Enjoy a decades worth of fantastic ATP broadcasts 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

Air date: 8/17/25

[00:27:36]

Since the beginning of June, we’ve been sharing some episodes from the ATP archives that feature two of our Detroit Mercy faculty that just retired at the end of the 2024 – 2025 academic year, Professor Greg Sumner from the Department of History and Professor Dave Koukal from the Department of Philosophy.  On this week’s episode, we travel back in time for just a short distance to November 2017 when host Matt Mio was joined by Professors Heather Hill, Dave Koukal, Beth Oljar, Kendra Evans and Dave Chow.

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Air date: 8/10/25

[00:28:17]

We hope you enjoy these Ask The Professor memories from January 2010.  Long-time ATP host Edwin DeWindt returned to the studio to fill in for Kathy Bush.  Joining Edwin were Professors Beth Oljar, Matt Mio, Dave Koukal and special guest Sharon Vlahovich.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 8/3/25

[00:28:22]

In October 2005, we were fortunate to have the same panel of professors in studio for three weeks in a row.  That panel featured Professors Kathy Bush, Beth Oljar, Jeffe Boats, Jerry Curtsinger, Dave Koukal and special guest Sharon Vlahovich.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 7/27/25

[00:27:12]

For this week’s episode, we’re going back to October 2005.  Long-time ATP moderator Kathy Bush is joined by Professors Jerry Curtsinger, Jeffe Boats, Beth Oljar and Dave Koukal.  With guest Sharon Vlahovich.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 7/20/25

[00:28:15]

Our summer of Ask The Professor memories continues this week, as we go back to October 2005.  Host Kathy Bush is joined by Professors Jeffe Boats, Beth Oljar, Roy Finkenbine, Jerry Curtsinger, Dave Koukal and special guest Sharon Vlahovich.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Five College of Business Administration alumni will be celebrated on Sunday, Oct. 19, during the annual Business Leadership Awards.

The event will begin with Mass at 10 a.m. in the St. Ignatius Chapel, followed by brunch and the awards ceremony at 11:15 a.m. at the Detroit Golf Club. Tickets are $60 each.

The CBA recognizes exemplary leaders who demonstrate professional success, outstanding contributions to society and the embodiment of Jesuit and Mercy values. This year, three Lifetime Achievement recipients will be inducted into the College’s Hall of Honor with one alumna to be recognized as a Rising Star. The celebration will also debut the Brad Simmons Community Impact Award, named in honor of the late Brad Simmons ’79, ’84, longtime chair of the College’s Board of Advisors.

Lifetime Achievement Award:

• Teresa Thiele ’96, ’98, senior vice president for global purchasing, Stellantis
• Crystal Windham ’02, executive director of global industrial design, General Motors
• Greg Hamel ’86, director of global business strategy (retired), Ford Motor Company.

Rising Star Award:

• Ellyn Riebau ’16, ’17, finance director, StockX.

Inaugural Brad Simmons Community Impact Award:

• Norman L. Schmitt, Jr. ’70, ’75, trustee of Schmitt Investment Company, LLC.

Purchase tickets here.

Get ready for the ultimate campus kickoff event! RecFest 2025 is set for Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 3:30–5:30 p.m. at the Student Fitness Center.

This is your opportunity to discover the diverse recreational activities available through University Recreation.

This event features the following:

• Free food and drinks
• Giveaways and raffle prizes with live DJ
• Special guests and 20-plus vendors and campus/community partners
• Rock wall, obstacle course and fitness challenges
• Shoot-N-Shower challenge
• 4-way volleyball, spike ball, cornhole, fowling and more

Interactive schedule for the day is as follows:

• 3:30 p.m. — Block party check-in
• 4-4:45 p.m. — Open badminton
• 4:45-5:30 p.m. — Open pickleball
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. — Interactive demos
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. — Fitness challenges

Whether you’re into fitness, sports, free stuff or just meeting people, mark your calendars for RecFest.

Follow University Recreation on Instagram: @DetroitMercyRec

The Office of the Provost announced the inaugural UDM Leadership Academy, a new professional development series for staff, administrators and department chairs at the University.

Led by Professor and Coordinator of the Leadership Minor Don DiPaolo, the program will offer monthly Friday afternoon sessions (October-April) focused on building skills, enhancing competencies and fostering a culture of excellence at Detroit Mercy.

The Academy’s objective is to:

• Provide leadership skills training and enhancement.
• Build leadership competencies and capacities for both seasoned leaders and those new to leadership roles.
• Foster a culture of leadership excellence and distinction at UDM.

The inaugural class is limited to 35 spots, and interested participants must apply by Friday, Aug. 29. Supervisor approval is required for permission.

Participants will meet monthly on Friday from 12-5 p.m. in the College of Health Professions Building, Room 124, on the McNichols Campus, beginning with lunch each session. The dates are: Oct. 17, Nov. 14, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3.

Apply here.

The Detroit Mercy Theatre Company will host a Welcome Party on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 4-6 p.m. on the porch of the Briggs Building.

Students can enjoy free food and fun games while learning about auditions and upcoming events in the Department of Performing Arts. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a curious newcomer, all are welcome.

For more information, email theatre@udmercy.edu.

University of Detroit Mercy, in partnership with the Detroit Month of Design Festival, and in collaboration with Gesu and Live6 Alliance, is hosting UDM Street Fest on Saturday, Sept. 6.

The free event is set to run from 12-8 p.m. and is part of the Six Mile Street Fest. All are welcome.

UDM’s part in the event will be located on the lawn at the entrance of the McNichols Campus. It will feature sustainability exercises, crafts, workshops, children’s activities, food, vendors and much more.

The UDM Street Fest is being co-sponsored by University Ministry, Office of Mission Integration, Titan Equity Nourish Network, Student Life, University Recreation, Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) and Titan Athletics.

Celebrate Spirit! is the official kickoff to the new academic year and a University-wide celebration that welcomes our entire community of students, staff, faculty, and administrators. All are welcome!

