At the University, she is involved in agricultural disaster planning and biosecurity. Dr. Newman is also the K9 coordinator for Ohio Task Force 1 a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team, Chief of the Kentucky Search Dog Association, a firefighter and a Deputy with the Grant County Sheriff's Department. In these roles she has been involved in over 300 searches and disasters as either a dog handler, team leader or operations officer, her K9s are certified through FEMA and the North American Police Work Dog Association in disaster, air scent, trailing, and cadaver (land and water).