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

Air date: 4/19/26

[00:28:30]

With Professors Matt Mio, Heather Hill, Stephen Manning, Beth Oljar, Dave Chow, Mara Livezey, Jim Tubbs and Danielle Maxwell.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 4/12/26

[00:28:38]

Host Matt Mio is joined by Professors Danielle Maxwell, Jim Tubbs, Erin Bell, Brian Curtis and Dave Chow.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 4/5/26

[00:28:43]

Host Matt Mio is joined by Professors Danielle Maxwell, Brian Curtis, Erin Bell, Jim Tubbs and Dave Chow.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 3/29/26

[00: 28:32]

With Professors Matt Mio, Heather Hill, Stephen Manning, Beth Oljar, Danielle Maxwell, Mara Livezey, Molly Barlow and special guest: Professor Madison Fitzgerald-Russell, Physics Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at University of Detroit Mercy.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date:  3/22/26

[00:28:44]

With Professors Matt Mio, Beth Oljar, Dan Maggio, Erin Bell, Danielle Maxwell, Dave Chow and Rob Dalka.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Hear from two inspiring alumni who have used their education, resilience and vision to lead their industries and drive success at UDM’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) Leadership Slam.

The Leadership Slam is set for Tuesday, April 21. The first session is scheduled for 2-3:45 p.m., and the second slam 5:15-7 p.m., both taking place in Room 208 of the Commerce & Finance Building. Both alumni will be speaking in Slam 1 and Slam 2.

The slams offer a unique opportunity for students to gain valuable insights. This event counts as [+1 Leadership Development].

Angelo Vitale ’80, retired general counsel of Rocket Companies, and Michael Birney ’15, CMO of 1 Natural Way, will offer their experiences on their leadership journeys.

Vitale provided strategic business and legal guidance throughout his career, serving as the first CEO of Rocket Central and EVP/general counsel of Rocket Mortgage, where he specialized in leasing, litigation and regulatory compliance.

Birney drives business growth with advanced marketing tech, leveraging his experience as a former Google growth strategy manager and MLL champion to apply teamwork and strategy for success.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Zimmerman-Oster at zimmerka@udmercy.edu.

As finals approach, take some time to relax, recharge and have fun with a variety of stress-relief activities at the annual end-of-the-year De-Stress Fest.

De-Stress Fest takes place on Thursday, April 23, from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Whitty Student Fitness Center.

Whether you’re trying to chill, compete or just grab some food, this is the spot to be.

What’s going down:

• Photo booth, mocktails and esports lounge
• Arts and crafts (coloring and flower potting)
• Massages and sound beds
• Therapy dogs
• Active games (bubble soccer, yard games, water pong)
• FREE Food (taco bar, nitrogen ice cream, DNA candy)

No registration is needed. Just show up.

Bring your friends. Stay as long as you want. De-stress before finals hit.

Need to relax before finals? Engage in some retail therapy during De-Stress Fest by stopping by Titan Equity Nourish Network’s (TENN) Thrift Pop-Up Shop on the second floor of the Student Fitness Center.

Enjoy sustainable shopping while supporting TENN’s work. Join us starting at 4 p.m. on April 23 and shop till you drop! All proceeds go to a good cause.

Rescheduled to Thursday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m.

University Ministry will host a special time of prayer and reflection at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, inside of the Holy Spirit Chapel, located in the Student Union, Lower Level.

Together, we will pray the Rosary, a traditional Catholic devotion, in support of Pope Leo XIV’s monthly intention for April: that priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation may find the accompaniment they need and that communities will support them with understanding and prayer.

While the rosary is a traditional Catholic prayer, all are welcome to participate. Rosary beads and easy-to-follow how-to guides will be provided.

For any questions, please contact glafond@udmercy.edu.

UDM will celebrate Senior Week with a lineup of events designed to honor and send off graduating students in style.

All graduating students are invited to take part in these Senior Week opportunities:

• Monday, May 4, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Job Search Bootcamp — Kick off Senior Week by preparing for life after graduation at the Center for Career and Professional Development’s Job Search Bootcamp in Room 206 of the Student Union. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
• Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m.: Tigers vs. Red Sox at Comerica Park — Join classmates for a night at the ballpark as the Detroit Tigers take on the Boston Red Sox. Tickets are just $10, and transportation will be available via the Student Life van. Purchase game tickets here.
• Wednesday, May 6, 2-4 p.m.: Graduation cap decoration workshop — Local hatmaker Andrew Wilson will be in the Lower Level of the Student Union to help seniors personalize their caps for graduation day.

Seniors, don’t miss out on these special events to wrap-up your journey at Detroit Mercy.

The Rocket Classic PGA Tour event at Detroit Golf Club is seeking volunteers for this year’s tournament. The event takes place July 29 through Aug. 2.

