By Kevin Clack, Sports Editor
Voicing your concerns about campus and getting to know the Dean of Students Christine Schneikart-Luebbe just got a little sweeter and easier with a new event called "Coffee with Christine."
“It’s just an opportunity for me to buy them a drink or a muffin and get a chance to visit with them,” said Schneikart-Luebbe, who took over as dean of students at the beginning of the year. “I get to learn more about them and they get to learn a little more about me. And during the course of the conversation, we engage about whatever topics might be of interest to them on campus.”
Schneikart-Luebbe has already had some good reactions from students, she said, and she is looking forward to incorporating their ideas in the future.
“I’ve been very pleased with the students who’ve come and shared their Newman journeys with me,” she said. “There have been some valuable takeaways for me, things that we could adjust or add.”
Coffee with Christine started in March, she said, so everything is still fresh. Students still have time to sign-up.
“Right now I’m just going to student groups and giving the sign-ups so people can sign-up,” she said. “But eventually we’ll have it as part of the Friday information that goes out for the whole campus and students can always stop in the office and sign-up to attend."
Schneikart-Luebbe said she is trying to make it as easy as possible for students to meet with her, so sign-up times will vary.
“I’m always trying to change the time a little,” she said. “I’m trying to work within The Grind’s hours and then pick different times so that students have an opportunity to attend and work around their own academic schedules.”
Senior Xime Name said getting a chance to get personal with Christine and voice her opinions made her feel heard and special.
“Now I know if I have a problem or something, I can go to her and feel comfortable enough because I have already talked to her,” she said. “And I think that is really important, especially with a position like hers that has to connect with all the students.”
Schneikart-Luebbe said she’s always looking for ways that she can engage with students and get them to see her as more of a resource.
Those who want to sign up can do so in the Student Life office.
“I hope that they will see me as an individual who truly cares about their experience here at Newman and that this opens the door to come to visit with me on a more regular basis should they have issues or concerns.”
PHOTO: COFFEE WITH CHRISTINE is an initiative Dean Christine Schneikart-Luebbe has taken to engage with students. Courtney Klaus, Editor-in-Chief
