The Rockhurst University Board of Trustees has voted to extend the contract of President Sandra Cassady, for another five years, praising her leadership since she joined the university in 2022.
Board chair Gary Belske said Cassady has “exceeded expectations” by ushering in growth across enrollment, academics and campus life.
Under her leadership, Rockhurst has secured a 10-year reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, welcomed a record 1,030 new students in 2025, and launched new programs in advanced nursing, information systems and industrial-organizational psychology.
Cassady has also overseen partnerships with Regis, Creighton, UMKC and Kansas City University that expand opportunities for Rockhurst students in law, healthcare and speech-language pathology.
Cassady has also overseen partnerships with Regis University, Creighton University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Kansas City University that expand opportunities for Rockhurst students in law, health care and speech-language pathology.
Athletics has grown as well, with seven new sports teams serving nearly 600 student-athletes, while Rockhurst has risen to No. 7 among Midwest regional universities in the U.S. News & World Report.
Campus improvements include the new Alvin Brooks Center of Faith-Justice and the construction of a university chapel, both part of the school’s long-term strategic plan.
Cassady made history as Rockhurst’s first layperson and first woman president when she took office in June 2022.
Cassady brought more than 30 years of experience in higher education, including faculty and leadership roles at St. Ambrose University in Iowa, where she most recently served as vice president for strategic initiatives and dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
Drawing on her background in physical therapy, Cassady has been nationally recognized for contributions to teaching, research and service.
Belske credited the university community for supporting Cassady’s vision, saying Rockhurst is “not only a superior choice academically but also a place known for animating its Catholic, Jesuit mission in service to the broader community.”
