CAMPAIGN TEAM
Meet some of the faces behind the campaign.
Campaign Fundraisers
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Danny Fisher is a Major Gifts Officer for St. Teresa of Calcutta Newman Center. Danny graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and went on to serve with FOCUS as a Missionary at the University of Georgia and Team Director at Texas Tech University. He then led retreats at Conception Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in northwest Missouri, before coming back home to Nebraska in his current role. Danny enjoys praying, acting, writing, hunting, traveling, and living the adventure God gives him.
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Zach joined St. Teresa's New Church Campaign as a Major Gifts Officer in July 2026, bringing a passion for evangelization and years of experience serving the Church. A Hastings, Nebraska native and graduate of St. Cecilia High School, he earned degrees in marketing and management from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where his involvement at the Newman Center became a defining part of his faith journey. After graduation, Zach worked for Catholic Faith Technologies by Nelnet before serving four years with FOCUS at the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Missouri. Having experienced four thriving Newman Centers firsthand, he is passionate about helping build places where students encounter Christ and become lifelong leaders for the Church.
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Lauren Youree joined St. Teresa of Calcutta in January 2026. She was born and raised in the Kansas City area, where she attended Catholic grade schools and Notre Dame de Sion High School. After college, Lauren worked at Rochurst University for 10 years before moving to Lincoln, NE with her husband and two children. With lifelong faith, a passion for working with university students, and personal experience of the impact Newman Centers have on spiritual development, Lauren is thrilled to be part of the statewide mission to build a new home for STC and eager to shine a spotlight on this amazing community of faith in Western Nebraska.
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Brock is a Lincoln, Nebraska native who graduated from Pius X High School before attending the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he earned his master’s degree in accounting. After college, Brock spent a year working in wealth management in Omaha before spending three years working in sales and business development for early-stage technology startups. He joined the UNK Newman Center staff as a Major Gifts Officer in January 2026, bringing those experiences to his work helping advance the campaign for a new church building.
Brock’s desire to work with the Newman Center grew from his own experience encountering Christ through FOCUS and the UNL Newman Center, as well as the friendships and community he found there. Those experiences shaped his faith and gave him a desire to help create that same opportunity for future generations of students. He is passionate about helping build a place where students can encounter Christ, grow in faith, and form lasting friendships.
Fun fact: Brock was a male practice player on the Nebraska women’s basketball team while attending UNL.
Campaign Staff
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Fr. Hock is in his 14th year as pastor of the St. Teresa of Calcutta Newman Center. He was born and raised on a farm in McCook, Nebraska. He studied accounting at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, then worked for a grain company in Illinois. There, Father heard and said “Yes” to a call to the priesthood. He studied at Conception Seminary College, then the Pontifical North American College in Rome before his ordination to the priesthood on June 10, 2011. Fr. Hock continues to also serve as the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Grand Island.
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Brent joined the St. Teresa of Calcutta Newman Center as the Executive Director in September 2024 after six years at Ave Maria University. A Nebraska native, he was born in McCook, graduated from Ogallala High School, and studied Chinese at UNL before spending 25 years living and working in China. There, he balanced management roles in various enterprises with leading a pro-life charity, China Little Flower, which continues to serve abandoned and medically fragile children. Brent and his wife, Serena, now live in Kearney and have six children and two grandchildren.
Finance Council
Sean Donohue
Ryan Ohri
Catherine Johnson
Adam Liess
Jason Shuda
Samantha Svec
Kyle Myers
Nita Unruh
Campaign Advisory Board
Barry McFarland
Mike McGowan
Anthony and Jean Miranda
Bill and Melissa Murphy
Chadd and Dawn Murray
Veronica Piñon
Kent and Heidi Richter
Dan and Barb Schepers
Gene and Kristi Svec
Jerry and Cristi Thompson
John and Crystal Vanderbeek
Matt and Abbie Wecker
John and Staci Worthing
Brian and Rechelle Bertrand
Deacon Mark and Mary Bowman
Blake and Kelly Brouillette
Tim and Laura Burkink
Mark Christen
Adam and Lori Cribelli
Luke and Becca Deaver
Tom and Audrey Downey
Mike and Susan Foley
Todd Herges
Michael Holzfaster
Ben and Sara Homan
John and Rebecca Lillyman
Active
Honorary
Clergy
Fr. Dan Andrews
Fr. Josh Brown
Bishop James D. Conley
Bishop James R. Golka
Fr. Scott Harter
Fr. Ryan Kaup
Laypersons
Dr. Jordan Engle
Ralph and Beverly Holzfaster
Mary Jo Jareke
Jim and Kathleen McKenzie
Dan and Judy O’Neill
Jerry and Tami Hellman