouri State University, 1978;
M.S., 1982; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1989.
Visiting Instructor, 1988–89; Visiting Assistant Professor, 1989–91; Assistant Professor, 1991–95; Associate Professor, 1995–2009; Professor, 2009-

Lauren Hawthorne 
Assistant Professor of Psychology
B.S., University of Florida; M.S., Montana State University; Ph.D., University of Maine; Assistant Professor, 2017-

David P. Heller
Lecturer of Exercise and Sports Science
B.S., Michigan State University, 1997; M.S., University of Kansas-Lawrence, 2008. Visiting Lecturer, 2012-14; Lecturer, 2014-

Matt Heinrich
Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Intelligence and Analytics
B.P.S., Rockhurst University, 2003; Executive M.B.A., 2006.
Adjunct Instructor, 2016-2018; Clinical Assistant Professor, 2019-

Sarah J. Hicks
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., Rockhurst University, 2003; M.Ed., University of Missouri, 2006; Ph.D., University of Missouri, 2010.
Instructor, 2010–11; Assistant Professor, 2011–17; Associate Professor, 2017-

Jean M. Hiebert
Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., Wichita State University, 1977; M.S., University of Kansas, 1983; Ph.D., 1997.                                                          Instructor, 1983–87; Assistant Professor, 1987–98; Associate Professor, 1998–06; Professor, 2006–

Richard J. Janet
Professor of History
B.A., Southeast Missouri State University, 1977; M.A., 1979;
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 1984.
Assistant Professor,1985-89; Associate Professor, 1989–03;
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 1999–01; Professor, 2003–

Laura A. Janusik
Professor of Communication
B.S., Clarion State College, 1982; M.A., University of Maryland, 1998; Ph. D., 2004; M.B.A., Rockhurst University, 2013.
Assistant Professor, 2004–10; Associate Professor, 2010–16; Professor, 2016-

April Jardes
Clinical Instructor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
B.S., University of Central Missouri, 2005; M.S., 2007.
Clinical Instructor, 2014-

Shatonda S. Jones
Associate Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
B.S., University of Tulsa, 2003; M.A., University of Iowa, 2005.
Visiting Instructor, 2011-15; Assistant Professor, 2015-19; Associate Professor, 2019-

John C. Kerrigan
Professor of English
B.A., Dickinson College, 1993; M.A., University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 1995; Ph.D., 2001.
Assistant Professor, 2003–07; Associate Professor, 2007–18; Professor, 2018-                                                   

Mohamed M. Kohia
Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., Cairo University, Egypt, 1985; M.P.T., 1991;
Ph.D., Texas Woman’s University, 1997.
Associate Professor, 2005–08; Professor, 2008–

Janet Kupperman
Professor of Exercise and Sports Science
B.F.A., Stephens College, 1989; B.S., Purdue University; M.S., Colorado State University; Ed.D., University of Northern Colorado.                           
Professor, 2013–

Mary Ann Lee
Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Rockhurst University, 1994; Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1999.
Assistant Professor, 2001–07; Associate Professor, 2007–15; Professor, 2015-

David Lingerfelt
Clinical Assistant Professor of Business Intelligence and Analytics
B.S., Kansas State University, 2003; M.B.A., Park University, 2008.
Adjunct Lecturer, 2015-2017; Clinical Assistant Professor, 2017-

Yu Liu
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
B.S., Peking University-Bejing China, 2005; Ph.D. University of Maryland, 2011.    
Assistant Professor, 2015-

Hilary Harms Logan
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., Baker University, 2001; M.S. Ed., University of Kansas-Lawrence, 2006; Ph. D., 2009.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2010–11; Assistant Professor, 2011–16; Associate Professor, 2016-

Janice K. Loudon
Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., University of Kansas Medical Center, 1982; M.S., University of Kansas, 1984; Ph.D., Washington University, 1993.                                     
Associate Professor, 2013-18; Professor, 2018-

M. Kathleen Madigan
Professor of French and Spanish
B.A., College of New Rochelle, 1980; M.A., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 1982; Ph.D., 1988.
Associate Professor, 1999–03; Professor, 2003–; Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 2009–11

Daniel J. Martin
Professor of English
B.A., Xavier University, 1983; M.A., Saint Louis University, 1988;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1997.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 1999–01; Assistant Professor, 2001–06;
Associate Professor, 2006–19; Professor, 2019-

