Taking on a new job can feel like stepping into the unknown, but for Sharisse Evans, it was trust in God’s plan that led her to become Newman’s new director of financial aid.
“After conducting a national search, we discovered our homegrown talent here at Newman,” Vice President of Enrollment Management Michael Probus said of Evans. “I am thrilled to have Sharisse as our director of financial aid and to see her continue to grow and develop in the office. She brings her exceptional expertise, leadership and dedication to the forefront of our efforts to support students and their families.”
The financial aid team at Newman now consists of Evans as director, Kara Schwinn as assistant director, Sydney Bonham and Esmeralda Alvarez as financial aid counselors.
Evans’ journey to Newman
Evans earned her Bachelor of Arts in sociology and a minor in nonprofit leadership at Kansas State University in 2012. Immediately after graduating from college, she participated in an 11-month Christian mission trip known as The World Race, where she visited communities in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Central America. A few months after she returned to Kansas, Evans worked as a teller supervisor at a bank before discovering a job opportunity at Newman.
With nine years of experience as a financial aid counselor at Newman alongside a team she enjoyed, Evans realized it was time to take the next step. She prayed both before applying and accepting the role and took the helm as director of financial aid on Jan. 6.
“God has slowly encouraged me to grow in ways I never thought possible, and all of those moments have brought me to where I am today,” Evans said.
Faith-filled leadership
Probus describes Evans as “deeply committed to Newman’s mission, student-centered, collaborative, and instrumental in helping us meet the financial needs of our students and advancing the university’s strategic goals.”
Evans said she looks forward to leading her financial aid team and continuing their growth in a positive direction.
“We are consistently reevaluating our student communication and outreach, and we will continue improving those aspects,” Evans said. “Our goal is to serve students and parents with clear and helpful information, so we plan to reexamine how we partner with students and offices across campus.”
Evans loves helping others navigate the financial aid process and encourages them to reach out when they need guidance.
“It’s so rewarding to have a student or parent leave our office happy when they entered anxious,” she said. “We truly aim to help students, faculty and staff. Our office is available if anyone has questions — whether it’s to understand their aid, complete documents or discuss difficult scenarios.”
Personal life
When she isn’t at work, Evans loves to spend time with her husband, 1-year-old daughter and puppy. The Evans family is active in their church community, where Evans even leads a women’s Bible study. She is also an avid reader and 10-year member of a book club called the “Well Read and Fed Society.”
“God has blessed me with such a wonderful life that I am so grateful for all he has provided,” she added. “It’s amazing to see that God is always working.”
Explore Newman’s financial aid resources
Several financial aid sources are available to traditional, transfer and adult students who enroll at Newman, including annual, renewable scholarships, institutional grants, and more.