The celebration is set for Thursday, Sept. 11 inside the Student Fitness Center. The Mass of the Holy Spirit begins at 11:30 a.m. 

The celebration includes a Catholic Mass, and individuals from all faith traditions are warmly invited to participate or observe in a manner that feels comfortable to them.

The guest homilist for Celebrate Spirit! is Karl J. Kiser, S.J. The event is hosted by the College of Business Administration, University Libraries, the Student Success Center, University Ministry, and Mission Integration. All are invited to wear red, orange, or yellow as part of the event.

A lunch and reception will be provided in the Fountain Lounge & Terrace of the Student Union from 12:45-2 p.m.

Celebrate Spirit! is open to all members of the Detroit Mercy community no matter their religious affiliation.

Click here to volunteer at Celebrate Spirit!

Celebrate Spirit! 2025 invites the Detroit Mercy community to reflect on “Sustaining a Spirit of Hope” as this academic year’s theme along with our new University core values. Amid global and personal challenges and uncertainty, we are reminded that hope is not just a feeling but a daily practice — nurtured through community and grounded in discernment.

Full information.

Students have the option to enroll in a payment plan for their fall term tuition. Payment plans are available until Sept. 15.

To take advantage of a five-month payment option, sign up by Aug. 15.

For questions, contact the Student Accounting Office at studentaccounts@udmercy.edu, call Transact at 1-800-339-8131 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. or visit studentsupport.transactcampus.com/hc/en-us.

The Student Fitness Center is seeking enthusiastic individuals to help expand group fitness offerings. This is a great opportunity to share your passion, build community and help others stay active.

If you’re interested in leading a recurring class, hosting a one-time event or want to learn more, contact Chris Richardson at the Student Fitness Center at crichar4@udmercy.edu.

Fill out interest form here.

Detroit Mercy’s Institute for Leadership and Service invites all UDM faculty and staff to consider accompanying incoming first-year McNichols Campus students in the half-day of service that they do as part of their orientation program.

The schedule runs from 8:15 a.m. for breakfast to 1 p.m. for lunch Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 20-21.

Half of the first-year students do service Wednesday and the other half Thursday during the orientation program, also called Prologues, Transitions, and Viewpoints (PTV). Detroit Mercy staff and faculty can choose the day that fits best in their schedule, with some going both days. You do not need to bring anything special — just your desire to accompany new students in this part of their introduction to Detroit Mercy’s mission.

Most of the service groups this year will be clearing overgrown lots in the neighborhoods surrounding the McNichols Campus in Palmer Park. Some groups will be working at one of two schools (Gesu or Palmer Park Prep Academy) and at two youth empowerment sites run by Brilliant Detroit. Other groups will also assist in the gardens that are affiliated with the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN).

If interested, please contact Sr. Karen Dunville, RSM, at dunvilmk@udmercy.edu or by phone at 248-880-5061.

Full schedule for each day:

• 8:15 a.m. — Breakfast
• 8:25 a.m. — Orientation at pre-reflection
• 9 a.m. — Departure for service sites
• 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Work at sites
• 12-12:30 p.m. — Reflection on the experience at sites
• 12:30 p.m. — Head back to McNichols Campus for lunch

Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and administrators from all campuses are invited to attend the annual President’s Convocation Tuesday, Aug. 19 to officially open the 2025-26 academic year.

The day at the Student Fitness Center begins with breakfast from 8:30-9:45 a.m., follows with the program from 9:45-11:30 a.m. and concludes with a picnic lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The University’s new core values will be highlighted during the program, as well as plans for the University’s upcoming 150th anniversary for the 2026-27 year.

Updates on key initiatives, such as the implementation of the Strategic Plan, Comprehensive Campaign Planning, Campus Improvement Master Plan and more, will also be shared.

President’s Convocation is an important event that welcomes new community members and allows colleagues to reconnect before the new academic year begins. Please share this with any new employees who may not yet be on the employee listserv.

All attendees may also receive an updated headshot photo taken by a professional photographer, anytime from the start of breakfast (8:30 a.m.) until 1 p.m. Wear your best swag or professional attire for the photo, which will be made available in early September. Check Campus Connection for further details.

RSVP for President’s Convocation!

Director of University Ministry Anita Klueg is one of a select group of women chosen nationwide to participate in the inaugural cohort of PROCLAIM, a two-year formation program designed to equip lay women as confident ministers of the Word.

Through this program, Klueg will help shape the future of women’s ministry formation while developing her capacity to engage Scripture and bring the Word to life for her community. 

Fall 2025 book adoptions are now past due.

For faculty instructing in the Fall 2025 semester who have not yet submitted book selections for your students, please email Tracy Buce at 2385txt@follett.com or submit an online form for the McNichols Campus or the Riverfront Campus (Law).

A few notes about course materials:

• Please provide the author, title, ISBN, edition and include whether the course material is going to be required for the class or just recommended. If you use the same materials as Fall 2025, please also include the department and course number of the course we are copying with your email response.
• Custom/Coursepacks/Foreign Titles — If you use custom materials (bundles, lab manuals, etc.) or foreign books for your course, please get these adoptions in early. These always take the longest to receive in the bookstore, as they are printed on-demand and can take a couple weeks to get set up/printed.
• Even if you’re note using a book for a course, please let us know, so you don’t end up on the “missing book order” list of adoptions.
• We will contact you if old editions are submitted for the course, please make a note if new editions are acceptable to provide to the students for the course in case the old edition is not readily available.

Adopting on time contributes to course materials affordability for students! It allows the University to source used and rental inventory which translates to savings. It also ensures UDM remains in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which states that all universities which receive financial aid must disclose textbook information and pricing to students prior to them registering for their courses.

Students can shop 24/7 for books and all UDM merchandise at the official bookstore website.

All are welcome to join the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and Martin Park community in celebrating our bustling garden with an afternoon of food, planting and harvesting on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The free event is set to begin at 4 p.m. at the garden located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

The church is located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit.