Cheryl A. McConnell
Professor of Accounting
B.B.A., Wichita State University, 1984; M.P.A., 1984; C.P.A., Ph.D., Saint Louis University, 2015.  
Instructor, 1988–91; Assistant Professor, 1991–96; Associate Professor, 1996–2008; Professor, 2008–; Interim Dean, Helzberg School of Management, 2012–13; Dean, Helzberg School of Management, 2013-19; Acting Dean, College of Health and Human Services, 2016-17; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, 2017-2018; Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, 2018-19.                                                    
Grace E. McConnell
Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders
B.A., 1974; M.A., University of Kansas, 1979; M.A., 1995; Ph.D., 2011.        Assistant Professor, 2014-

Michael D. McCoy
Instructor and Lab Manager for Physics
B.S.M.E., Kansas State University, 1978; M.B.A., Rockhurst University, 1984; M.Ed., 2012.                                                                                   Instructor, 2013-

Timothy L. McDonald
Professor of Music
B.A., Rutgers University, 1977; M.A., 1980; Ph.D., 1990.
Assistant Professor, 1991–95; Associate Professor, 1995–01; Professor, 2001–; Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 2009–14

Kelly Meiners
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
B.A., Rockhurst University, 1997; M.P.T, 1999.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2014-15; Assistant Professor, 2015-

Leslie A. Merced
Associate Professor of Spanish
M.A., Universität Augsburg, Germany, 1993; M.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1996; Ph.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2004.
Associate Professor, 2011–

Renee L. Michael
Professor of Psychology
B.A., University of Nebraska, 1987; M.A., 1989; Ph.D., 1991.
Assistant Professor, 1991-97; Associate Professor, 97–2007;
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 2007–09; Professor, 2007–; Director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, 2012-2018; Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 2014-15

Janice Spallo Mitchelson
Instructor & Fieldwork Director of Education
B.S., Kansas State University, 1978; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City,2000.                                                                                                      Instructor, 2015-

Nicole Gandy Moodie
Associate Professor of Exercise and Sports Science
B.S., Truman State University, 2003; M.S.Ed., Baylor University, 2006;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2010.
Instructor, 2010–11; Assistant Professor, 2011–16; Associate Professor, 2016-

Charles R. Moran
Professor of Political Science
A.B., Rockhurst College, 1961; M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1962; Ph.D., 1971.
Instructor, 1970–71; Assistant Professor, 1971–76; Associate Professor, 1976–91; Professor, 1991–

Paula M. Morehouse
Lecturer of Chemistry
B.S., Rockhurst College, 1999; Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2007.
Lecturer, 2008–

John F. Morris
Professor of Philosophy
B.A., Saint Louis University, 1989; B.A., 1989; M.A., 1992; Ph.D., 1995.
Assistant Professor, 1996–02; Associate Professor, 2002–09; Professor, 2009–

Kevin D. Motes
Associate Professor of History
B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1998; M.L.I.S., 2001; M.A., Brandeis University, 2005; Ph.D., University of California, Riverside, 2008.
Assistant Professor, 2008–14; Associate Professor, 2014-

Katherine M. Nicolai
Professor of Psychology
B.A., University of Saint Thomas, 1988; M.S., Iowa State University, 1992; Ph.D., 1995.                                                                                            
Visiting Assistant Professor, 1995–96; Assistant Professor, 1996–01; Associate Professor, 2001–19; Professor, 2019-

Jeremy J. O’Connor
Associate Professor of Management
B.S., Rockhurst University, 1999; M.B.A., 2002; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2010.   
Assistant Professor, 2010–16; Associate Professor, 2016-

Jennifer A. Oliver
Professor of Psychology
B.A., Illinois State University-Normal, 1986; M.S., 1988; Ph.D., Clark University, 1992. Visiting Assistant Professor, 1997–99; Assistant Professor, 1999–03; Associate Professor, 2003–13; Professor, 2013-

Mark Pecaut
Associate Professor of Physics
B.S., Truman State University, 1988; M.A., University of Rochester, 2010; Ph.D., 2013.
Assistant Professor, 2013-19; Associate Professor, 2019-

Mayuri Perera
Assistant Professor of Physics
University of Georgia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, 2017-

Xuan Pham
Assistant Professor of Business Intelligence and Analytics
B.A., Rockhurst University, 2005; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2007; Ph.D., 2011.
Assistant Professor, 2015-

Kelly A. Phipps
Associate Professor of Management
B.A., Graceland University, 1991; M.A., 2002; J.D., University of Iowa College of Law, 1994; Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009.
Assistant Professor, 2010–15; Associate Professor, 2015-

