Newman University recently hired Maggie Slack to serve as the full-time director of the Navigator student success program. She started her role March 27.
Assistant dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and former interim director of Navigator Audrey Hane, Ph.D., said Newman is “thrilled to have Maggie leading the Navigator program.”
“She has a wealth of experience preparing students to meet their professional goals,” Hane said. “Her dedication to student success will benefit the entire Newman community.”
What is Navigator?
The Newman Navigator program was created to provide students with a structured and supportive framework to help develop leadership skills through hands-on learning, research, scholarship and service opportunities.
By the time they graduate, students will have completed internships, shadowing, advising and the creation of a personal mission statement — all tools to help them “navigate” a direct path to a successful future.
In the fall, Newman received a $2.2 million Title III grant to fully implement Navigator through the project “Navigating the University Experience: Integrating Student and Faculty Support for Increased Retention, Graduation and Professional Achievement” over the course of five years.
Part of year one’s objectives were completed when Slack was hired as full-time director of Navigator. The next major task is to renovate the Student Success Center space in the Dugan Library.
“We want students to be actively engaged in their own academic journey and their customized education plan, but guided with support,” said Lori Steiner, Ph.D., dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of mathematics. “To fully realize Navigator’s comprehensive student support program, it takes resources. Thankfully, the Title III grant will allow us to fully implement Navigator in the way that we had hoped and dreamed it would be.”
Meet Maggie
Slack earned her associate’s degree from Butler Community College and her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences from Pittsburg State University. She received a master’s in education counseling with an emphasis in higher education from Wichita State University.
Slack was on the search for a “smaller scale job with a deeper impact on students.” Her role as director of Navigator at Newman seems to be the perfect fit — combining her experience in higher education, career development and collaboration to prepare students for their prospective careers.
While she learned how to build a resume and cover letter in college, Slack realized that not every student is equipped with the basic tools to help land a job after graduation.
“I was one of the luckier ones,” she said. “(And even though) I had those things, I still had no idea what I was doing or how I was going to be successful.”
Now, her goal is to help prepare students with clear expectations and developed life skills for their post-college careers.
“With Navigator and the resources it will highlight from other offices on campus, we will help Newman students do just that,” she said.
Slack’s personal mission is to help students recognize their full potential through professional development and, ultimately, create strong leaders.
“Leaders become life-long learners who make an impact on the people and communities they serve,” she said. “The impact then is a positive transformation for society as a whole. It’s really one big circle.”
Slack’s biggest goal as director of Navigator is to make the program engaging for students so they can derive the most value from the program and apply the knowledge and skills in the real world.
“Also, to build the program in a way that will help set Newman apart from other higher education institutions in the area,” she said.
Maggie has a wealth of experience preparing students to meet their professional goals. Her dedication to student success will benefit the entire Newman community.
Audrey Hane, assistant dean for arts and sciences and former interim director of Navigator
Fun facts about Slack
When she isn’t being a “sports mom,” she enjoys listening to music, spending time with family and friends and watching football.
“I enjoy cooking, singing and painting as well,” she added.
Newman Navigator program
From the moment you step on campus, you will experience a supportive, teamwork, environment that will help you create and shape your own future blending your personal interests, faith, and passions with purposefulness and direction for your own life.
