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

Air date: 4/20/25

[00:28:06]

Host Matt Mio is joined by Professors Heather Hill, Stephen Manning, Erin Bell, Jim Tubbs, Mara Livezey, Dave Chow and Beth Oljar.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 4/13/25

[00:28: 41]

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 4/6/25

[00:28:20]

With Professors Matt Mio, Heather Hill, Stephen Manning, Danielle Maxwell, Beth Oljar, Dan Maggio and Dave Chow.

ATP 2531 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 3/30/25

[00:28:42]

Host Matt Mio is joined by Professors Beth Oljar, Dave Chow, Danielle Maxwell, Dan Maggio, Erin Bell, Stephen Manning and Heather Hill.

ATP 2530 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 3/23/25

[00:28:45]

With Professors Matt Mio, Erin Bell, Dan Maggio, Heather Hill, Stephen Manning, Danielle Maxwell and Dave Chow.

ATP 2529 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

All students are invited to join a group from Detroit Mercy for a special evening in Detroit on Saturday, April 27. The event will include Mass and dinner with the new Archbishop of Detroit Edward Weisenburger, alongside college students from other universities.

Transportation will be provided. We will meet at the University Ministry Office in the Student Union of the McNichols Campus at 4:45 p.m. Mass will be at 5:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Rosary Newman Center, with dinner to follow at 6:30 p.m. 

To RSVP for this event, please contact Anita Klueg at kluegag@udmercy.edu.

All are invited to join the Detroit Mercy Department of Performing Arts for an exciting performance of “Emerging Voices: Student Directing Showcase,” on Friday, April 25 at 11 a.m., presented by the Winter 2025 Fundamentals of Directing class. The event will take place inside Reno Hall, Room 164.

This event features a dynamic array of scenes, each crafted by our talented student directors. Don’t miss this opportunity to support and be inspired by the next generation of theatrical talent.

No tickets are needed for this free event, and seating is first come, first serve.

For more information or any questions, please contact Sarah Rusk at hawkinsk@udmercy.edu.

As part of Detroit Mercy’s commitment to improving campus life, the University is conducting Student and Employee Satisfaction Surveys, which will run from Tuesday, March 18 through Wednesday, April 30.

The confidential surveys will provide critical insight that will help the institution and is a chance for both students and employees to have their voices heard. Check your udmercy.edu email for your personalized link to compete the survey.

In appreciation for completing the survey, both students and employees can win gift cards up to $250 by completing the survey! The earlier you complete your survey, the better your odds at winning higher amounts. Other gift cards prizes are $100 and $50, drawn bi-weekly. The incentives apply to all students and employees of all campuses at the University. A total of three $250 gift cards will be raffled for both students and employees.

The survey is run through Ruffalo Noel Levitz, which works with more than 1,900 campuses and nonprofits nationally.

Learn more!

Detroit Mercy’s Marketing & Communications Department recently unveiled new spots for use on the University’s over-the-top (OTT) marketing buys and paid social media. OTT refers to media content delivered online, bypassing traditional cable or satellite TV services.

Check out the four spots out on YouTube:

Come soak up some rays and cheer on the Titan women’s lacrosse team as they battle Central Michigan Sunday, April 27 at noon from Titan Field. The winner of the contest earns a spot in the MAC Lacrosse Championship, which begins the following week.

All are invited to attend this beach bash where free bucket hats and sunglasses will be handed out to fans!

Please join Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) in welcoming spring and celebrating our community with an afternoon of crafts, food and fun on Tuesday, April 29 at 3 p.m. on the Student Union Patio.

All are welcome to this FREE event.

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

This year’s Baccalaureate Mass, set for the afternoon between the McNichols Campus Commencement ceremonies, will be offered at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 10 in the Student Union Ballroom.

If you are a graduating student interested in attending, register here!

If you are an employee interested in volunteering for the Baccalaureate Mass, please register here!

The 2025 issue of the Economic and Community Impact Report on Metro Detroit & Fast Facts is now available as a single publication. This publication is more marketing-centric and offers a more global, high-level view of UDM to general external audiences. This is of particular importance to major gift officers and annual giving audiences, especially as UDM begins work to initiate a new fundraising campaign.

To view the latest issue, please visit https://www.udmercy.edu/about/facts.php.

This summer, the McNichols Campus will become a mini art gallery, compliments of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

High-quality reproductions of five works of art from the DIA’s collection will be installed on the Campus as part of the DIA’s Inside|Out project, now in its 16th year.

