The Gibbons Club for Catholic Students was founded at State Teachers college in 1913. By 1964, through various mergers, UWM was formed. The name of the club was changed to Newman Club in 1950. Priests lived on Prospect avenue at the Fenwick Club and served MSOE, Specerian College, and the Newman Club. The Fenwick Club closed in sold its property on prospect in 1961, and our current location was bought. The chapel was built in the location of the former garage in 1962. The entryway was added in 1967.

Since then, the name of the Newman Center has changed, along with various priests, sisters, and laypeople who have served here throughout the years.

Currently, we are served by a full time priest chaplain / director, a full time campus minister, and four full time FOCUS missionaries, along with our student leadership board.

The Newman Center at UWM is a ministry of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and is not a separate financial entity. Money that is donated is restricted to Newman Center ministry, and priests are assigned through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

We have two professional staff (our priest chaplain and our campus minister) and four full time FOCUS missionaries.

Panther Catholic the name of our student organization chartered by UWM, and consists of enrolled students at UWM.

The Archdiocese owns our building, and the student club allows to to be present on campus as well as receive some funding from the university for student activities. A majority of student activities take place in our building on downer, but they also meet on Campus, in student apartments, and around town and even branching out through the US and the world on our mission trips and retreats..