Kirsten Potter
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., State University of New York, 1985; M.S., Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 1992; D.P.T., Institute of Health Professions at Massachusetts General Hospital-Boston, 2006.
Associate Professor, 2013-; Director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, 2018-

Craig Prentiss
Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
B.A., Bates College, 1988; M.A., University of Chicago, 1991; Ph.D., 1997.
Visiting Instructor, 1996–97; Visiting Assistant Professor, 1997–98;
Assistant Professor, 1998–03; Associate Professor, 2003–09; Professor, 2009–

Sudhakar S. Raju
Professor of Finance
B.A., Loyola University, India, 1983; M.A., University of Toledo, 1986;
Ph.D., Northern Illinois University, 1992.
Instructor, 1991–93; Assistant Professor, 1993–97; Associate Professor, 1997–03; Professor, 2003–

Jennifer F. Rinella
Assistant Professor of Management and Non-Profit Leadership,
B.A., Rockhurst University, 1993; M.I.H.E., Rockhurst University, 1999; Ed.D., Baker University, 2014.
Assistant Professor, 2014-

Thomas Ringenberg
Assistant Professor of Political Science
B.A., Drury University, 2010; M.A., University of Kansas-Lawrence, 2012; Ph.D., 2015.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2015-

Katherine S. Ryan-Bloomer
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
B.A., Rockhurst University, 2001; M.O.T., 2003; Ph.D., Texas Woman’s University, 2011.
Assistant Professor, 2009–

Laura Salem
Professor of Biology
B.S., Rockhurst College, 1994; Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2000.
Adjunct Instructor, 2002–03; Assistant Professor, 2003–09;
Associate Professor, 2009–19; Professor, 2019-

Cecilia A. Samonte
Associate Professor of History
B.A., University of the Philippines, 1989; M.A., University of Kansas, 1993;
Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2003.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2007–08; Assistant Professor, 2008–14; Associate Professor, 2014-

Craig Sasse
Associate Professor of Management
B.S., William Jewell College, 1980; M.Ed., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1992; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 1998–20; Assistant Professor, 2001–11;
Associate Professor, 2011–

Chad M. Scholes
Professor of Biology
B.S., South Dakota State University, 1985; M.A., University of South Dakota, 1989; Ph.D., South Dakota State University, 1996.
Assistant Professor, 2002–08; Associate Professor, 2008–18; Professor, 2018-

Mylene T. Schriner
Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy
B.S.E., University of Kansas-Lawrence, 1989; B.S., 1994; M.S., 2001;
Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2010.
Assistant Professor, 2010–16; Associate Professor, 2016-; Associate Dean, College of Health and Human Services, 2018-

Randolph E. Schwering
Associate Professor of Management
A.B., Drury College, 1972; M.P.A., University of Kansas, 1978; Ph.D., 1987.
Instructor, 1988–89; Assistant Professor, 1989–95; Associate Professor, 1995-

Paul D. Scott
Professor of Psychology
B.A., Mount Union College, 1990; M.A., Emory University, 1993; Ph.D., 1996.
Assistant Professor, 1997–03; Associate Professor, 2003–19; Professor, 2019-

Jamison K. Shipman
Assistant Professor of Accounting
B.A., University of Northern Iowa; J.D., University of Kansas School of Law, 2003; LL.M., University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, 2005.
Assistant Professor, 2015-

Mandi Sonnenberg
Associate Professor of Education
B.S., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997; M.Ed., University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2001; Ed.D., Saint Louis University, 2006.
Visiting Instructor, 2007–09; Assistant Professor, 2009–15; Associate Professor, 2015-

Martin H. Stack
Professor of Management
B.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1985; Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 1999.
Instructor, 2001–03; Associate Professor, 2003–09; Professor, 2009–

Margot Stafford
Visiting Assistant Professor of English
B.A., University of King’s College, 1995; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2001; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2012.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2011–

Wilburn T. Stancil
Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
B.A., Memphis State University, 1970; M.Div., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1975; Ph.D., 1979.
Adjunct Lecturer, 1994-95; Visiting Assistant Professor, 1995–97; Associate Professor, 1997–06; Professor, 2006–

Risa J. Stein
Professor of Psychology
B.A., Maryville College-Tennessee, 1987; M.S., University of Memphis, 1989; Ph.D., 1993.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 1998–00; Assistant Professor, 2000–05;
Associate Professor, 2005–11; Professor, 2011–