Volunteering at the Rocket Classic is a great way for students to gain hands-on experience in a professional sports and event environment. It’s an excellent addition to a resume and offers exposure to areas such as event operations, hospitality, guest services and more.

A variety of roles are currently available, and tournament organizers would love to welcome UDM students interested in being part of this unique experience. Please note that most volunteer roles require participants to be 18 years or older.

For questions, please feel free to reach out to volunteer@rocketclassic.com.

Register here.

Support Titan Equity Nourish Network‘s (TENN) food pantry and deliveries by donating clean plastic grocery bags.

TENN uses grocery bags for pantry and weekly produce deliveries. Your donation will help save funds and plastic by re-purposing gently used bags.

Drop off to the Commerce & Finance Building, Room 05, or email mannincp@udmercy.edu.

The Detroit Mercy Commencement Planning Committee is seeking dependable student and employee volunteers to help make 2026 Commencement Day a special event for graduates and their families.

Two McNichols Campus Commencement ceremonies, as well as Baccalaureate Mass, will take place on Saturday, May 9 on the McNichols Campus.

Please see sign-up below for volunteer opportunities and available time slots. Whether you have availability for one shift or for multiple shifts, your help is greatly appreciated! Breakfast and lunch are provided to all volunteers.

Volunteer Meeting
All volunteers are required to attend a mandatory meeting on Tuesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. via Teams. For more information, please contact Alysa Jackson (ouelleal@udmercy.edu).

Dress Code
Employee volunteers are asked to dress in business casual and/or Detroit Mercy gear. A volunteer name badge will be provided at check-in, which is located in the Athletics Office in Calihan Hall.

Thank you for supporting graduating Titans on this special and exciting day!

Sign up here!

Dental Clinic IT Director Charles Laird ’97, Director of Axium Integration and Clinical Associate Professor Cindy Bauer, Director of Clinical Business Operations Gwendolyn Graham ’04, ’06 and ’10 and the School of Dentistry were awarded the Axium Summit 2026 Trailblazer award for their innovation, leadership and positive community impact in the Axium community. The award was announced and presented at the recent conference in Austin, Texas.

The 43rd annual Pax Christi Michigan State Conference will be held at Detroit Mercy, Saturday, April 18, in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus. The theme of this year’s event is “Be Not Afraid: Living in Hope and Resistance,” and features keynote speaker Charlene Howard, national director for Pax Christi USA.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and the event will run until approximately 4 p.m. 

Through humor, storytelling, music and innate wisdom, Howard will advise conference participants in the courage and resiliency needed to confront racism, violence and greed with Gospel-based nonviolence and effective activism.

A discussion will follow Howard’s call to action in which a panel of experts will offer insights and specific ways to effectively resist today’s culture of violence.

Panel experts include:

• Elly Jordan: Advocacy for immigrants
• Andrea Pierce: Advocacy for the environment and Indigenous cultures
• Saeed Khan: Advocacy for Gaza, the West Bank and Middle Eastern cultures.

Howard received her master’s in Religious Education and Catechesis from the Catholic University of America and has been a teacher, school principal and a religious department chair. In July 2024, she became the executive director of Pax Christi USA.

Pax Christi Michigan promotes peace locally, nationally and globally through prayer, study and action. Rooted in spirituality, the organization is dedicated to examining issues of justice from the perspectives of all involved and promotes peace with justice through nonviolent conflict resolution.

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Cost for attendance:

• Early registration: $65 (includes breakfast and lunch). Registration after April 10 is $70.
• Student rate: $25
• Conference scholarships are available.

More information and register online here.

All are invited to a conversation with Catholic thought leaders to reflect together on the “Church’s Mission in this time and place.” The discussion will take place on Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom, on the McNichols Campus.

Panelists are as follows:

• Archbishop Edward Wiesenberger, metropolitan archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Detroit
• Helen Marie Burns, RSM, former president of Leadership Conference of Women Religious
• Bishop John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv. of Lexington, Ky., president of Pax Christi, USA
• Matt Mio, professor of Chemistry, University of Detroit Mercy, expert on Laudato Si

The session will be moderated by Bridget Deegan-Krause, author of Together Through Reflection: Themes for Those Who Lead and Serve in Catholic Organizations.

Register here.

On April 11, UDM students enrolled in Introduction to Museum Studies served as volunteer educators at the Cranbrook Institute of Science during the museum’s Birds of Prey special program. Students connected with visitors by leading hands-on activities throughout the museum, helping them learn about birds and the environments they inhabit.

Are you interested in applying to graduate school? Make your applications stand out by attending the Graduate Admission workshop at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.

During the workshop, students will learn about best practices for requesting letters or recommendation and interview etiquette.

The session is offered in-person in the Office of Admissions, located on the first floor of the Student Union, in Room 181, as well as virtually.

The Graduate Admission workshop is hosted by the Center for Career & Professional Development and the Office of Admissions.

