Brother David K. Betz, SM
Newman Director

Br. David hails from Philadelphia, PA.  He is the sixth child out seven and a product of Catholic Education through college. His degrees include a B.S in Sociology, M.A. in Theatre Arts, Masters of Social Work and M.A. in Pastoral Ministry.  

Br. David has been a member of the Marianists since 1984.  He entered because of the community aspect.  It was the family-like atmosphere and shared prayer that attracted him.  He made his novitiate in Dayton, OH and professed 1st vows in August of 1986.  After first vows he moved to Cincinnati, OH where he received certification in Special Education and worked as a Jr. High School teacher and a Case Manager for people with development disabilities.  He also did some volunteer work at a Catholic Work House and an agency that provided services for people with mental illness.

In August of 1991 Br. David made his perpetual vows and moved to Boston, MA where he went to school at Boston College for his last two degrees.  He moved to Cleveland, OH in 1995 and for two years worked at the Berea Childrens Home where he served unruly youth and children in foster care.

In 1997 Br. David moved back to Cincinnati and took a position as Pastoral Associate at St. Francis De Sales Parish.  Coincidentally, St. Francis De Sales was the name of the parish where he grew up in Philadelphia. He was the Director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, sat on the Worship Commission and Parish Pastoral Council, coordinated the Young Adult Group, Faith Sharing Groups and Liturgical Ministers, planned Adult Faith Formation opportunities, visited the homebound and participated in other local community activities.  Brother David was at the parish until he moved to Santa Cruz to join the Newman Center Community as the Associate Director in October 2004.

Br. Davids interests include theatre, swimming, Olympic Sports, college basketball, singing, reading murder mystery novels and listening to contemporary religious music.  He is a friendly, joyful and hopeful person.  He is willing to be of help if you have any concerns. Just approach him and introduce yourself.

Julie & Albert Fu
Volunteer Associates

Julie and Albert Fu have been volunteers with the UCSC Newman Center for the past six years.  Albert, a native of Chicago, came to UCSC as a visiting astrophysicist, but after only a few months, Albert knew he was not going back to the Midwest!  Instead, he found a job in the software industry and settled down in Santa Cruz.  Meanwhile, Julie had graduated with a BS in criminology from Fresno State, and went on to become a social worker in the small town of Hanford in the Central Valley.  Julie often visited a friend in Santa Cruzwho just happened to be a student leader at Newmanand eventually Julie and Albert met, fell in love and married in 1995.  Julie worked in the software industry for several years after that, and then decided to devote her time and energies to Newman and other volunteer work.

Julie has participated in a wide variety of ministries and Newman events, including the big Annual Newman Fundraising Dinner silent auction, the St. Francis Soup Kitchen, faith sharing, cooking and baking for the after mass social and many more!  Shes an avid pinochle player, enjoys dim sum, going out for breakfast, and traveling.  Together they have visited New Zealand, Italy (where they sat in the papal audience thanks to Fr. Rolands help), England, and China.  Julie also volunteers with the Santa Cruz AIDS project food box program, Habitat for Humanity, and the Kuumbwa Jazz Center.

Albert originally started out in Newman as the music director, but now mostly assists Julie in her relentless and varied Newman agenda, wherever he can.  In his brief spurts of spare time, Albert enjoys cabinetmaking and woodworking, playing piano, and volleyball.

For Julie and Albert, the Newman community is their extended family.  They have both given and drawn inspiration from the remarkable students at UCSC, and have formed lasting and precious relationships with members of the Newman family.