Michael J. Stellern
Professor of Economics
B.A., Rockhurst College, 1970; M.A., University of Notre Dame, 1971;
Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1983.
Instructor, 1979–1984; Assistant Professor, 1984–98; Associate Professor, 1998–08; Professor, 2008–

Daniel F. Stramara Jr.
Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
B.A., Messiah College, 1978; M.A., University of Strasbourg, 1978;
Ph.D., Saint Louis University, 1996.
Lecturer, 1997–00; Assistant Professor, 2000–06; Associate Professor, 2006–11; Professor, 2011–

William Sturgill
Professor of Psychology
B.A., University of Nebraska-Omaha, 1974; M.A., 1976; Ph.D., Claremont Graduate School, 1985.
Assistant Professor, 1989-95; Associate Professor, 1995–2010; Professor, 2010–

Wenbin Sun
Associate Professor of Marketing
Bachelor in Economics, China University of M&T, 1999; M.Sc., Stockholm School of Economics, 2005; M.B.A., University of Mississippi, 2006; Ph.D., 2010.
Assistant Professor, 2010–16; Associate Professor, 2016-

Laura Swartz
Visiting Instructor of Education
B.S., Kansas State Teachers College, 1973; M.S., University of Kansas, 1986; Ed.D., 1999.
Visiting Instructor, 2009-11; Visiting Instructor, 2012-

Brendan Sweetman
Professor of Philosophy
B.A., University College, Dublin (Ireland), 1983; M.A., 1986; Dip.R.S., University of Cambridge, 1987; M.A., University of Southern California, 1990; Ph.D., 1992.
Assistant Professor, 1992–97; Associate Professor, 1997–03; Professor, 2003–

Marcie Swift
Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., Kansas State University, 1994; M.S., 1996; Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2007.
Assistant Professor, 2011–

Anthony L. Tocco
Professor of Accounting
B.S., Saint Louis University, 1967; M.S., 1969; Ph.D., 1986.
Instructor, 1969–75; Assistant Professor, 1975–87; Associate Professor, 1987–93; Professor, 1993–

Kris M. Vacek
Professor of Occupational Therapy
B.S.O.T., Creighton University, 1993; O.T.D., 1997.
Assistant Professor, 1998–04; Associate Professor, 2004–11; Professor, 2011–; Interim Associate Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies, 2014-15; Interim Associate Dean, College of Health & Human Services, 2015-16; Associate Dean, 2016-2018; Dean, 2018-

David B. Vicknair
Associate Professor of Accounting
B.B.A., Millsaps College, 1976; M.S., University of Southern Mississippi, 1977;
D.B.A., University of Tennessee, 1983.
Assistant Professor, 1993–99; Associate Professor, 1999–

Robert Vigliotti
Associate Professor of Philosophy
B.A., Iona College, 1984; M.A., Fordham University, 1992; Ph.D., 2001.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2001–05; Assistant Professor, 2005–09;
Associate Professor, 2009–

Joanna Carraway Vitiello
Professor of History
B.A., Wake Forest University, 1996; M.A., 1998; M.A., University of Toronto, 2000; Ph.D., 2006.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2006-07; Assistant Professor, 2007-12; Associate Professor, 2012–18; Professor, 2018-

Richard T. Wagner
Assistant Professor of Economics
B.S., California State University, B.A., 2008; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2015.
Visiting Assistant Professor, (Jan) 2014-15; Assistant Professor, 2015-

Maureen L. Walsh
Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
B.A., Saint Louis University, 2006; M.A., 2006; M.A., Georgetown University, 2010; Ph.D., 2011.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2014-

Elizabeth O’BrienWalter                                                                                Visiting Assistant Professor of Education                                                           B.S., University of Kansas, 1999; M.S., University of Kansas, 2001; Ed.D., Baker University.                                                                                           Visiting Assistant Professor, 2016-

Craig Watz                                                                                          Lecturer of Criminal Justice
B.A., University of Notre Dame; J.D., Notre Dame Law School.               Lecturer, 2016-                          

J. Turner White
Executive Assistant Professor of Management
B.A., Colorado College, 1971; Executive M.B.A., Rockhurst University, 1993.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2007–12; Executive Professor, 2012-13; Executive Assistant Professor, 2013-

Christina Wills
Associate Professor of Biology
B.S., University of Arkansas, 1998; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2007.
Assistant Professor, 2008–14; Associate Professor, 2014-