Click here to join virtually.

To wrap up this year’s Triptych virtual reading series, join the Department of English for Triptych +1, a special in-person encore showcasing original work by Detroit Mercy Creative Writing students.

This free event is set for Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m., at Book Suey in Hamtramck. All are welcome.

Eleven Detroit Mercy Creative Writing students will be joined by special guest, alumna Sarah Pazur, to read their original work.

Detroit Mercy’s Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) is growing, and they’re excited to invite community-minded individuals to join the team this summer.

If you’re an individual who is passionate about food justice, sustainability and making a local impact, TENN would love to work with you!

They’re currently hiring for the following part-time positions:

• Garden Assistant (5+ hours/week) — Support all aspects of garden care under the guidance of the Garden Manager, including watering, weeding, harvesting and documenting harvest tools.
• Delivery Coordinator (5+ hours/week) — Coordinate and lead Friday and biweekly Wednesday food deliveries. Responsibilities including picking up food from Gleaners using the TENN van, documenting food distribution and leading volunteers to deliver food throughout the community.
• Social Media & Marketing Coordinator (5+ hours/week) — Manage TENN’s online presence by creating and scheduling mission-aligned content for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, engaging TENN’s community and supporting flyer creation and event promotion.

TENN’s summer roles offer flexible hours, meaningful work and the chance to directly support the UDM community.

Interested? Apply to the links above or contact Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu.

Join Jesuit friends and alumni on Wednesday, May 13 for a wine and cheese reception at historic Gesu Catholic Church.

Program Details:

• 5:30 p.m.: Mass
• 6 p.m.: Welcome and Reception
• 6:25 p.m.: Program begins

The evening will explore the history, families, art and architecture of the parish, founded by Jesuits in 1922 and once home to four Detroit mayors, several congressmen and the renowned Fisher Brothers.

The event will feature rare architectural drawings and antique stained-glass window designs, some dating to the late 1800s, from two Detroit families who worked closely with the Jesuits and the Archdiocese of Detroit. These families, behind the firms Diehl & Diehl Architects and Detroit Stained Glass Works, helped shape the city’s sacred spaces.

Special guests include Paul G. Diehl, grandson of original architect George F. Diehl and a descendant of the founders of Detroit Stained Glass Works; Patricia Montemurri, an award-winning journalist; and Mary Clare McCormick, a Detroit sacred art archivist.

The evening will include Mass, a wine and cheese reception, and a tour of the historic worship site.

Register online by May 1.

The Campus Activity Board presents Titans Got Talent, where UDM students will take the stage to showcase their creativity and talent. The show is set for Friday, April 10, with doors opening at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom.

All are invited to come out and watch UDM student performers compete for a $500 grand prize!

Comedian Jake Russell will emcee the event, promising a night of great entertainment.

This year’s talent lineup features:

• Madisyn Wilcox
• Richard Wilks II
• Jahleel Hunley
• Gracelyn Peebles
• Evan Smith
• Fiona Louise Madarang
• Ashlee Jones
• Rylee Bourne
• Ally Don Jean-Francois

Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) will close the inaugural season of the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre with I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samantha Hurley.

Six performances will run in back-to-back weekends, Friday through Sunday, April 10-19, in the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus.

I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire is set in 2004 and follows 14-year-old Shelby Hinkley, who is obsessed with Hollywood star Tobey Maguire and creates a play to kidnap and marry him in her basement.

“This play is as hilarious as it is heartfelt,” said DMTC managing director Sarah Rusk. “Shelby truly believes Tobey Maguire is her destiny, and through her obsession we get a look into the complicated emotions of growing up during the Y2K era.”

“I absolutely love working with young actors,” said director Cassandra Svacha. “Watching them create and rise to the challenge is thrilling. I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire to college-aged kids is like a period piece; none of them were alive when this story takes place, so it’s extra fun to have them dive into this world in an anthropologic way. They aren’t reminiscing or remembering 2004, they have to study that world and build it for themselves.”

The DMTC Ticket Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with tickets being available for purchase anytime online. Individual tickets are $25 for adults; $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni; and $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.

Those looking to buy tickets should note that the play is rated R and contains adult language and situations, including drug use, suicidal ideation and sexual situations. See full list of subject matter.

 SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS

• April 10: Opening Night Celebration.  Join the cast and crew following the performance for a reception in the Lower Level of the Student Union.
• April 11: Community Night. All tickets $10.
• April 12: Detroit Theatre Discussion Project.  Join in the discussion following the first Sunday’s matinee performance as we welcome Professor Erin Henze from the Psychology Department at Detroit Mercy to expand upon themes and ideas from the performance in a talkback.
• April 17: College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) at the Theatre. Join CHASS in celebrating the arts on campus with $5 tickets for CHASS students and alumni with coupon code CHASS_5. Free tickets to faculty/staff of CHASS by calling 313-993-3270 or email theatre@udmercy.edu.
• April 19: Closing Night

Get tickets here.