To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.

Students, we’ve got something fresh launching this fall, and it’s built just for you. Get ready for a new Detroit Mercy app, powered by Raftr.

It will be an all-in-one place for:

• Campus events and updates
• Student organization news
• Chat groups and communities
• Classmate connections
• And way more

No more FOMO or digging through emails — just open the app and get what you need, fast.

The app goes live when you return to campus. Keep an eye out for further instructions.

This fall Detroit Mercy will roll out a new app built to support student connections, engagement and community.

The app, powered by Raftr, will offer:

• A central hub for campus events and announcements
• Customizable channels and groups for departments and programs
• Direct access for students to engage with opportunities and resources

Whether you’re supporting student organizations, sharing key updates or just wanting to stay connected, this app is designed to streamline communication across campus.

Training and onboarding will be offered in July and August to help you get familiar with the platform. Additional training opportunities will be offered for individuals who will be creating the content for their departments/areas to provide helpful tips and best practices.

Click here to learn more!

University of Detroit Mercy will host an exclusive all-sports fundraising dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Cambria Hotel in downtown Detroit.

The inaugural “An Evening with the Titans of Detroit” event will feature live music, fine dining, beverages and auction items. The night is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. with a happy hour, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $250 per person.

Several special guests in attendance will include Hall of Fame basketball coach Tom Izzo, NBA All-Star Derrick Coleman, Titan legend John Long and NBA champion Steve Smith.

UDM men’s basketball coach Mark Montgomery, the Titans men’s basketball team and other UDM coaches will also be in attendance. UDM is home to 17 NCAA Division I varsity athletic teams.

“It is going to be a great night for fans to get together with some of the best athletes and sports personalities in Detroit, all to support Titan athletics,” said Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr.

Table sponsorships are available by contacting UDM Director of Development Jason Clark at 313-993-1232 or clarkje@udmercy.edu.

Learn more/Register!

University of Detroit Mercy is presenting a live production of iconic Motown music at the annual Michigan Lottery Arts, Beats & Eats, set for Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29-Sept. 1.

The Hitsville NEXT Revue, with renditions of hits by Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, The Four Tops and more, will be the kickoff performance at the annual festival in Royal Oak for each of the next two years, in part thanks to the University.

“UDM is very proud to partner with Arts, Beats & Eats as a sponsor for the next two years,” Detroit Mercy’s Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications Gary Erwin said.

“This yearly experience has achieved both state-wide and national recognition and we are thrilled to come together with our community to celebrate the arts.”

The “Magic of Motown” showcases a spotlight on Detroit’s rising stars from the Motown Museum’s Hitsville NEXT programs, taking the audience on a trip down memory lane.

The festival blends world-class music, visual arts, culinary experiences and more, thanks to partnerships within the metro Detroit community and beyond.

In 2024, the four-day event attracted more than 300,000 people and since 1998, the festival has raised more than $7.7 million for community and charitable causes and organizations.

The Michigan Lottery Arts, Beats & Eats festival is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 29-31 and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 1. Tickets are $7 in advance. For full information, please visit www.artsbeatseats.com.

As part of the ongoing rebranding work for UDM, MarCom communications fellows Alize Tripp and Jennifer Raptoplous, with the help of Let’s Roll’s Brian Rolling, produced a great piece of video content about the Detroit Institute of Art’s installation on the McNichols Campus.

This partnership with the DIA shows another facet of community through collaboration, inclusion, and the arts.

A special thanks to CHASS Dean Jocelyn Boryczka for helping to bring the artwork to campus. We hope everyone—faculty, staff, students, alumni and especially our neighbors—visit the McNichols Campus to check out these artworks!

The Department of Athletics is hosting its annual Titan Golf Outing on Friday, Aug. 8 at Links of Novi. All fans, alumni, supporters, students, staff and faculty are welcome to partake in a day of fun on the course. Proceeds help benefit Athletics and Detroit Mercy Law.

The outing begins at 9 a.m., with registration beginning at 8 a.m. Lunch, dinner and a Titan gift card are included in the cost of attendance, with dinner scheduled to begin around 3 p.m. There will be prizes on the course, closest to the pin contests, a straightest drive and more fun games.

The cost is $150 per golfer, or $600 per foursome. A dinner-only option is also available for $60. Hole sponsorships are available at $500 (without a foursome) or $1,000 (includes a foursome). The field is filling up quickly and space is limited!

For more information or to register, please visit www.detroittitans.com/golf25.

Live6 needs your input via a 10-minute online survey about the Livernois and McNichols corridors.

Please take some time to complete this survey. The results will inform planning for future development, improvements and retail interventions in our district.

Your perspective will help build our community’s five-year retail and market strategy in partnership with Main Street America.

We appreciate your input as longtime stakeholders and supporters of the growth of the commercial corridors and the businesses that anchor Livernois and West McNichols.

Start survey here!

Faculty and staff pickleball has returned to the Student Fitness Center on Thursdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The indoor sessions are for everyone from seasoned players to those curious and wanting to try something new. It’s a great way to unwind, connect and have fun with the Detroit Mercy community. Paddles and balls are provided free of charge.

Participation is completely voluntary; no commitment is required. Just come as you are, and enjoy some friendly competition and Titan camaraderie. Feel free to bring along a colleague or invite one outside guest for a $5 fee at the front desk.

Want to see what pickleball is all about? Check out this quick intro on the sport. We hope to see you on the courts!

Detroit Mercy Biology/Pre-Dental student Qamar Elia reflects on her experience at the border on a University Ministry immersion trip to El Paso in 2024. She shares her own experiences as an immigrant and of those struggling to make a new home in the U.S. today.

“The realization that Congress has not passed any major immigration reform since the 1980s made it clear to me how deeply broken the system is. While immigrant families continue to face unimaginable risks and hardship, the policies meant to protect or support them have barely changed in decades,” she wrote.