Christina M. Wisdom
Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., University of Kansas, 2002; D.P.T., Washington University-St. Louis, 2006.
Assistant Professor, (Jan) 2013-19; Associate Professor, 2019-

Jeffrey R. Wright
Executive Assistant Professor of Accounting
B.S., University of Kansas, 1976; M.B.A., 1980; C.P.A., 1981.
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2012-16; Executive Assistant Professor, 2016-

Glenn Young
Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
B.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1992; M.A., University of Notre Dame, 1999; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2010.
Visiting Instructor, 2007–09; Visiting Assistant Professor, 2009–11; Assistant Professor, 2011–

Elizabeth Zayat
Clinical Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for Occupational Therapy
B.S., University of Oklahoma, 1989; M.S., University of Kansas Medical Center, 2007.
Clinical Instructor, 2005–11; Clinical Assistant Professor, 2011–

Emeritus Faculty

Rev. Eugene Arthur, S.J.
Associate Professor of Economics and Management
A.B., Saint Louis University, 1959; Ph.L., 1960; A.M., 1963; S.T.L., 1967; M.B.A., Indiana University, 1971; D.B.A., 1976.
Rockhurst College, 1968–99; Emeritus 1999

Marilyn N. Carroll
Professor of Sociology
B.A., University of Miami, 1962; M.A., University of California- Los Angeles, 1967; Ph.D., 1970.
Rockhurst University, 1969–2007; Emerita 2007

Joseph A. Cirincione
Professor of English
B.A., Canisius College, 1967; M.A., Michigan State University, 1969;
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1978; M.B.A., Rockhurst College, 1989.
Rockhurst Univeristy, 1978-2018; Emeritus 2018

James A. Dronberger
Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., Kansas State University, 1975; Certificate of Physical Therapy, University of Kansas Medical Center, 1975; M.B.A., Rockhurst College, 1986; D.P.T., Creighton University, 2003.
Rockhurst University, 1989–2016; Emeritus 2016

Sister Rosemary Flanigan, C.S.J.
Professor of Philosophy
A.B., Avila College, 1947; M.A., St. Louis University, 1956;
Ph.D., 1964.
Rockhurst College, 1975–92; Emerita 1992

Merrill B. Goldberg
Professor of Mathematics
B.A., University of Minnesota, 1964; M.A., University of California-San Diego, 1965; Ph.D., 1969.
Rockhurst University, 1973–2007; Emeritus 2007

L. Catherine Green
Professor of Philosophy
B.S.N., Texas Woman’s University, 1968; M.S.N., University of San Diego, 1979; M.A., The Catholic University of America, 1987; Ph.D., 1996.
Rockhurst University, 1997–2011; Emerita 2012

Curtis L. Hancock
Professor of Philosophy
B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1972; M.A., 1974;
Ph.D., Loyola University-Chicago, 1985.
Rockhurst University, 1985-2018; Emeritus 2018

Robert F. Hegarty
Professor of Physics
B.S.E.S., Rockhurst College, 1969; M.S.M.E., University of Notre Dame, 1971; Ph.D., 1973.
Rockhurst University, 1973–2016; Emeritus, 2016- 

John G. Koelzer
Professor of Mathematics
B.S., Aquinas College, 1964; M.S., University of Iowa, 1966.
Rockhurst University, 1969–2007; Emeritus 2007

Edward S. Kos
Professor of Biology
B.S., Loyola University-Chicago, 1950; M.S., Marquette University, 1952; Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1958.
Rockhurst University, 1961–98; Emeritus, 1998

Charles M. Kovich
Professor of English
B.A., Rockhurst College, 1970; M.A., Saint Louis University, 1973; Ph.D., 1981.
Associate Professor, 1985–97; Professor, 1997–2019; Emeritus, 2019

Rev. Robert J. Mahoney
Professor of Sociology
A.B., St. Benedict’s College, 1952; S.T.B., Gregorian University of Rome, 1954; M.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1968, Ph.D., 1970.
Rockhurst University, 1970–2007; Emeritus 2007

Weslynn S. Martin
Professor of Communication
B.S., University of Texas-Austin, 1964; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1973.
Rockhurst University, 1973–2003; Emerita 2003

James E. Millard
Professor of Leadership Studies
A.B., Rockhurst College, 1964; M.B.A., 1989; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2002.
Rockhurst University, 2004-14; Emeritus 2014