Join Detroit Mercy’s Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) as they team up with their partners, JB Urban Farms, to get their community garden ready for the upcoming planting season.

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, April 13, volunteers will help with hands-on garden preparation tasks that support local food access, sustainability, and neighborhood wellness.

No gardening experience is required — just bring your energy, willingness to learn, and love for community.

The farm is located at 97 Geneva Avenue in Highland Park. With any questions, please contact Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu.

Sign up here!

As UDM continues to advance institutional branding efforts, please discontinue use of the ‘Build a Boundless Future’ brand across all materials, including email signatures, collateral, flyers and digital content viewed by internal and external audiences.

In the meantime, please use ‘The World Needs Titans’ as a bridge brand until a new brand is introduced and stakeholders have an opportunity to provide input.

Brand development is ongoing. As a reminder, updates and information are available on the Detroit Mercy rebrand page.

For April Service Immersion Day, University Ministry is partnering with Alumni Relations to beautify the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) gardens.

Planting day is set for Saturday, April 11. Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. at the TENN gardens, located behind the Health Professions Facility, with a light breakfast of coffee and donuts. We will finish around noon with free lunch to follow. All are invited to come out and lend a hand.

Participants will spend a day of service on the McNichols Campus and neighborhoods, earning three service hours, while learning about the importance of our TENN gardens for food access, sustainability and community building.

This event is hosted by Laudato Si’ Student Group, University Ministry, TENN, Alumni Relations and the School of Architecture & Community Development and the Detroit Collaborative Design Center.

Please contact University Minister Sammy Eckrich at seckric@udmercy.edu with any questions or for more information.

Sign up for April Service Immersion.

Detroit Mercy’s Department of Political Science will induct 11 students into the National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, on Friday April 10, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 124 of the Health Professions Facility.

The department is delighted to reactivate its Pi Sigma Alpha Chapter after some time of dormancy.

The ceremony will be presided over by Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Jocelyn Boryczka.

The Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) Program is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025-26 Annual Undergraduate Writing Competition. The competition awards cash prizes for original student work exploring issues of gender, sexuality and/or feminist thought in categories of poetry, academic essay and short fiction/personal essay.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Poetry

• First place: Melissa Converse – Blue’s Clues Never Covered This
• Second place: Eemi Toma – I Do Not Want to Be the First
• Third place: Kylee Foster – The Phenomenal Fawn

Academic Essay

• First place: Erin DeFever – Beyond the Binary: Speculative Fiction as a Lens for Postgender Futures
• Second place: Allena Williams – Voices in the Margins: Biblical Women Reclaiming their Narrative
• Third place: Candy Saputo – Domestic Violence: A Plague Infiltrating the Souls of Our Women

Short Fiction/Personal Essay

• First place: Sarah Soria – The Consistency of Wool
• Second place: Erin DeFever – Matryoshka: A Cruel Legacy
• Third place: Melissa Converse – Survive

Congratulations to these winners and thanks to all the students who submitted their work.

Detroit Mercy’s School of Optometry will be part of the programming for the upcoming annual Association of Schools & Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) meeting for Student Affairs & Admissions in June 2026.

Associate Dean of Student Services and Enrollment Management Juliette Daniels has been invited to represent UDMSO. She will present a session titled The Invisible Barrier: Understanding & Addressing Impostor Phenomenon in Optometry Admissions & Student Affairs.

This is the School of Optometry’s first presentation at this annual conference and second year of participation as a member school.

The 19th Annual Celebration of Scholarly Achievement & Community Engagement (CSACE) is set for Thursday, April 9, from 12-4:30 p.m., in the Whitty Student Fitness Center on the McNichols Campus.

UDM friends and family are invited to join the celebration.

CSACE is a university-wide event showcasing more than 200 research posters and presentations, including artistic displays, robotics, 3D models, lightning talks and more. CSACE highlights exemplary work from across all UDM campuses and serves as an opportunity to celebrate the academic, scholarly and creative accomplishments of our University community throughout the academic year.

Highlights of the event include:

• Research posters & presentations: 12-2 p.m. — Exhibits, models, robotics,  scholarly publications
• Lightning-talk presentations: 2:15-4:30 p.m. — Award-winning research & poetry

A complimentary box lunch from Subway will be provided.

Guest registration and parking pass are required.

This event is sponsored by Delta Dental, Alliance Catholic Credit Union and RIIS

Guests register here.

The University of Detroit Mercy chapter of Psi Chi, the International Psychology Honor Society, will be inducting six new members on Thursday, April 9 at 6 p.m.

The short ceremony will be held in Reno Hall, Room 165. Pizza will follow the ceremony for those who attend. All are welcome!

