Meet the newest Newman University employees

In the last four months, Newman University has welcomed several new employees to its team of faculty and staff.

Read on to learn more about each of the new hires who’ve joined the growing collection of friendly faces on campus. We proudly welcome these individuals into the Newman family!

Bob Beumer – Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Bob is a big sports fan and follows all of the Minnesota teams. He also loves to read about history and likes to cook. Every year, he and his family take an annual canoe trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota.

Clayton Carson – Maintenance Technician

Clayton graduated from the Wichita Area Technical College air conditioning and refrigeration technology program. He enjoys true crime, cooking and traveling with his wife. Clayton likes to restore vintage tools, work on cars and play music.

Christy Hawks – Associate Director for Graduate Programs

Christy moved to Wichita from Dallas. She has been a health and wellness coach for the last eight years and worked in higher education for seven years in undergraduate admissions. Christy loves Jesus, loves her family and finds joy in every day of life.

Rachel Seton – Office Coordinator for Colorado Springs

Rachel received her master’s degree in educational leadership from Hawai’i Pacific University. She has visited more than 15 national parks and even worked as a park ranger for two years. Rachel would love to visit Egypt someday.

Lauren Aaron – Admissions Counselor

Lauren graduated from Newman University in 2018. She loves plants and cares for more than 100 of them at her home, enjoys crafting pottery and creating homemade candles. She recently got married in Colorado.

Vanessa Rials – Director of Multicultural Engagement and Campus Life

Vanessa earned her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work from Wichita State University. She plays the piano, violin and is learning guitar. She danced in a Mexican dance group called Baile Folkorico, has a huge family and enjoys being outdoors.

Chris Mershon – Director for Student Activities

Chris studied psychology and classical literature at Biola University in California, with a minor in intercultural studies. She has lived in five different states and visited five different countries, even working to build a camp in Yucatan, Mexico. She’s a huge Chiefs fan and the proud momma of a 5-month old Red Fox Labrador Retriever puppy.

Kyle McLeroy – Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

Kyle roots for the Dallas Cowboys and Manchester United teams. He helped the sports comedy group Dude Perfect set a world record. Kyle met his wife in high school and the two have been married for five years.

Michael Budnowski – Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach

Michael graduated from Newman in 1991 and played on the soccer team from 1985 to 1987. He was the head women’s soccer coach with Friends University from 1990 to 2002, and was the media relations assistant with the Wichita Wings (Major Indoor Soccer League).

Victor Olorunfemi – Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach

Victor currently plays for the FC Wichita soccer club and serves as team captain. He enjoys writing and owns The ICT Zone, a sports content company. Victor was a Division I soccer player throughout his time in college.

Brandon Strausser – Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Brandon was born and raised in Ohio. He loves the Steelers and Florida State Seminoles. Brandon also worked at Spire Institute & Academy, an Olympic and Paralympic training site. 

Chris Ebberwein – Associate Professor of Psychology

Chris’ hometown is Savannah, Georgia. He is resuming his private practice as a psychologist and is active at his parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. He has been married for 27 years and has five kids.

Kaitlin Gaul – Instructor of Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Kaitlin is a 2015 Newman graduate of the occupational therapy assistant program and received her Bachelor of Science in health studies from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She volunteers with WSU engineering students as they fabricate 3D-printed prosthetics. Kaitlin also enjoys the outdoors in the form of trail run half marathons and paddleboarding.

Ramona Nance – Outreach Education Liaison in Western Kansas

Ramona loves visiting kids and grandkids in Dallas and Nashville. She enjoys antiquing with her husband and loves riding vintage Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Emily Harris – Student Accounts & Financial Aid Assistant

Emily graduated from Newman in May 2021 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history. Her senior thesis was about capital punishment for witchcraft in the Middle Ages. She has a cat named Kitty that she loves more than anything, and she loves to read — especially when it comes to books about history.

Kate Bussell – Coordinator for Early Intervention, Testing, and Tutoring Services

Kate graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in deaf education. She was previously an assistant park ranger at Sesquicentennial State Park and is currently working at a local farm and cidery in Augusta, Kansas on the weekends. Kate is also a concert fanatic and attended over 50 shows before the pandemic.

Zach Brake – Assistant Athletic Director for Communications 

Zach is originally from Columbus, Ohio, and is a former college pitcher. He comes from a family of college athletes (basketball, baseball and football). Zach loves watching the Cincinnati Reds, the Cincinnati Bengals and Columbus Blue Jackets. He is a big fan of college football and enjoys playing video games and going for walks.

Tanner Serowski – Assistant Volleyball Coach

Tanner is originally from Moore, Oklahoma, and lived through the world’s largest tornado in May 2013. He’s been playing volleyball since he was 6 years old and three of his siblings play as well. Tanner is a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Blake Cripps – Information Services Technology Concierge & Athletics Communications Assistant

Blake specializes in play-by-play coverage and is a nine-time Kansas Association of Broadcasters award winner. He is in his ninth season serving as the “Voice of the Jets.” Blake enjoys board and card games like Magic: the Gathering and Texas Hold ‘Em. He also supports the Jayhawks (yes, even football), the Chiefs, the Royals and of course the Jets!

Matias Nelson – Assistant Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach

Matias played golf for both St. Gregory University in Oklahoma and the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. He’s pretty easygoing and enjoys chilling and watching Netflix. Matias has worked as a pyrotechnic display artist putting on fireworks displays throughout Oklahoma. Matias’ middle name is Thunder.

Clark Castle – Mail & Copy Assistant

Clark worked as a student worker in Mail & Copy before graduating from Newman in 2018. He has spent the past three years working as a substitute for USD 259, where he has amassed a collection of notes from students declaring him “Best Sub Ever.” He works with the YMCA after-school program for middle school students at Gordon Parks Academy and enjoys using puns and alliteration — a lot.

Melanie Flanagan – Senior Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs

Melanie has worked as a volunteer coordinator with Kindred Hospice, has a strong commitment to helping others and also volunteers with Make-A-Wish. She enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. Melanie also likes astronomy, photography and trivia games. She enjoys going to concerts and live shows and has a love for dolphins and dogs, providing a home for three of them — dogs, that is!