Newman Foundation, Inc. is an independent non-profit corporation that seeks to deepen and integrate personal, spiritual and intellectual development at the Newman Center, the University of Kentucky, and the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, by providing financial resources, physical facilities and initiated programs.
In 2005, The Newman Foundation fulfilled a longstanding dream. The University of Kentucky now has a Chair in Catholic Studies thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Carol Cottrill and Tom Rolfes. In Fall 2007, Dr. David Hunter began his tenure as the first Cottrill-Rolfes Chair in Catholic Studies. Dr. Hunter’s wealth of knowledge and expertise in early Christianity are an excellent resource of students and members of the community.
With the new Chair in place, the Foundation wants to continue the momentum by creating new programs and expanding current ones to meet the growing faith needs of students and others in the Catholic community. This vision includes an Endowed Research Fund to support the Cottrill-Rolfes Chair in Catholic Studies and Enhanced Catholic Initiatives.
The research fund will be used to foster intellectual vitality by engaging faculty, students and the general public on the role of the Catholic Church by providing conferences, seminars, scholarly publications and a variety of student mentorship/outreach activities.
Enhanced Catholic Initiatives spans several existing programs and opens room for new ones:
- The Distinguished Speakers Program, running since 1984 , will be expanded
- Campus Ministry will expand current resources and programming to meet the needs of 6,000 Catholics on the UK campus.
- Student Leadership Programs will prepare college students for leadership roles in their future parishes.
- Grants and Scholarships will expand the financial resources available for supporting Catholic initiatives across Kentucky
- The Foundation will offer scholarship opportunities to people in ministry roles (deacons, clergy, laity, etc.) to participate in classes offered by the Cottrill-Rolfes Chair in Catholic Studies