The Detroit Mercy Athletic Department is holding another faculty and staff appreciation game on Thursday, April 9, as the Titan softball team takes on Green Bay. The game is slated for a 3 p.m. first pitch on Friday from Buysse Ballpark on the McNichols Campus.

The Titans have 11 wins on the season and are 3-3 in Horizon League play early in the conference season. Detroit Mercy is also winners in four of its past five contests entering Friday’s home contest against the Phoenix.

Admittance is FREE, and all faculty & staff in attendance can pick up a complimentary Titans hat from the marketing table.

Over the next few months, the ITS department will transition existing UDM phones to the Microsoft Teams Telephony platform. Teams Telephony is a widely used communications solution that provides telephone services integrated with Office 365 contacts and calendars.

With this transition, calls will be made and received through an employee’s assigned computer. As long as the computer has internet access, phone service will be available, regardless of location. This ensures continuity of communication, including in situations where the University may need to shift to remote work.

All existing University phone numbers will remain unchanged. Employees who currently use only an extension will be assigned a full direct inward dialing (DID) number.

Departments will be migrated in phases, with all users within a department transitioning together. ITS will coordinate with departmental leadership to conduct a pre-assessment prior to each migration.

Common area and shared phones will be transitioned at a later phase. Existing phone trees and call center services will also be migrated to the new system.

If you would like to learn more about how Teams Telephony works, a YouTube short video series is available that provides an overview, including how to make and receive calls in Microsoft Teams.

Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive (CLASA) and Detroit Mercy collaborate with three other Mercy Universities — Gwynedd Mercy University, Saint Joseph’s University and Georgian Court University — along with the Peace History Society, to offer an online Mercy Peace Forum event each semester.

The spring 2026 event is set for Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. All are invited to this free event.

This webinar features Steven Brady, associate professor of History at George Washington University, who will discuss his new book Less Than Victory: American Catholics and the Vietnam War, and how an earlier generation of Americans responded to the moral dilemmas posed by a troubling war.

This semester’s event is hosted by Michael Clinton, professor of History at Gwynedd Mercy University.

For more information contact Clinton at clinton.michael@gmercyu.edu or Director of CLASA Gail Presbey at presbegm@udmercy.edu.

Register for webinar here.

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Detroit Mercy are nearly one month away and UDM has announced its lineup of speakers across the four 2026 ceremonies for May 8-9 on the McNichols Campus.

Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, former president at both DePaul University and of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, is the featured speaker for the two McNichols Campus ceremonies that will be held on Saturday, May 9.

Law School graduate Brian K. Zahra ’87, who has served many years on the Michigan Supreme Court, is the commencement speaker Friday, May 8 during the graduation ceremony for Detroit Mercy Law.

Also on Friday, May 8, Detroit Mercy Dental adjunct professor Judith Jones will address the Dental graduates during the School of Dentistry ceremony.

For full information on the 2026 Commencement exercises, visit Detroit Mercy’s Commencement website.

The Pre-Law Society and Business Law Society collaborated to host the second annual Moot Court Competition, bringing students together for a day of appellate advocacy and legal analysis on the McNichols Campus of University of Detroit Mercy.

The highest-scoring team were juniors Mera Alnajjar and Zach Rubicz, whose arguments distinguished them among a competitive field of participants.

The competition focused on United States v. Alvarez (2012), a case centered on First Amendment protections and the limits of free speech. Participants engaged directly with questions about truth, expression, and constitutional rights in a simulated courtroom setting.

The event was organized and led by student leaders Eemi Toma and Yousif Salim, who coordinated the day’s proceedings and helped ensure a successful competition.

The Moot Court Competition continues to provide students with opportunities to engage directly with constitutional law and develop practical advocacy experience.

The Detroit Mercy Department of Religious Studies presents the 2026 Cushing Distinguished Lecture series, featuring Ruben L.F. Habito. The lecture is set for Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m., in the Fountain Lounge of the Student Union.

Habito‘s lecture is titled, “Contemplation in Action: Emerging from Helplessness to Being of Some Help amidst our Wounded and Troubling World.”

Living in the midst of our deeply divided, demoralizing and deteriorating world, one tends to ask: “How may I be of help in alleviating this situation?” This important talk will offer guidelines for contemplative practice that may inspire and empower one to active engagement toward healing our collective woundedness on many fronts. 

Habito is professor emeritus of World Religions and Spirituality at the Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University) and founding teacher of Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas. He is the author of Healing Breath: Zen Spirituality for Christians and Buddhists in a Wounded World, and many other titles.

This event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. Please contact Todd Hibbard for more information at 313-993-1088 or hibbarja@udmercy.edu.

The Cushing Distinguished Lecture Series is made possible by the generous endowment of Ralph and Barbara Cushing, alumni of the graduate program in Religious Studies at Detroit Mercy.

Register here.