“More than anything, what mattered most was not what we could do, but how fully we could be there to honor the weight of the stories being shared, hold onto them long after we left and to keep questioning the deeper injustices that shape these realities.”

Read Elia’s full account.

Spaces are still available for Global Leadership, Local Impact, a weeklong leadership event that will bring students from around the world to University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus.

The summit runs July 6-14 and is a collaboration between the University’s College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences and Detroit-based Young People Global Edge.

“This summit is more than an event—it’s a movement,” said Sanya Weston, founder of Young People Travel Global Edge. “Our young people are not waiting for opportunities; they are creating them.”

Summit events include entrepreneurship and career development led by industry experts, college readiness workshops, cultural immersion projects, community impact service activities, networking opportunities with local and global business leaders and a gala celebration.

Weston is working in collaboration with Lara Wasner, Detroit Mercy’s Language & Cultural Training Program director, whose work at the University helps prepare students to become global ambassadors through international travel experiences.

High school students and teachers are coming from metro Detroit, across the United States, Tanzania and Ghana.

“This pre-college summit helps expose students to one another in this understanding in ways that shape tomorrow’s leaders with these strong values,” Weston said.

For more information about the program or to register, visit yptglobaledge.org, or email wasnerle@udmercy.edu.

All are welcome to join the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) in celebrating the community and garden with an afternoon of food and harvesting on Tuesday, July 1. The free event is set to begin at 3 p.m. at the garden located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

The church is located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit.

To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.

Bicycling was something Tim Eves ’79 enjoyed doing as an Engineering student at University of Detroit in the late 1970s.

Now, he’s using bicycles to help people in need in his Tampa, Fla., community through a volunteer outreach ministry he started at his church.

Bikes from the Heart is a program at Tampa’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church in which volunteers repair, refurbish and distribute bicycles to people who are desperate for transportation, including those who are homeless.

“I was always drawn toward the needs of homeless people and just the awareness of their challenges,” Eves said. “I always knew that when I finished working, I wanted to do something to help people that were struggling.”

Since its inception in summer 2023, more than 1,500 refurbished bicycles have been donated to Tampa community members.

The ministry has also brought together a group of U-D and University of Detroit Mercy alumni that spans several generations – Eves, his wife, Betty (Giancarlo) Eves ’80, Jim Rossman ’63, Daniel Anderi ’18 and Allison Booth ’18.

“We’re not all from Michigan,” Booth said, “but went to the same University, and we’re able to share those shared experiences of being on campus and being alumni. It’s just furthered that connection to being part of the ministry.”

Building a ministry

Bikes from the Heart wasn’t Eves’ first exposure to helping people through bicycles. He first started out by volunteering at a United Methodist Church in Tampa, where he fixed bikes on Sunday mornings for the homeless population.

As he continued to volunteer, Eves saw a need beyond fixing bikes — people would come to the church and ask if they had any bikes to give away.

“It was crystal clear that there was demand for these bikes,” he said. “It was that experience that made me say, ‘This would be great if we could find a way to do this.’ ”

A little persuasion helped Bikes from the Heart grow from an idea Eves and his friend, Tom Henry, shared, to a reality. And it started with rebuilding a deck for Rossman, which Eves and Henry constructed themselves two years ago after some convincing.

“About halfway through, Jim said, ‘I’d like to make a donation to a charity of your guys’ choice,’ ” Eves said. “Tom and I had been kicking around this idea of starting our own bike ministry. We didn’t tell Jim right away that’s what we wanted to use the money for, but as we built the deck, we laid out the plans for this ministry.”

Bikes from the Heart operates out of a former school building at Sacred Heart and is one of the church’s 15 ministry groups.

Volunteers from all faith backgrounds work on bikes there from Tuesday through Thursday. On Sundays, they repair and distribute bikes at the Portico Cafe, a United Methodist Church social enterprise that assists those struggling with homelessness, addiction and incarceration.

In addition to its Sunday efforts, Eves said the ministry distributes bicycles to nearly 30 different agencies and groups.

“On those Sundays, you can visually see the instant gratification of giving someone just a set of wheels for transportation,” Anderi said. “A lot of them become food delivery folks in the community, or now they just have transportation other than a bus to get around town.”

To get a bicycle from Bikes from the Heart, an individual fills out an application at the Portico Cafe and returns the following Sunday to pick up their bike, with either a lock of their own or $10 to purchase one. During the week, volunteers refurbish enough bicycles to fulfill all applications.

Each bike features a sticker along its frame, denoting that it is from the ministry. It not only spreads the ministry’s reach, it allows for lost bikes to be returned.

“We’ll see some of the people who come on a weekly basis to get their bike fixed,” Booth said. “Dan and I will be biking around Tampa on the weekends and we’ll stop and talk to them. There’s that building of relationships, too, with other members of the community.”

Though Bikes from the Heart has donated 1,500 bikes since 2023, Eves doesn’t see things slowing down. There’s plenty of bikes coming into the ministry, both from the police and regional bus lines, where riders may forget their bike.

He and Rossman estimate that another 1,500 bikes will be distributed over the next year.

“I would say the demand is unlimited,” Eves said. “Fortunately for us, the supply of bikes needing to be fixed is also pretty unlimited.”

A surprising connection

Five U-D and UDM alumni connecting at a Tampa church was a happenstance.

Tim and Betty Eves met Rossman shortly after they started attending Sacred Heart about 20 years ago.

“Within the first five minutes, we realized we were both U-D engineering grads,” Eves said.

Anderi and Booth, both UDM Architecture graduates, came into the fold much later, when they began attending Sacred Heart after relocating for Booth’s job. The pair knew no one when they arrived in Tampa and discovered a “nice surprise” in their University connection by volunteering with Bikes from the Heart.

For a young couple trying to find community in a new area, the ministry made the transition to Tampa easier.

“They’ve really taken us on like family,” Anderi said. “We get together frequently for the bikes, but then also outside of church and volunteering. It’s really been a great friendship and connection to have made.

