Father Mike Schmitz
Chaplain
Father Mike Schmitz is the chaplain for Newman Catholic Campus Ministries at the University of Minnesota Duluth. He also serves as the Director of the Office of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth.
Father Sekhar Dasari
Associate Chaplain
Father Sekhar came to the Diocese of Duluth in 2023 and has been serving the students of bulldogCatholic since his arrival.
Heather Serena
Director of Campus Ministry
Heather is a graduate of the College of St. Scholastica and a convert to the Catholic Church. She served as a youth minister at a local parish for three years before assuming this role, in which she has served since 2007.
Lauren Hopke
Chief of Staff and Strategy
Lauren is a graduate of North Dakota State University and upon her college graduation, she served with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) as a campus missionary for four years. During her time with FOCUS, she served at the University of Minnesota – Duluth as the team director. She was later hired as the Director of Marketing, Communication, and Events at Duluth Newman, serving in that role for two years and has since transitioned to the Chief of Staff and Strategy.
Email – Lauren.Hopke@bulldogCatholic.org
Erica McCarthy
Data Entry and Gift Management Coordinator
As an alumna of The University of Minnesota-Duluth, Erica is excited to be serving in a position that provides a place for students to encounter the living God while attending college here in Duluth. It is a privilege for her to be part of a team that is bringing the gospel to students here on the same campus she attended and earned her B.A. in Elementary Education.
Jacob Erickson
Director of Music Ministry
After graduating highschool in International Falls, Minnesota, Jacob attended the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2020. Sharing his musical abilities within the community and at Mass have been a regular part of his life since middle school. He has been an active member within the Duluth Newman community through the Music Ministry program and the Student Leadership Team. Jake will be completing his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science, as well as minoring in Music and Chemistry in the fall of 2024.
Austin Lage
Student Ministry and Communications Intern
Austin is a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth studying Graphic Design and Marketing. He is an active member of the Duluth Newman community and applies his creativity and dedication to supporting both ministry activities and outreach efforts in his role. With a passion for fostering connections and contributing to the campus community, Austin looks forward to making a positive impact through his work at Newman.
Jacinta Kolles
Student Ministry and Communications Intern
Jacinta is currently a student at UMD studying Integrated Elementary & Special Education with a minor in Business Management. She is excited to serve in her second year as intern for bulldogCathoic. After graduating, she plans on teaching for a few years, then going back to school to be an elementary school principal. She loves getting to be in a community that is filled with so much authentic joy!
FOCUS Missionaries
We have recent college graduates spend a year with us and our Catholic community. Our FOCUS Missionaries primarily lead Bible Studies around campus, but they’re always at Newman events.