PEER MINISTRY AT THE NEWMAN CENTER
In keeping with our mission to form the future leaders of our Church and world, the Newman Center uses a system of student leadership called “Peer Ministry”.
Each year, 4-6 students are selected from a pool of applicants to work side by side with the staff in running the ministry. Housed in an apartment with individual rooms above the Newman Center, the Peer Ministers learn to balance school, ministry, and their personal lives in service to their fellow students. It’s a demanding year of sacrifice, but an extremely rewarding experience. In the end, peer ministers and the Student Ministry Team are responsible for the majority of the programming, innovation, and activity of the ministry. At any given time during the day, chances are you’ll find a peer minister roaming the halls, hanging out at the Newman table on campus, serving a Mass, or hosting an event at Newman.
Inspired by the success of former Newman Director Fr. William Dean Dooley OP (1948-1960) to use Catholic soldiers to catechize other soldiers during WWII, the program trains students to minister to each other. After a week of intensive training at the Dominican Institute of Student Ministry, peer ministers become Newman’s primary student leaders. They’re responsible for everything from planning the massive SEARCH retreat to cleaning the bathrooms!
Often times, students have a unique credibility with each other that community members, staff, parents, and even priests, don’t have. By training students to fill positions of leadership in the ministry, they’re given greater opportunity to relate to their peers and more effectively support them through the faith transitions common to college life. This ultimately leads newer students to realize that they should take their faith seriously, that there are other students out their struggling with the same things, and that there are answers to their most intimate and troubling questions. And that you can be Catholic and cool at the same time!
Since 1989, Peer Ministers have been some of the greatest advocates of the ministry, and each has left a profound impact on the lives of the students – not to mention the ministry as a whole. We continually thank all that have served. But as any peer minister will tell you, their gifts to the community are matched, if not surpassed, by the gratitude they feel for the transformative opportunity to serve their fellow Catholic Huskies.
Our 2026-2027 Peer Ministers
Contact: peerministers@uwnewman.org
Marcus clement
Hello! My name is Marcus Clement, and I'm currently a senior studying Informatics. I've been part of Newman since my freshman year, when I was a community college student. Throughout my time here, I've discovered the importance of Christ-centered friendships and what it truly means to be Catholic. I'm excited to serve as PM and help invest in the community that invested in me.
In my spare time, I love hiking, trying new food, and playing basketball. If you see me around, I'm always happy to have a conversation!
ULka daniels
Hi! My name is Ulka and I am a Senior studying General Biology at UW!
I started coming to the UW Newman Center my Freshman year, just for Sunday Mass. Three years later, I am a music lead for the Sunday 10 AM Mass choir, a Peer Minister, and I have so many joyful memories with this community. I love that there’s always an event around the corner, someone to talk to in the study rooms and always space in the Chapel to pray.
When I’m not doing lab work or vacuuming the Newman Center, I like to bake treats to share with my friends, work on quilts (my next project is a sleeve for my computer), walk around campus or read (and re-read) any Jane Austen novel.
Elvis Leal-Perez
Hello! My name is Elvis, and I’m a recent UW graduate with a bachelor's degree in Law, Societies, & Justice. I first found the Newman Center by tagging along with friends to Wednesday night Mass, and during my sophomore year, Newman became the place where I was baptized into the Catholic Church. Since then, I’ve graduated a year early as the first in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree, worked as a wildland firefighter, and now have the blessing of serving as a Peer Minister! Whether I’m getting to the “needy and the greedy” at Bible study or spending some quiet time in the chapel, Newman has always been a place I can lean on. Outside of Newman, you can usually find me hiking, casting a line, or finding some other reason to be outdoors. I’m excited to serve the community that has shaped my own faith and to walk with others as they discover theirs.
Jackie hernandez
Hello everyone, my name is Jackie Hernandez. I'm a senior this year studying Communications: Journalism and Public Interest. I came to Newman as a freshman, and it showed me the true importance of Christ-centered friendships. Newman has a lot to offer. This year I'm a peer minister. Don't be afraid to come by and say hi to me—that is how friendships start. I'm always down to pray and grab coffee! In my free time, you can catch me at the movies and rate them on Letterboxd afterward. I also enjoy going to the gym and trying new coffee places. Excited to meet you all!
chloe schoenstein
Hi everyone, my name is Chloe, I’m a senior majoring in Asian Studies and Japanese. As a convert to the faith, I first started coming to Newman after my first year at UW, went through Newman’s OCIA program, and got received into the Church in May 2025. Since coming here, Newman has quickly become my home away from home. This year I’m looking forward to serving the community with my fellow Peer Ministers and meeting new people!
Things you can have an intellectual conversation with me about: Naruto, Avatar the Last Airbender, perfume, PEZ dispensers.
brandon hernandez-castellanos
Yo! I’m Brandon, at your service! I’m a senior studying marketing and I’m always on a random side quest. I love getting to know people and I look forward to meeting you so please don’t be shy (otherwise I’ll find you myself). I encourage everyone to participate in everything Newman has to offer and to not be a stranger to this community. After all, faith cannot and should not be lived alone so let's be friends and friends of God.
Interested in learning more about Peer Ministry? Contact our Campus Minister, Ellie Lande, or our Director, Fr. Marcin Szymanski.
Get to know them - check out our Peer Minister photo album and peer ministers past and present!