Professor of Physics Prasad Venugopal was the guest on the Living Faith Doing Justice podcast, hosted at Ss. Peter & Paul Jesuit Church on March 31 from the Riverfront Campus.

The episode was titled Physics, Justice and Nuclear Abolition, and was a wide-ranging discussion on Venugopal’s involvement in movements for racial justice, worker’s rights and nuclear abolition, and the responsibility of all scientists to bring a deep sense of purpose and activism for social justice into their academic lives.

Listen to the full episode.

University Ministry invites students, faculty and staff to take part in the Walk to Stop the Violence on Good Friday, April 3.

Guns are the leading cause of death for youth, and gun violence has affected most, whether through crime, domestic violence or accidental shooting.

Grounded in the nonviolence of Jesus, this event is an opportunity for people of faith to advocate for gun safety laws and show up to stop the violence in our communities.

Event Schedule:

• 5:30 p.m.: Meet at St. Ignatius Chapel (Commerce & Finance Building)
• 6 p.m.: Prayer and reflection
• 6:20 p.m.: Short walk (signs provided or bring your own)
• 6:50 p.m.: Soup supper in Gesu School

All are welcome to participate in any part of the evening.

For any questions or to RSVP, please contact Anita Klueg at kluega@udmercy.edu.

The College of Business Administration‘s Charlton Center for Responsible Investing will host The Honorable Philip Jefferson, vice chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as guest speaker at its fourth annual Speaker Series.

The presentation will take place on Tuesday, April 7, at 5:30 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom.

As the second highest ranking official in the U.S. central banking system and a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), Jefferson plays an important role in the Federal Reserve’s progress toward its dual mandate of maximum employment and stable prices. He has held prominent academic leadership roles, including serving as the dean of faculty and the Paul B. Freeland professor of economics at Davidson College. Jefferson also served as chair of the Department of Economics at Swarthmore College, where he was the centennial professor of economics.

All are welcome to attend this free event, and advance registration is required.

Register here.

Professor of Law Cara Cunningham Warren has been elected to a three-year term as a member of Collegium’s Board of Directors, and begins her new term on July 1.

Start your morning with a sweet treat and a conversation!

Join the Dean of Students Monica Williams for a casual drop-in opportunity to share ideas, ask questions or just stop by to say hello Monday, April 6, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Zalke Lounge, lower level of the Student Union. All students are welcome.

Free donuts while they last are available for all.

All are welcome to a Holy Thursday Mass 4 p.m., April 2 hosted by the Sisters of Mercy and University Ministry inside of the St. Ignatius Chapel in the Commerce & Finance Building on the McNichols Campus.

The presider for this Mass is Msgr. John Zens.

The McNichols Campus Library invites Titans interested in birdwatching or just learning more about the birds passing through out shared environment to check out one of the Libraries’ new birdwatching kits. Michigan is heading into peak spring bird migration season, with millions of birds and hundreds of species expected to fly through out skies in the coming months.

Each of the two kits can be checked out for one week at a time and contain a set of binoculars, laminated pocket-sized Sibley’s Backyard Birds of the Midwest trifold, and a copy of either National Geographic’s Backyard Guide to Birds of North America or North American Bird Watching for Beginners.

A QR code inside each kit links borrowers to the Libraries’ new Birding Research Guide, which includes links to free birding and bird education apps, podcasts, local birding groups, birding hotspots, and more. The Guide, which can also be accessed through the Libraries’ Research Guides webpage, may be of interest to bird photographers, too. Don’t miss the link to submit your photos of birds on campus and potentially see those photos posted in the Guide’s rotating online photo gallery.

“The birdwatching kits are just one way the University Libraries support cura personalis and the Sisters of Mercy’s critical concern for the environment. Birding has really exploded in popularity over the last several years,” said University Libraries Dean Kate Harger. “We hope these kits provide a way for students, faculty, and staff to connect with each other, spend time in the nature we have in our own neighborhoods, and just tune into the presence of these amazing creatures.”

For more information about the birdwatching kits or other library resources, visit the McNichols Campus Library online or in person.

All students are invited to attend a half-day mission retreat on Friday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., focusing on the theme “Paths and Purpose: Discernment in Challenging Times.” This retreat will take place in the Lansing-Reilly Hall on the McNichols Campus and is designed to help students navigate important life and career decisions through reflection and guided spiritual conversation.

This FREE event for students has been organized by the Charles T. Fisher III Chair in Business Ethics & College of Business Administration. Lunch will be provided at 12:30 p.m. following the retreat.

To reserve your spot at the retreat, email Nisha Miah at miahiv@udmercy.edu. Deadline to RSVP is March 30. Please include your name, college and any food allergies.

Clear out your closet for a cause! Students, faculty, staff and the Detroit Mercy community are invited to support Titan Equity Nourish Network’s (TENN) Thrift Shop event by donating new or gently used clothing in good condition. Drop-off between March 16 and April 3 to Room 05 of the Commerce & Finance Building or by reaching out to Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu.

