By Anthony Navarrete, Staff Writer
Christine Schneikart-Luebbe has a long resume with big plans for the student body.
Schneikart-Luebbe fills the position that was left vacant by former dean Levi Esses. Esses left to serve as Kansas State Universty’s Associate Director of New Student Services.
Schneikart-Luebbe received her bachelor’s in journalism, but after getting involved in student government, she became interested in a careerin higher education and pursued her masters in educational psychology and student personnel at Northern Arizona University.
Prior to coming to Newman, Schneikart-Luebbe spent time at Wichita State University, where she worked as the dean of students from 2013-2017.
Schneikart-Luebbe also worked at Indiana University between her time at WSU and coming to Newman. While she said she enjoyed her time there, she was ready to come back to Wichita.
“I had kind of done the mid size, and then I did the big, and I thought, ‘Well let’s see what it’s like at a private,’ so it’s just kind of the next opportunity that I wanted to engage in,” she said.
Schneikart-Luebbe said that she would like to use her first three months at Newman as a learning period, where she can listen to students and hear their concerns.
“I have to meet the students where they are. I can’t just expect that everyone is going to come in here and tell me what they want,” she said. “I have to get out there. I have to be in the dining hall. I have to be over in the residence halls. I have to be at sporting events. I have to be at theatre events. And I want to do that.”
Schneikart-Luebbe has had the chance to meet with some students and hear their thoughts and ways she can help impact student life at Newman.
“I really want to commit and hold to that promise that I made of really listening and learning as much as I can before I start making any changes because I want to pay respect to all the people who have come before me and all the good work that’s been done. I want to see how … I can leave my mark,” she said.
Student body president, Marisa Zayat, has had the chance to work with Schneikart-Luebbe and said she believes that Schneikart-Luebbe is going to be an asset to Newman students.
“She has already shown passion for the student body and truly wants the best for us. She is a loyal advocate,” she said.
Photo: CHRISTINE SCHNEIKART-LUEBBE is the new advisor of the Student Government Association at Newman. Tyler Pollard, Staff Photographer
