Newman University officials announced that Elaine Freund, ASC, Donette Alonzo and Rev. Michael Simone have joined the university’s Board of Trustees, effective Sept. 18.
Elaine Freund, ASC is a member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC) Communications Team at the ASC Regional Office in St. Louis, Mo. The ASC is the founding sponsor of Newman University. Sister Elaine retired in June 2013 after 41 years as a full-time teacher of English and Theology, which includes 29 years in St. Louis University’s Advanced College 1818 Program where secondary students earn SLU credits. She earned an undergraduate degree in English from St. Louis University, and a master’s degree in humanities (with concentrations in film and theatre) at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Sister Elaine celebrated 50 years as an Adorer on June 8, 2014.
Donette Alonzo is a 1988 graduate of Kansas Newman College and a former Newman University board member. Alonzo most recently served as Vice President of Student Affairs at Donnelly College in Kansas City, Kan. Previous to that she was Director of Multicultural Student Development and Adjunct Faculty at William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., and Director of Multicultural and International Student Affairs at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo. She earned a Masters in Integrated Humanities and Education (M.I.H.E.) at Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Mo., in 1999. She is currently completing her dissertation for a doctorate in Education Administration in Higher Education from the University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo.
Father Michael Simone, STL is Interim Moderator of the Curia and Director of Vocations at the Diocese of Wichita. He served as chaplain and director of Campus Ministry at Newman University from 2010 to 2011. Fr. Simone has served in several capacities for the diocese, including associate pastor for St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, assistant director of the Office of Worship, and vice-chancellor. Fr. Simone earned a bachelor of business administration degree at Pittsburg State University in 1996, and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Kansas. He worked as a staff accountant for Baird, Kurtz, and Dobson, CPAs in Joplin, Mo., until 1997, when he left the firm to attend Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., where he earned both a master of divinity degree in theology and a master of arts degree in theology with an emphasis on moral theology in 2003. Fr. Simone earned a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) with an emphasis in spiritual theology in 2008 from the University of St. Thomas Aquino in Urbe, Rome, Italy.