“Allison and I got married last September, and as a nice surprise, Tim, Betty and Jim held a little wedding celebration for us with other volunteers. It’s been such a great blessing.”

“It’s been a great way to feel more rooted in a city,” Booth added.

Eves feels that he and the other alumni are living the University’s Jesuit and Mercy mission through Bikes from the Heart.

“I do feel like what we’re doing is to the honor and glory of God,” he said. “We look at our God as a God of love, and we’re sharing that love with each other, but also the recipients of our bikes.

“It’s really wonderful to meet these people, to build relationships with them and share some of God’s love with them. And in return, they share that love with us.”

The impact of giving

The mission of Bikes from the Heart is making transportation accessible for all populations — especially in a humid subtropical climate such as Tampa’s. It also expands the area in which recipients of bikes can travel.

“When you’re living in Tampa, and especially in the summertime, when temperatures are in the 90s, it’s just not possible to walk to these different places,” said Rossman. “They talk about how having that bike has changed their life and gave them mobility.”

Some bike recipients return to volunteer with Bikes from the Heart.

One example Eves recalls is a young man who ended up in jail after a prescription drug problem.

“He was a great auto mechanic before he had had these problems,” Eves said. “He worked with us on Sundays to help fix bikes, so we invited him to the shop. I think spending time with our community of volunteers really helped him make his step back out into the world.”

The supply of bikes isn’t limited to adults who need to get around town.

“On numerous instances, we’ve loaded up a minivan filled with children’s bikes just to give to a mom to bring home to her kids,” Anderi said. “We’re not just impacting those who show up on Sunday, but even families who may need bikes.”

The alumni involved with Bikes from the Heart regularly see the impact a bicycle has on the people who receive them. But they are also impacted by the ministry.

“When I was working, I always thought that ‘giving back’ was a great saying,” Eves said. “But some days, I just feel a little bit selfish — I get such a good feeling from what we’re doing, I don’t feel like I’m giving back at all.

“You come across these grateful people and there’s absolutely nothing like it. I think what we’re doing is a good thing. But we get so much out of this.”

If you are in the Tampa, Fla., area and want more information about Bikes from the Heart, email bikesfromtheheart@gmail.com.

— By Ricky Lindsay. Follow Detroit Mercy on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and Instagram. Have a story idea? Let us know by submitting your idea.

The PGA Tour returns June 26-29 to Detroit and UDM students can take advantage of a discounted tickets rate to gain entry into the Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club, just a couple miles away from the McNichols Campus.

Current students will receive special pricing with 31.3% off Thursday, Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday grounds tickets purchased using their valid udmercy.edu email address at checkout. The percentage is in honor of Detroit’s 313 area code. No refunds or exchanges.

The tournament features major champion golfers Collin Morikawa and Keegan Bradley, past Rocket champions Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Cam Davis and other top players such as Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa, Tom Kim and Min Woo Lee, among others. 2025 U.S. Open champ J.J. Spaun is also in the field at the Rocket Classic.

Link to ticket deal!

Kamilla Kesto, ’23, ’25, wrote a powerful theological reflection on her recent spring break trip with University Ministry in Joppa Mountain, Tenn.

“One of Glenmary’s sayings is, ‘Peace came and stayed,’ and as I prayed with this, I realized that peace comes when you meet people in their miseries, and it stays when you become a Simon of Cyrene—helping them carry their crosses and carving calvary beside them,” she wrote. “We walked into this trip accompanying people in their sorrowful mysteries, and by the time sweat prayed and tears toiled, we walked out in the luminous ones. Service immersion trips are not merely acts of charity beyond the pew but acts in which sheep graze together in the universal sheepfold: the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.”

Read Kesto’s full account.

The full 2025 spring edition of Detroit Mercy’s Spiritus magazine is now available for viewing online!

The University’s magazine highlights Detroit Mercy’s past, present and future with a collection of feature articles, news, and alumni updates. The 2025 spring Spiritus magazine arrived in mailboxes in June.

In the new edition is University updates, a feature of Detroit Mercy Law’s Urban Law Clinic, alumni impact stories, photos from graduation and the academic school year and upcoming dates and alumni events, and much more.

View the new Spiritus!

Grab some tacos and help support Detroit Mercy’s Titan Equity Nourish Network on Monday, June 23.

Visit Detroit Taco Company at either the Troy or Shelby Township locations from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 23 and 20% of the proceeds will go towards TENN. Mention you are there to support TENN or show them this post to take part!

The fundraiser is part of Detroit Taco Company‘s Meaningful Mondays.

Thank you to all who attended this year’s annual Spotlight on Excellence Celebration on May 13 to recognize the outstanding achievements of Detroit Mercy’s staff, faculty and administrators.

A link to photos from the event is below, as well as a link to the PowerPoint presentation showing all the honorees.

Congratulations to all!

Full photo gallery.

Titans, we need YOU! The Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) deliveries take place all summer long, and volunteers are needed to help deliver fresh produce to our neighbors.

Please consider lending a hand with your muscles and cheerful personalities while bringing some smiles to the Detroit Mercy neighboring communities.

Tap on the links below to sign up for bi-weekly Friday and Wednesday deliveries. Your participation is greatly appreciated.

For questions please email Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu.

Sign up for Friday Deliveries!

Sign up for Wednesday deliveries!

University of Detroit Mercy’s College of Engineering & Science has been named the University Partner of the Year for 2025 by the Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD).

The school was nominated for its support of the ESD, in particular for its plans to host its Girls in Engineering Academy (GEA) and Boys in Engineering Academy (BEA), programs designed to empower rising sixth graders to pursue STEM fields. Detroit Mercy Engineering students and faculty members will assist with instruction, designing hands-on projects for the students in the Academy.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the Engineering Society of Detroit,” said Katherine Snyder, dean of the College of Engineering & Science. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to empower the next generation of engineers, and we’re proud to support programs like GEA and BEA that help develop the engineering talent in our community.”

As in the past, the College will partner with Detroit-based construction company Walbridge on the two academies.