Donated clothing will be sold at TENN’s Thrift event during De-Stress Fest.

The student or faculty group that donates the most clothing will win a pizza party! To enter, mention your group name when dropping off donations.

Donate, declutter and make a difference!

Isaiah “Ike” McKinnon ’75, ’78, a retired Detroit Mercy professor, retired Detroit police chief and former deputy mayor of the City of Detroit has been recognized for his bravery and grace with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Awards of Character recipient.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, in partnership with USA TODAY and Payton Productions, launched the national Pro Football Hall of Fame Awards of Character program to applaud “everyday Hall of Famers” who embody the Hall’s core values of commitment, integrity, courage, respect and honesty.

Detroit Mercy welcomes guest speaker Nada Fadul on Wednesday, April 1, who will present virtually on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and give a general overview of Sudan’s history with an in-depth description of the current war, including the role of international actors.

The presentation will begin at 5 p.m. Please register below to receive a Zoom link to the presentation.

With the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, there are staggering numbers of casualties and many wounded, displaced or facing food insecurity. As hospitals and medical facilities continue to be targeted in the conflict, Fadul will discuss how mobile clinics are trained to respond to medical crisis situations in these dangerous conditions. She will also introduce SuDRO, the organization she works with, which focuses on sustainable development and provides both primary care and trauma services during the ongoing war.

Fadul is assistant dean and professor of Medicine at the Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). She is a board member of the Sudanese American Public Affairs Association (SAPAA).

This event is co-sponsored by Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive (CLASA), the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. For more information or any questions, please contact Gail Presbey at presbegm@udmercy.edu.

Register for Zoom presentation here.

Detroit Mercy’s Chemistry Club was recognized as an “outstanding” student chapter for its commitment to advancing chemical education, both on campus and in the Detroit community. Only 25% of student chapters worldwide received this recognition by the American Chemical Society.

The club was honored recently, when they traveled to Atlanta to attend the Spring National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Antoine M. Garibaldi, president emeritus and distinguished university professor, was recently honored with the 2026 Distinguished Warriors award from the Urban League of Detroit & Southeastern Michigan.

During his leadership at Detroit Mercy, the University saw increases in enrollment, retention and graduation rates, along with a stronger financial position. Its national and regional academic profile concurrently soared in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” and was among the top 20% of the country’s 5,000 colleges and universities selected for ranking in the new Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education.

Garibaldi was UDM’s 25th and third longest-serving president from June 2011 through June 2022. In addition, he was the University’s first layperson and first African American president since 1877.

Learn more about Garibaldi’s distinguished honor.

Detroit Mercy alumni Michael Vinarcik ’04 and Susan Wellman-Smith ’04 received honors from the Engineering Society of Detroit’s Affiliate Council at the 55th annual Gold Award Reception and Recognition on March 18.

Vinarcik is an adjunct professor in UDM’s Systems Engineering graduate program and received the 2026 Gold Award, the society’s second-highest honor. It is awarded to someone who has made outstanding contributions to the fields of science and engineering.

Wellman-Smith, an applications engineer at Ford, received two awards: the Past Affiliate Council Chair Award for her exceptional service as chair from 2024-25, and the Consistent Contributor Award from the Detroit section of the Society of Women Engineers.

Both earned a Master of Product Development from UDM. Vinarcik has 30 years of experience in automotive and defense engineering and is nationally recognized for his work, including publications on model-based engineering. Wellman-Smith has spent more than 30 years in the automotive industry.

The deadline is quickly approaching to submit your idea for the AI AgeWell Challenge.

The AI Challenge returns for its third year to UDM’s McNichols Campus this April, bringing together students, faculty, community organizations and professionals to tackle real-world challenges using artificial intelligence.

This is your opportunity to turn a creative concept into an AI-powered solution that helps older adults live healthier, safer and more independent lives.

Teams will explore AI solutions that help people thrive at every stage of life, in areas such as:

• Aging in place and independent living
• Mental health, social connection and loneliness
• Care coordination and caregiver support
• Chronic disease management and wellness
• Community access, equity and inclusion

Challenge participants can win cash prizes and sponsor-supported awards, including:

• Innovator Award: $1,000 plus Tejara Innovation Hub Membership — Sponsored by AACC/Tejara, this award honors the most creative and groundbreaking solution. The winning team will also receive mentorship, entrepreneurial support and a media spotlight on the AACC/Tejara platform.
• Impact Awards: Two $500 prizes — Sponsored by PACE Southeast Michigan, these awards recognize solutions with strong potential for real-world impact, equity, accessibility and measurable benefit for older adults.
• Feasibility/Market Readiness Award: $500 Prize — Awarded to the team with the clearest path to real-world deployment.

