Newman University’s School of Catholic Studies recently scored a new dean with a familiar face.
A Newman professor of 17 years, Joshua Papsdorf — the director of the graduate theology program, Gerber Institute and professor of theology — took on the role of dean in March 2024.
This opportunity came after Father Joseph Gile, former dean of the School of Catholic Studies, was given a new assignment with the Diocese of Wichita to work with seminarians of St. Joseph’s House of Formation. It has been a smooth transition thanks to Papsdorf’s history of working with Gile and others in Newman’s Catholic studies programs.
“Father Gile has been a great friend and mentor, and I hope I can follow his example in many ways,” Papsdorf said. “In particular, he has always been a servant leader. He has worked to support his colleagues and students and never really sought the spotlight. I hope I can do the same.”
Papsdorf has already started collaborating with other areas of campus, working diligently to grow the School of Catholic Studies and its outreach.
A recent example of this work occurred when the Gerber Institute gave two Master of Social Work students scholarships to support their Catholic practicum placements. Additionally, the Metanoia Catholic living community on campus continues to expand from semester to semester.
The ultimate goal, Papsdorf said, is to “work for the good of Newman and our students while also supporting the local church and assisting the clergy and lay faithful however we can.”
“We have developed a number of new programs in recent years, so we really want to focus on strengthening and expanding them so that we can work with more students over a broader area,” Papsdorf explained.
Newman’s philosophy and Catholic studies courses attract not only seminarians but also several students pursuing electives and even majors. This, paired with Wichita’s vibrant Catholic diocese, gives Papsdorf an optimistic outlook on the future of the program.
“The president (Kathleen Jagger) and vice president of advancement (Bob Beumer) have been reaching out to local priests in an effort to strengthen our connections with the diocese and to find out how we can best collaborate with them, and I am joining them in those visits whenever I’m able to,” Papsdorf explained. “So far we’ve met with three of the priests, and we are going to be meeting with as many as we can throughout the diocese during the coming months.”
Papsdorf values his work and is excited to see how Newman’s School of Catholic Studies will impact students and community members in the future.
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