The award will be presented during the ESD Annual Dinner on June 24.

A heartfelt tribute was given to Judy Mouch, RSM, at the House of Mercy during the College of Health Professions McAuley School of Nursing’s fourth excursion to Dublin and Cork to walk in the footsteps of Catherine McAuley and visit locations foundational to the Sisters of Mercy.

A holly tree was planted in the space leading up to Sister Catherine McAuley’s grave.

Full video/story from WXYZ/Channel 7.

Join the University for Detroit City Council member Roy McCalister’s mental health seminar to learn tips and tricks for improving your mental well-being. The seminar takes place Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus.

A panel discussion will follow presentations from therapists, advisors, law enforcement officials and the hosts of the What Up Doe podcast.

If you want to learn strategies and practical tips to boost your mental well-being, you won’t want to miss this FREE event. Lunch will also be provided.

Register Here!

Three videos produced and directed by Associate Professor of Communications Jason Roche were named winners in the 46th annual Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television across all screens and are judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies.

View Roche’s work here:

• CHASS Celebrates the Season: Silver Telly Award in the General-Educational Institution category.
• CLAE Retrospective: Bronze Telly Award in the General-Internal Communications category.
• Tom Page’s Gift: Silver Telly Award in the category of General-Educational Institution.

Detroit Mercy has connections to the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, the first pope from the United States.

Pope Leo’s uncle, John Centi Prevost, was a longtime modern and foreign languages professor at the University of Detroit. He specialized in French. He began teaching at University of Detroit in 1953 and also had teaching stints at Wayne State University. He finished his teaching career at U-D (1975-85).

John Prevost is the brother of Pope Leo’s father, Louis Prevost. They both grew up in Hyde Park, in Chicago, Illinois.

Both Pope Leo and his uncle have ties to Michigan. His holiness attended high school at St. Augustine Seminary in Saugatuck, Michigan on the west side of the state.

The Institute of Reading Development‘s Summer Reading Program is back for summer 2025.

Since 1996, Detroit Mercy has partnered with the Institute of Reading Development, a nationwide leader in reading instruction, to help students in every grade—from pre-K through high school—build the reading skills they need to succeed.

Did you know students can lose two to three months of reading progress over summer break? These summer reading programs turn potential setbacks into real gains and send students back to school confident and ready to excel!

Unlock your child’s potential with fun programs that have already helped more than 3 million students gain confidence and skills.

Enrollment is now open! Limited spots are available. UDM employees receive a $99 DISCOUNT for enrolling their children.

Secure your child’s spot here!

Detroit Mercy’s Marketing & Communications Department recently rolled out a new communications fellowship.

The charter fellows, Alizé Tripp and Jenny Raptoplous, were selected in late April and will focus their work on capturing and sharing stories of community engagement in Detroit and abroad. Tripp majored in Communication Studies and graduated this year. Raptoplous graduated in 2024 and is currently a freelance journalist.

“Community engagement animates this exciting new communications fellowship which focuses on making visible the less visible stories that truly reflect UDM’s mission,” said Jocelyn Boryczka, dean, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS).

“Jenny and Alizé graduated from the Communication Studies Department in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. As fellows, they will carry their outstanding academic learning out into the world to make an impactful difference.”

Raptoplous traveled to India with a UDM group in May during a service immersion trip and engages in community service work.

Gary J. Erwin, associate vice president of MarCom, expressed enthusiasm about this new pilot.

“The fellowship affords Jenny and Alizé an opportunity to work closely with Brian Rolling, founder of Let’s Roll, learning the finer points of human-interest storytelling,” he said. “It’s important to engage our students in telling this aspect of the UDM story and critical to the future of the evolving University brand.”

Erwin said that as part of their work, Tripp and Raptoplous will develop a story budget, conduct and shoot interviews throughout Detroit and elsewhere, and edit long and short pieces for social media, including TikTok and YouTube.

“The media fellowship is an exciting opportunity,” Raptoplous said. “I get to highlight what makes UDM special – the sincere care for one another; from students, to professors, faculty, staff and individuals within the broader Detroit Mercy community.”

Tripp, who played guard for UDM’s women’s basketball team, applied for the fellowship program because she wanted to gain more experience in the field of film and storytelling.

“I get to work closely with team members on assignments, while also having a little bit of creative freedom—which I think is super important in the marketing realm,” she said. “More importantly, I hope to increase my interpersonal skills with others and create great relationships.”

For more info about the comms fellowship, contact MarCom at marcom@udmercy.edu.

University of Detroit Mercy’s new School of Optometry welcomes its first class in August, while at the same time accepting applications for its accelerated program that allows a first-year student to graduate with a Doctor of Optometry in seven years.

“Our program stands out because students will earn their bachelor’s degree after three years of undergraduate work in Biology or Chemistry at the University’s McNichols Campus and then transition to the Novi Campus for four years of focused study in the School of Optometry,” said Sulman Hans, executive associate dean for Detroit Mercy Optometry.

According to Hans, this seven-year route saves students valuable time, thousands in tuition and guarantees qualified students a seat in the School of Optometry in their fourth year at Detroit Mercy. It joins other popular accelerated UDM programs like the seven-year program in the School of Dentistry, the five-year Physician Assistant program and the five-year MBA.

With its first student cohort entering the program this fall, Detroit Mercy is stepping up to meet this pressing demand for optometrists, one driven by an aging population requiring more vision care, rising awareness of eye health and a growing number of retiring professionals.

Over the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% growth in optometry jobs, or about 2,200 job openings each year, which is better than average for all other occupations. The new Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from UDM opens the door for students to a prosperous career in vision care with a median annual income of $132,000 for optometrists in 2023.

“What sets UDM’s program apart is the way we combine clinical excellence with a mission-driven approach rooted in the values of compassion, service and academic rigor,” said Pablo De Gracia, the director of Research and an associate professor in the School of Optometry.