Participants will work in interdisciplinary teams, receive mentorship and finalists will be selected to present their ideas in the live pitch competition on Friday, April 10, from 5-9 p.m., in Room 114 of the Chemistry Building. The evening includes prizes, food and networking with campus and community partners. Students, faculty, mentors and sponsors are invited to participate.

PACE Southeast Michigan’s mission is to keep chronically ill aging adults in their homes by supporting their medical, social and overall wellbeing. They are a proud to sponsor of the AI AgeWell Challenge, which brings innovative solutions to help older adults live healthier, more independent lives.

Come for the innovation, stay for the fun, enjoy a guest speaker, great food, fun activities, games, prizes, gift cards, more than $1,000 in giveaways and networking with professionals throughout the event.

Submit your idea by March 30 and register now to attend.

Sign up here.

All are invited to enjoy an evening of Salvadoran pupusas, cultural expression and fellowship at the 15th annual Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) Jesuit Martyrs fundraiser dinner on Monday, March 30, at 6:45 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus.

Learn about contemporary Central America and help raise funds for an important scholarship. This scholarship — named after the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter, who were killed at UCA in November 1989 — funds university scholarships for students from underprivileged families in El Salvador.

This year, the event will feature two keynote speakers:

• Fr. Steve Privett on “Dean Brackley, S.J., Being awakened by the poor of Jayaque and Las Palmas”
• Fr. Rick Cassidy on “St. Paul, Dean, Jesus and Downward Mobility”

Both speakers will share memories of Dean Brackley, S.J., and discuss the relevance of his message for today.

A traditional Salvadoran dinner featuring pupusas will be served. Music will be provided by classically trained pianist and vocalist Hans Barbe, who will perform Spanish justice movement songs by Victor Jara and Mercedes Sosa, along with other CLASA-themed selections and classical pieces during the meal.

Fr. Privett (who will join virtually) teaches theology at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He is the previous president of Verbum Dei Christo Rey High School and served as president of University of San Francisco from 2000-14. His doctorate in Catechetics is from Catholic University of America and focused on the Hispanic Community of the Catholic Church.

Fr. Cassidy is professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Seminary. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and holds degrees from the Gregorian, University of Michigan and the Graduate Theological Union.

The event is free for Detroit Mercy students. For all others, a donation of $10 or more is requested. All funds raised will benefit the UCA Jesuit Martyrs Scholarship, which was founded by Dean Brackley, S.J.

The event is sponsored by The Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive (CLASA) and co-sponsored by the UDM Jesuit Community, the Office of Mission Integration, the Latinx Student Union and the Language and Cultural Training Program.

Advance registration and 6:30 p.m. arrival time is encouraged.

For more information or any questions, please contact Gail Presbey at presbegm@udmercy.edu.

Register for CLASA dinner here.

Broadside Lotus Press and the University of Detroit Mercy Press will host a virtual reading and conversation with Joanne Godley, author of How the Black Panthers Fell from the Sky and winner of the 2025 Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award.

The reading will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25. Please register below to obtain Zoom link.

Godley grew up in Detroit during the city’s industrial heyday and amidst the activism of the labor unions. Her memoir reflects on her teenage years, when, impatient with someday freedom songs and despairing at the horrors of the Vietnam war, she is swept up by the daring promise of those militant “cats” in black leather jackets. The poems remind readers of the hopefulness and exhilaration of Panther Party times as well as provide Godley’s mature reflections on the Party’s dismantlement.

How the Black Panthers Fell from the Sky is the fourth co-publication of Broadside Lotus Press and UDM Press. It can be purchased at the Detroit Mercy bookstore and online through Hatteras printing.

Register here.

University Ministry will hold an overnight Social Justice retreat from Friday, March 27, to Saturday, March 28, filled with speakers, reflection and rest. The theme of the retreat is Contemplatives in Action.

Participants will meet on Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus 4:30 p.m. March 27, and head out to Maxis Spirituality Center for community building, fun, food and learning about some of the social justice issues of our day. The Maxis Center is located in Monroe, Michigan, 45 minutes south of the University.

All Detroit Mercy undergraduate and graduate students are welcome. Transportation to and from the retreat is provided.

This retreat will focus especially on immigration, nonviolence, activism, community care and mindfulness, and more. Through the theme of Contemplatives in Action, alumni and community partners will speak about how they have been inspired to do the work of justice. There will be opportunities for reflection as a group and individually.

Those attending the El Paso, Texas-Mexico Border Immersion are required to attend this retreat as pre-trip formation. The El Paso group will also go over trip logistics while at the retreat.

Deadline to register is March 20 (or request an extension).

For questions or concerns, please contact University Ministry at ministry@udmercy.edu or 313-992-1560 or stop by the office, located in the Student Union Lower Level, to speak with Anna or Sammy.

Register for retreat here.