Sixteen area legislators and officials received an education on Newman University Nov. 14, during a special luncheon hosted by Newman President Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D. in the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center on the Newman campus.
The luncheon for Wichita, Sedgwick County and Kansas legislators and other officials was designed to introduce Newman to local officials who may not have been familiar with the university, and to build stronger relationships between government officials and the university.
The event began with a short video overview of Newman, followed by remarks from Carrocci about the university’s history, mission, programs and other topics. Carrocci spoke on the university’s strong record of success in programs ranging from education to business to science to health care.
“Health care is the second largest industry in Wichita,” Carrocci noted. “Newman has developed partnerships with all the major health care organizations to provide clinical sites for the training of our students in nursing and the allied health fields. They also hire many of our graduates.”
Carrocci and Newman Provost Michael Austin, Ph.D. spoke about the university’s Newman Studies Program, a unique approach to core curriculum studies. Carrocci also spoke about the efforts Newman makes to be affordable to a wide range of students, and the economic impact the university has on the region. She urged legislators to do what they can to support the university’s mission of “empowering graduates to transform society.”
“Public and private partnerships are important,” Carrocci said. “We need to find ways to work together to deliver high quality education to our students,” who go on to serve the community as teachers, doctors, nurses, business owners and other professions after they graduate. “We stress the importance of community service at Newman as well,” she added. “We want our graduates to serve society.”
The event concluded with a video, slide show and remarks from Carrocci about the university’s need to build a new facility for science and health sciences education. Luncheon attendees also received a packet of materials about Newman.
Those attending the luncheon were:
Sedgwick County Manager William Buchanan
Kansas Sen. Les Donovan (27th District)
Kansas Rep. Joe Edwards (93rd District)
Kansas Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau (29th District)
Kansas Rep. Gail Finney (84th District)
Kansas Rep. Roderick Houston (89th District)
Kansas Rep. Dan Kerschen (93rd District)
Sedgwick County Commissioner Tim Norton (2nd District)*
Kansas Sen. Michael O’Donnell (25th District)
Sedgwick County Commissioner Karl Peterjohn (3rd District)
Kansas Rep. Joe Seiwert (101st District)
Sedgwick County Commissioner James Skelton (5th District)
Sedgwick County Commissioner Dave Unruh (1st District)
Kansas Rep. Ponka-We Victors (103rd District)*
Kansas Rep. Jim Ward (88th District)
Kansas Rep. Brandon Whipple (96th District)
* Graduate of Newman University