De Gracia noted that a distinct advantage of UDM’s program is the requirement of an introductory Optometry course consisting of 10 hours of clinical shadowing during the undergraduate part of the program. This is designed to help students understand the profession while fulfilling their clinical requirements.

This early clinical exposure will take place at the Detroit Mercy Eye Institute, housed on the Novi Campus. Optometry students will then participate in direct patient care during the last four years of the program, gaining valuable hands-on experience at this state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the diverse needs of metro Detroit.

De Gracia also said a small cohort of 44 students allows instructors to provide highly personalized attention and mentoring in a curriculum that combines foundational sciences with early and continuous clinical exposure. This means students will benefit from advanced digital learning tools and practical experience with conventional equipment.

“Detroit Mercy isn’t just preparing students to enter the profession; it’s preparing them to lead it, through innovation and groundbreaking research, as early as their freshman year,” De Gracia said. “Students are involved in research in virtual reality, visual performance, contact lens design and the growing field of myopia control.”

“Through collaboration with industry partners, students are exposed to cutting-edge technologies and real-world innovation that will help them make a difference in the future of eye care,” he explained.

Above all, a Detroit Mercy Optometry education transcends academics. Students learn the value of service in a program where dedication to community wellness is embedded into the curriculum and where service is more than just volunteering. Meeting real needs and building relationships through ethical and inclusive community connections, like providing affordable care to the uninsured and those with limited access to eye care, is central to UDM’s Jesuit and Mercy mission.

“Our community is one where students are seen, supported and challenged to become the best version of themselves—professionally and personally,” said De Gracia. “We are not only training future clinicians, we are forming leaders who will advocate for patient care, equity and advancements in vision science.”

To learn more about the new 7-year Doctor of Optometry program, please visit https://eng-sci.udmercy.edu/academics/science/pre-health/seven-year-optometry.php. For more about the School of Optometry, visit https://optometry.udmercy.edu/index.php.

McAuley School of Nursing Associate Professor Renee Courtney was selected to attend the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) training program for prospective on-site evaluators on June 26-27, 2025 in Alexandria, Va. Courtney was among 500 applicants for the program.

The purpose of this training program is to prepare on-site evaluators for service as volunteer peer reviewers in CCNE’s baccalaureate and graduate Nursing program accreditation process.

Writing Center Director and Adjunct Instructor Erin Bell presented an essay, titled “‘I don’t want to grow up—if it’s like that’: Re-Reading Carson McCullers’ story ‘Like That’ in the #MeToo Era,” at the American Literature Association conference in Boston, Mass.

Bell, who is the vice president of the Carson McCullers Society, also chaired the “McCullers in Conversation and Context: A Roundtable Discussion” session at the same conference.

University Ministry is excited to launch a blog highlighting stories from student experiences of service immersion with UDM.

Titled “Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly,” after the biblical passage Micah 6:8, this blog serves as a record of students’ experiences, a way of sharing their thoughts with the larger UDM community and a place for students to learn from one another as people seeking justice.

Service immersions are key experiences of a transformative Mercy and Jesuit education, rooted in service and social justice. These experiences include serving in shelters, soup kitchens, after school projects, urban farms and many other important community-based projects. They integrate cultural learning, relationship building, presentations from local community leaders, prayer and reflection. They offer a life-long path for our students to become “men and women with and for others,” and we believe that these experiences form student leaders who have critical minds and compassionate hearts.

The first blog post comes from senior Tevon Conrad, reflecting on his spring break trip to Montgomery, Ala.—a historic hub for both slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.

Read Conrad’s thoughts (and more student reflections coming soon) here!

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Photos from University of Detroit Mercy’s Commencement ceremonies are still rolling in. Many of the 1,100 graduates that participated in the ceremonies were captured by our photographers in attendance. Click on the link below to check out a gallery of photos.

For full information on 2025 Commencement, visit udmercy.edu/commencement.

Photo galleries!

Do you need a tutor or a place to study this summer? Come visit the Student Success Center (SSC), located on the third floor of the McNichols Campus Library!

The SSC is open for students and faculty during the summer terms, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tutoring appointments can be made on TutorTrac by logging into your MyPortal account.

If you cannot find a tutor for your summer course, email or call the SSC at ssc@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1143.

Other services, including the Testing Center, College Life Coaching and Academic Advising, are also available.

For a full list of services, please visit the SSC website.

Each year, University of Detroit Mercy’s Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating classes. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University.

When Oriekaose Agholor ’25 was searching for his college destination in the United States, he wanted an Engineering education that encompassed everything.

Mechatronics — a multidisciplinary field that combines mechanics, electronics and computing — was at the top of his list; robotics was another targeted pathway. He also wanted an Engineering program that valued co-op internships.

University of Detroit Mercy had it all.

“I’m interested in the whole thing with Engineering,” said Agholor, a native of Delta State, Nigeria. “How can I have the necessary skills to make a product or technology to solve problems or help people? The Mechatronics program expands my knowledge and allows me to tap into these different Engineering fields.”

In fact, Detroit Mercy was one of just two schools in the country that allows students to combine Mechatronics and Robotics into a degree when Agholor was looking at colleges.

“Some schools have one or the other,” Agholor said. “Our school puts both of them together.”

Agholor had two internship co-ops while at the University, working locally as a controls engineering intern with Yanfeng in Highland Park, and with the electric vehicle company, Rivian, in summer 2024 in California.

“My experience here at Detroit Mercy was crucial in my success in both of those roles,” he said. “I feel absolutely prepared for the workforce. I’m really grateful for that.”

Agholor stepped off the plane from Nigeria before the start of the UDM’s winter 2022 semester, having never stepped foot in the United States.

For Agholor, it was completely new surroundings — country, city, school and the community of people at the University. And he began school a semester after most of his Class of 2025 classmates started.

First-year residence Shiple Hall quickly made him feel at home.

“It was amazing,” Agholor said. “It really helped smooth my journey from Nigeria to the United States. Most of the freshmen had started in the fall, so people already knew each other. People would just come up to you and start a conversation. Everyone was really nice and sweet, and after you see people over and over, you just kind of connect.