Patricia Cleary Miller
Professor of English
B.A., Harvard/Radcliffe, 1961; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1970; Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1979.
Rockhurst University, 1983-2015; Emerita 2015

Rev. Louis J. Oldani, S.J.
Professor of English
A.B., Saint Louis University, 1957; Ph.L., 1959; M.A., 1962; S.T.B., 1966; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1972.
Rockhurst University, 1971–2011; Emeritus 2011

Susan Proctor
Professor of Theatre Arts
B.A., State University of New York, 1974; M.F.A., Catholic University of America, 1977; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 1996.
Rockhurst University, 2005-18; Emerita 2018

Genevieve Robinson, O.S.B.
Professor of History
B.A., Mount St. Scholastica College, 1968; M.A., New Mexico Highlands University, 1974; Ph.D., Boston College, 1986.
Rockhurst University 1985–2007; Emerita 2007

Jane Rues
Professor of Occupational Therapy
B.S., University of Kansas, 1970; M.S., 1975; Ed.D., 1981; O.T.R.
Rockhurst University, 1990–2008; Emerita 2009

William J. Ryan
Associate Professor of Communication
B.A., Kansas State University, 1963; M.Div., University of Dubuque, 1967; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1971.
Rockhurst University, 1976–2003; Emeritus 2003

Anita Salem
Professor of Mathematics
B.A., Park College, 1967; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1973.
Rockhurst University, 1973–2007; Emerita 2007

Shirley A. Scritchfield
Professor of Sociology
B.S., Iowa State University, 1969; M.A., The Ohio State University, 1971; Ph.D., 1976.
Rockhurst University, Professor, 2004-15; Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, 2004-09; Emerita 2015

Richard D. Shaw
Professor of Marketing
B.S.B.A., Rockhurst College, 1960; M.S.C., Saint Louis University, 1964.
Rockhurst University, 1981–2003; Emeritus 2004

Mary Pat Shelledy
Instructor of Education
B.S., University of Nebraska, 1973; M.S., 1980; Ed.S., 1988.
Clinical Instructor, 2003-05; Instructor, 2005-2017, Emerita 2017

Ellen F. Spake
Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S. University of Kansas, 1973; M.S., 1977; Ph.D., 2003.
Rockhurst University, 1983-2018; Emerita 2018

Joann Spillman
Professor of Theology and Religious Studies
B.A., Trinity College, 1968; M.A., Temple University, 1972; Ph.D., 1978.
Rockhurst University, 1979–2016; Emerita 2016 

Michael M. Tansey
Professor of Economics
B.A., Harvard College, 1970; M.A., University of Wisconsin, 1975; Ph.D., 1978.
Rockhurst University, 1982-2015; Emeritus, 2015

Catherine R. Thompson
Professor of Physical Therapy
B.S., University of Colorado Medical Center, 1976; M.S., University of Kansas Medical Center, 1981; Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2001.
Adjunct Instructor, 1997–03; Assistant Professor, 2003–09; Associate Professor, 2009–15; Professor, 2015-19; Emerita, 2019

Alice G. Tunks
Professor of French
Propedeutique, Sorbonne, 1953; Northwest Missouri State College, 1955; M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1961; M.A., University of Kansas, 1967; Ph.D., 1970.
Rockhurst College, 1969–99; Emerita 1999

John G. Valenta, S.J.
Professor of Chemistry and Counselor
B.S., St. Louis University, 1944; Ph.D., 1962.
Rockhurst College, 1964–99; Emeritus 1987

Margaret E. Wye
Professor of English
B.S., University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 1971; M.A., 1973; M.A., University of Southern California, 1988; Ph.D., 1992.
Adjunct Lecturer, 1994–95; Visiting Assistant Professor, 1995–98; Assistant Professor, 1998–01; Associate Professor, 2001–08; Professor, 2008–17; Emerita 2017

University Librarians

Laurie Hathman
Director
B.A., Rockhurst University; M.L.S., University of Michigan

Melanie Church
Content Services Librarian
M.A., M.L.I.S., University of Missouri-Columbia

Robert Powers
Access and Learning Services Librarian
B.A., William Jewell College; M.L.I.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jennifer Peters
Content Management and Discovery Services Librarian
B.A., Quincy University; M.L.I.S, University of Missouri-Columbia

Tensy Marcos-Bodker
Research, Learning and Assessment Services Librarian
B.A., Miami University; M.L.S. Case Western Reserve University; J.D. University of Kansas