Stories of Impact

From Introvert to Leader

It's hard to tell by looking at him now, but Kevin Pugh, was not always the most outgoing student to walk a college campus. Before he came to Rockhurst, Pugh was less inclined to take charge, get involved and lead the way.

Now a senior, Kevin is a campus ambassador, orientation leader, and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He's also involved in Active Minds, a student group dedicated to mental health education and advocacy.

"It happened without me even knowing it," Kevin says of his transformation from introvert and non-risk-taker to campus leader and all-around go-getter. Thanks to the encouragement and support of upperclassmen and faculty, Kevin began getting involved in organizations on campus in his second semester. And before he knew it, he was leading the pack.

For Kevin, it's not just about understanding the Rockhurst mission, but living it. Rockhurst's focus on education in the Jesuit tradition instilled in Kevin a desire to apply his knowledge and skills for the good of world.

"Rockhurst's core values and mission have pushed me to be a servant leader," Kevin says. "As a pre-med major, I want to take the values I've learned from Rockhurst, such as compassion and understanding, and find direct ways to apply them to patient care.

Rockhurst students like Kevin keep the RU tradition alive on campus and across the globe.

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