“The social community on campus definitely was one of the best things here.”

Agholor dove headfirst into the social aspect of the University, becoming involved in clubs and societies, and growing into a campus leader. He became an orientation leader for incoming Titans and also worked at the Student Success Center on the McNichols Campus.

He even started two clubs at UDM: the music club and badminton club. The music club was a fixture on campus and combined students across all majors; they even played at UDM President Donald Taylor’s inauguration dinner. 

The International Night that showcases the diverse population at Detroit Mercy was a favorite event of Agholor’s during his tenure as a student.

“I really liked that Detroit Mercy gave you the opportunity to kick-start your own endeavors,” he said.

In his Engineering studies, Agholor also gave his all, from projects with other students to immersing himself in his degree programs.

Among his opportunities, Agholor, along with other students, shared his designs with national leaders, such as U.S. Sen. Gary Peters ‘84 and former National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr., when the pair visited the McNichols Campus and UDM’s Vehicle Cyber Engineering program in April 2024.

All of the projects, classes, internships and opportunities has given him a complete  education and was everything Agholor envisioned and more.

“It’s been awesome,” he said. “I’ve taken different mechanical classes, different electrical classes and I’ve taken a Mechatronics modeling and simulation class, which is really cool because you need the knowledge of mechanical and electrical classes to really understand what’s going on in this class and we’re learning really cool techniques on how to bridge those worlds together.”

Having attended a Jesuit secondary school in Nigeria, Agholor was versed in the traditions of St. Ignatius. Those Jesuit and Mercy values impacted him further as he grew at the University.

“That was prevalent when I was a campus leader, that we are here to serve, we aren’t doing this for ourselves or the money,” he said. “We are here to model the life of our founders.”

His faith drives him every day.

“My drive to work hard and the belief in myself, my capabilities and other people, it all comes from Jesus,” Agholor said. “It is the Holy Spirit that gives me constant guidance and the values guide me, lead my path. It keeps me on the right track.”

Agholor earned a Robotics and Mechatronic Systems Engineering Honors degree in just three-and-a-half years from the University and now hopes to be able to create technologies that will help others.

His first gig post-graduation takes him to a start-up space for SynaFox AI, located inside of the remodeled and updated Michigan Central Station in downtown Detroit. A networking event hosted by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan put him in position for the post-graduate internship.

“I hope that in the near future I’m within the start-up space, because I want to develop relevant but powerful technology that can help positively transform the lives of other people in my immediate community in the United States and hopefully even the world,” he said.

“A lot of technology is being created today solely for profit, without having a true impact on the lives of people. I’d like to be in the start-up space to work with like-minded people, hopefully people who have the same drive as me to come up with user-centric products.”

Agholor can’t say enough about his UDM experience.

“My favorite part was getting to work on cool, interdisciplinary projects and working with the students,” he said. “I’ve gotten to work with so many different teams, so many faculty, organizations and clubs, so many different students.

“Being able to interact with people no matter their race, their color, their religion, has been really beautiful. Being able to learn from each and every one of these groups of people and communities has been really awesome.”

— By Adam Bouton. Follow Detroit Mercy on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Have a story idea? Let us know by submitting your idea.

President Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor Antoine M. Garibaldi was a presenter at the Association of Governing Boards’ National Conference on Trustees this spring in Chicago. The title of his session was “Steadfast Leadership in Contentious Times: Grounded in Good Governance.”

Are you a Detroit Mercy student looking for a rewarding and enriching way to spend part of your summer? The Charlton Center for Responsible Investing is seeking motivated student volunteers to assist with its upcoming Beginners’ Investment Summer Camp 101, a dynamic educational experience for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from the metro Detroit area.

Camp Details:

• Dates: June 23-27
• Time: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily
• Location: Commerce & Finance Building

This week-long camp is designed to introduce local high school students to the fundamentals of investing, and your support can make a meaningful difference in their learning experience. As a student volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to take on a variety of assigned roles and also have access to guest investment professionals.

Why Volunteer?

• Flexible time slots to fit your schedule
• Hourly stipend provided
• Complimentary breakfast snacks and lunch
• A chance to build leadership experience and boost your résumé

Spots are limited, so interested students are encouraged to sign up soon.

To get involved or learn more, please contact Director of the Charlton Center Dawna Edwards-Rodgers at edwarddj1@udmercy.edu or 313-993-3259.

Take part in shaping the next generation of investors while gaining valuable experience this summer!

Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) received national recognition from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) for its production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)[revised][again].”

The awards are as follows:

• DMTC: Distinguished Achievement in Audience Interaction
• Josiah Martelle and Li Udell: Distinguished Achievement in Backstage Run Crew
• Alan Batkiewicz: Distinguished Achievement in Properties Design
• Mason Modzelewski, Gavin Rapuzzi and Jordan Collyer: Distinguished Achievement in Performance Ensemble

The KCACTF is a national theater program that engages 18,000 students each year, recognizing and celebrating outstanding and diverse work from college and university theater productions across the country. It provides opportunities for students to connect and develop their dramatic skills and seeks to improve the quality of college and university theater in the United States.

Please join Women Confronting Racism on Friday, May 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a thought-provoking one-day conference entitled “Racism in Education – The Cost of Our Silence.” The event will take place inside the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. 

Keynote speakers, professor Michelle Adams of the University of Michigan Law School and Glenn McIntosh, senior vice president of Student Affairs at Oakland University, will set the stage with compelling presentations addressing this timely topic.

Additionally, throughout the day, registrants will have the opportunity to engage in enlightening breakout sessions led by subject matter experts.

More details and speaker bios can be found on the Women Confronting Racism website.

Morning coffee and tea will be provided. Preordered lunch is available for purchase during registration until May 16.

For questions about registration or if you are in need of financial assistance to attend the conference, please email events@womenconfrontingracism.org.

Space is limited, so register here today!