Meet our Staff
Fr. Jeff Belger
Priest Director |
Fr. Jeff Belger is the Priest Director of the Newman Center. He is a native of Doylestown, PA (but does not remember it), and is in his fourteenth year at the Newman Center. Prior to becoming Director, he served as Priest Campus Minister at the Newman Center and Parochial Vicar at St. Mary of the Visitation Parish in Iowa City. In addition to Iowa City, he has served in Clinton (Prince of Peace Parish), Pella (St. Mary Parish), and Oskaloosa (St. Mary Parish). Fr. Jeff began his discernment to the priesthood while a student at Notre Dame High School in Burlington. After working professionally as a Program Director for the YMCA in St. Louis, MO, Fort Wayne, IN, Atlanta, GA, and Nashville, TN, he returned back to Notre Dame High School as a teacher and Youth Minister. He attended St. Meinrad School of Theology, where he earned both an MA and an MDiv in Theology.
jeff@newman-ic.org |
Ronda has worked at the Newman Center since 2006. Ronda is the Administrative Assistant and the Facilities Manager. Ronda and her husband, Mark, have three children, five granddaughters and one grandson.
ronda@newman-ic.org
ronda@newman-ic.org
Ronda Lipsius
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
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Anna Kelly is the Director of Liturgical Music at the Newman Center beginning November 1, 2023. A native of Marion, Iowa, Anna is currently pursuing degrees in Trumpet Performance and Linguistics at the University of Iowa. For the past two and a half years, she has served as the Liturgical Music Fellow. Anna is excited to continue the tradition of great music at the Newman Center! In her free time, Anna enjoys being outdoors, knitting and drinking a lot of coffee.
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Anna Kelly
Director of Liturgical Music
Director of Liturgical Music
Christine Wissink
Director of Outreach and Education |
Christine Wissink began working at the Newman Center in the summer of 2016 as the Director of Outreach and Education. A native of Hiawatha, IA, Christine has 18 years of experience in youth, young adult, and campus ministry and holds a Master's degree in Ministry from Loras College. She recently obtained her Advanced Campus Ministry Certification through the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA). In June of 2023, the CCMA recognized her for her approach to ministry and her contributions to her profession with the Fr. Robert Beloin Award: For Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation at the CALLED23, the CCMA national conference. Prior to the Newman Center, Christine served as the Associate Director for Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Sacramento in California. Christine is married to Tony, a native of Iowa City, and they have one son.
christine@newman-ic.org |
Ann Thomas
Outreach Assistant |
Ann Thomas joined the Newman Center as our Outreach Assistant in 2021, supporting the ministries of Service and Social Justice, Graduate Student and Young Professionals Group, and the Catholic Relief Services University of Iowa Chapter. In addition to her work at the Newman Center, she serves as managing editor of the Catholic literary journal Dappled Things, and holds an MA in Russian Language and Literature from The University of Iowa. Ann and her husband, Caine, are originally from Waterloo, Iowa. They have five children and have called Iowa City home since 1997.
ann@newman-ic.org |
Kristie Wert
Director of Development |
Kristie Wert joined the Newman Center staff as our Director of Development in March of 2022. She relocated to Iowa from Ohio where she served as the Operations Manager of St. Peter Parish in Huron, Ohio which is located on Lake Erie in Northcentral Ohio. Kristie brings with her many years of experience in business and non-profit management, communications, marketing, as well as project management experience. She attended Marietta College and Bowling Green State University where she studied business management and marketing/communications. Kristie is a mom of three plus a son-in- law and an eight year old granddaughter. Her daughter's family lives close by in Dubuque, while her sons live in Ohio. Kristie is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
kristie@newman-ic.org |
Mary Rae Meyer
Development Assistant |
Mary Rae Meyer returned to the Newman Center in October of 2022 as the Development Assistant after working in the same role from 2017 – 2021. She and her husband, Ron, have lived in Iowa City since 1999, raising their two children here. Mary Rae is a graduate of The University of Iowa. After a career in consulting and technology, she was a stay-at-home mom until her children graduated from high school. She began working at Newman Center in 2017 when her daughter was a freshman at UI. Mary Rae also volunteers with Johnson County Right to Life and The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture study.
