Sandra Cassady

Profile

Sandra Cassady, Ph.D. is the 15th president of Rockhurst University, where she began her tenure in 2022 as the first lay and woman president in the institution’s history. Under her leadership, Rockhurst has expanded academic programs, launched new athletic teams, strengthened public- and private-sector partnerships, and advanced major campus projects, including a new chapel and community center renovation. She also helped complete the university’s most recent capital campaign and led the development of Rockhurst by 2029, the institution’s strategic plan.

Cassady brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education as a faculty member and senior administrator, including leadership roles at St. Ambrose University and the University of Iowa. A nationally recognized scholar in physical therapy and exercise science, she has received multiple awards for teaching, research, and service and has held editorial roles with leading professional journals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in physical therapy and a Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of Iowa.

She currently serves on several civic and regional boards, including the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and was named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s 2025 class of Women of Influence.