After graduating from Newman in 2019, Cierra (DeVorce) Schweitzer turned her passion for helping others into a career in mental health counseling.
Since August 2024, Schweitzer has worked as a therapist at The Word of Life Counseling Center in Wichita, where she supports both individuals and families through Christian-centered counseling. She currently leads the anger management groups and teaches parenting classes.
“I chose to go into counseling because I wanted to be a support for those who may be struggling,” she said. “I love being able to empower and encourage people.”
Schweitzer earned her Bachelor of Science from Newman with double majors in psychology and sociology, before earning her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Wichita State University.
Building the foundation at Newman
“I quite enjoyed the psychology and sociology program at Newman,” she said. “What I learned in the program has given me a strong foundation for my career. I still use a lot of the information that I learned now as a counselor.”
Schweitzer credited several Newman faculty members for helping shape her experience, including Greg Smith, professor of psychology at Newman, and Jill Fort, Ph.D., former vice president for academic affairs and dean of faculty.
“I feel Greg Smith and Jill Fort did such a great job teaching and providing me with the knowledge I needed to succeed,” Schweitzer said.
Smith said he remembers her as a thoughtful and dependable student.
“She was a quiet, kind and thoughtful person who was a good, responsible student,” Smith said. “She was liked by faculty and students, who saw her as a good partner in group work.”
While at Newman, she also competed on the cross country team.
“I am glad to have had the experience of meeting so many new people and to travel to many places,” she said about her time in the sport. “One of my favorite memories was when we traveled to Laredo, Texas, and I got to run next to the Rio Grande. ”
Life after Newman
Before joining The Word of Life Counseling Center, Schweitzer worked with Sedgwick County COMCARE as a children’s case manager.
“I learned a lot about teaching coping skills and lots of the administrative part of mental health care,” she said. “The experience I gained as a case manager prepared me for my job as a licensed professional counselor.”
Now, she’s married and a mother of two daughters: 5-year-old Poppy and 1-year-old Emerald.
“I am married to Kenneth Schweitzer and we will be celebrating seven years of marriage in August,” she said.
Schweitzer said her faith is at the center of both her family and work life.
“Jesus was a counselor … I want to be a light in the darkness and reflect his light in the lives of those around me,” she said. “ I have a passion to help and so I figured the people who often feel the most hopeless and need this light are those who seek therapy.”
Newman’s psychology program
Psychology prepares you for careers in psychology and beyond, in any field where you work with others.