maryrae@newman-ic.org |
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Mike Leuck
Greeter and Sacristan |
Mike Leuck is the friendly face at the front desk providing hospitality and greeting all those who enter the Newman Center. He also serves as the Sacristan for the Newman Center, making preparations for liturgical celebrations. Originally from Moline, IL, Mike has lived in the great state of Iowa for more than 40 years. He has held many jobs over the years and his favorites have been in sales. Mike loves to talk and can chat with the best of them. Stop by and see him!
mikeleuck@newman-ic.org |
Deacon Joe Welter is a deacon of the Diocese of Davenport, and is assigned to the Newman Catholic Student Center, St. Mary of the Visitation Parish, and the Diocesan Office of Social Action. A native of Long Grove, IA, Joe is an alumni of The University of Iowa and has been involved at the Newman Center for more than two decades. He is a civil and environmental engineer. He is married to Katie, a math and religion teacher in the Regina Junior and Senior High School. They have three children.
welterj@diodav.org
welterj@diodav.org
Deacon Joe Welter
Dan Teets
Director of O.C.I.A (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) |
Dan Teets is Director of Adult Spiritual Formation at St. Mary of the Visitation Parish and Director of the O.C.I.A (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Program at the Newman Center. He works with all adults interested in finding out more about the Catholic faith and Catholic adults who wish to deepen their relationship with Jesus. Dan has been happily married to Janet since November 1989. They have five beautiful daughters and a handsome son, and five grandchildren. Dan's greatest joy in life is sharing the Good News of salvation available through Christ. In his free time he enjoys being with family.
dan-icstmarys@q.com |
More Priests Who Serve at Newman
Fr. Ed Fitzpatrick
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Fr. Ed Fitzpatrick was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport in 1970. Fr. Ed retired in July of 2015 after serving as the Priest Director of the Newman Center since 1984. He enjoys presiding at the Newman Center Masses as needed.
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Fr. Ken Kuntz
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Fr. Ken was born on Easter Sunday in 1951 and wanted to be a priest from the time he was in first grade! Ordained on May 28, 1977, he has served in DeWitt, Bettendorf, Blue Grass, Buffalo, Iowa City (St. Mary's for 16 years) and Clinton (Prince of Peace) for 12 years. Father Jeff and Father Ken served together at St. Mary's prior to Fr. Ken being assigned to Clinton. Fr Ken is now retired and loves celebrating Mass at the Newman Center.
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Fr. Louis Hammond
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Fr. Louis K Hammond was born on August 25, 1966 in Etsii Sonkwaa, Ghana; the fifth of thirteen siblings. Completed Elementary School in 1979. Enrolled at St. Teresa's Junior Seminary in Elmina, Ghana, where he earned G. C. E. Ordinary Level and G. C. E. Advanced Level Certificates in 1984 and 1986 respectively from the West African Examinations Council. Attended St. Peter's Regional Major Seminary in Cape Coast, Ghana, for his Philosophy and Theology studies and earned B. A. in study of Religions with Sociology from the University of Ghana, Accra, in 1991. Ordained to the priesthood on July 4, 1992 at St. Francis De Sales Cathedral in Cape Coast by Most Rev Peter Kwasi Sar pong, Bishop of Kumasi (as he then was). Since he has been ordained he has served in various capacities from Parochial Vicar, Pastor, Rector, Chaplain, and has also served as the Advocate on the Inter-diocesan Ecclesiastical Tribunal.
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Fr. Tim Regan
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Rev. Timothy J. Regan was ordained at age 41 as priest for the Diocese of Davenport by Bishop Gerald O’Keefe on May 30, 1991. Prior to his ordination Timothy had a successful career as an Occupational Therapist. Following ordination he has had several parish assignments within the Diocese of Davenport and has also served as a full-time hospital chaplain in both Davenport (Genesis Hospital for 7 years) and Iowa City (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for 10 years). Timothy has recently retired and now remains in residence here at the Newman Center to provide ministerial support as needed.
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