For some, orientation days at Newman University mark the beginning of their college career and are days they will never forget.
The Newman University community is excited that these students have chosen to become Newman Jets. Welcome to the family!
Read on to view the full orientation schedules, both for students and parents, and meet the Student Life team at Newman.
Student orientation schedule
Parent orientation schedule
Meet the Student Life team
Dean of Students – Andi Giesen
Andi Giesen hit the ground running in February as Newman University’s new dean of students.
Since 2001, Giesen has served in public education as a principal, an athletic and activities director, a superintendent for a small rural school district and a district administrator for the largest urban district in Kansas.
“The skillset required for relationship building, collaboration and problem-solving is quite similar,” she said. “It is a delight to be able to interact with Newman students and discuss their current realities and their foreseeable futures. The students I have met have all been truly inspiring to me.”
Director of Multicultural Engagement and Campus Life – Katherine Reynoso
Katherine Reynoso, who joined Newman as an admissions counselor in early 2023, is the director of multicultural engagement and campus life.
“What attracted me the most to this role was to have the opportunity to use all my background knowledge in diversity and other cultures in general to contribute to our students’ success and international community,” she said.
Reynoso is deeply committed to collaborating with the admissions team as well by giving presentations in Spanish to the local community and helping grow the Hispanic population on campus.
Director of Student Activities – Joshua Prilliman
The director of student activities is no stranger to the Newman campus. Joshua Prilliman graduated from Newman as an art major in 2014 and returned to Newman as an admissions counselor about a year ago.
“My love for Newman is really what attracted me to this role, and wanting to be involved with the students and being a part of making their college experience the most fun I could possibly make it,” he explained. “I want to be involved, I want to help make college memorable, and I am willing to go as far as I need to and more in hopes that I can help create an incredibly awesome campus life.”
Director of Residence Life – Ian Lecki ’22, ’23
As a recent two-time Newman graduate, Ian Lecki knows what it means to receive a formative, rich experience at Newman.
He earned his undergraduate degree in business marketing in 2022 and a Master in Business Administration with concentrations in leadership and health care administration in 2023. As a student, Lecki was a member of the men’s baseball team, served as president of the Student Government Association, worked as a residence assistant and even led his own community-building initiatives on campus.
Now as the director of residence life, he hopes to continue building community for future students of Newman University.
“I am filled with excitement because I have the incredible opportunity to shape the trajectory of Newman students’ college experience,” Lecki said. “Each day, I look forward to making a profound impact on their lives, creating cherished memories and fostering a home away from home. I have grown fond of Newman and the people that walk this campus so to make the jump from student to director of residence life is something special.”
Your orientation questions answered
Learn more about new student orientation and get started on your academic journey at Newman University.