Works chosen for display at UDM are:

• Bookshop: Hebrew Books, Holy Day Books, Ben Shahn, near the front entrance of the Student Union
• St. Jerome in His Study, Jan van Dyck, on Kassab Mall
• Bank of the Oise at Auvers, Vincent Van Gogh, near the Fisher Fountain
• Head of a Woman, Unknown Egyptian Artist, near Sacred Heart Square
• Mosquito Nets, John Singer Sargent, near the Health Professions Facility

Installation of the pieces will be April 23 and the works will be displayed through October.

EVENT POSTPONED — WILL BE RESCHEDULED TO LATER DATE

Join the Office of Mission Integration on Thursday, April 24 at 2 p.m. in the Mercy Gathering Place in Shiple Hall for a healing session of storytelling, testimonials, resource sharing, advocacy and action.

All faculty and staff are welcome.

Whether to give or receive, come for love, respect and listening. This is an opportunity for sharing, reflection and grounding ourselves in community, inspired by restorative justice practices.

Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD) will host a virtual information session about the Master of Community Development (MCD) program on Tuesday, April 22, at noon and Wednesday, April 23, at 5 p.m. 

Join faculty and staff who will describe this one-of-a-kind program, which integrates human, organizational, physical and economic aspects of community development into a comprehensive approach to the renewal of communities.

Learn how a Master of Community Development from Detroit Mercy can make a difference!

Access the Zoom link here.

To RSVP, please email Virginia Stanard at stanarvi@udmercy.edu.

Department Co-Chair and Professor of History Roy Finkenbine gave a talk on “Erasing the History of Racial Violence: A Personal Example” to the Metro Detroit Area Historians Collegium on April 1. The Collegium is a biennial gathering of local university and community college history instructors.

On April 14, he gave a talk on “What Caused the Civil War?” to the Ann Arbor Civil War Round Table.

Finkenbine also presented at a webinar for Michigan teachers on “Native Americans and the Underground Railroad” on April 16. This was sponsored by the Michigan Department of Education and will become part of their permanent library of teacher resources.

Assistant Professor Ashlee Barnes was nominated and selected for NAMI Michigan Honors 2025 College Educator of the Year Award.

The Sisters of Mercy invite the Detroit Mercy community to join together to celebrate Mass on Holy Thursday, April 17, at 4 p.m. inside the St. Ignatius Chapel on the McNichols Campus.

Msgr. John Zenz, of Holy Name Parish, will preside at the Mass, which will include music and a reenactment of the Gospel reading, while washing the feet of anyone who wishes to have their feet washed.

Holy Thursday Mass is also known as the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, which recalls the stories of the Last Supper and the story of Passover.

The College of Health Professions welcomes Ashraf Elazzazi as the associate dean for the newly established School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS). In this role, Elazzazi will lead the development and launch of the school’s new programs and serve as the inaugural chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

Elazzazi joins UDM from Utica University, where he served as chair of the Physical Therapy program within the School of Health Professions and Education and taught for 20 years. He holds both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University.

With extensive clinical experience in acute care and patient rehabilitation, Elazzazi brings a strong foundation in both practice and research. His scholarly work includes the validation of physical therapy measurement tools and biomechanical analysis of movement across age groups.

Titans, turn your meal into a win!

GrubHub is rewarding Detroit Mercy dining choices with weekly raffles all month long — the more you dine with us, the more chances you have to win GrubHub credit.

Detroit Mercy GrubHub users are automatically entered into a credit raffle when they dine at The Loft, The Bookmark or Subway on the following dates:

• April 7-11: The Loft, eight $25 winners
• April 14-18: The Bookmark, eight $25 winners
• April 21-25: Subway, The Loft & The Bookmark, ten 25 winners

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to win FREE grub!

All are invited to the next monthly liturgy of the Office of Mission Integration (OMI) on Wednesday, April 16 at noon in the St. Ignatius Chapel.

This celebration will be an occasion to celebrate Holy Week.

There will be lunch afterward and time to visit with colleagues in the Commerce & Finance Building, Room 213.

At each monthly OMI liturgy and lunch, colleagues will have an opportunity to gather and reflect on a theme central to the University’s Jesuit and Mercy educational mission. Persons of all religious backgrounds and/or those not affiliated with a religious tradition are encouraged to attend.

College of Health Professions Associate Professor Zigmond Kozicki and Stephanie Baiyasi-Kozicki ’15 have been recognized by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for their effort in creating and leading the Great Lakes Environmental Festival (GLEF).

The 2025 GLEF featured 10 environmental posters created by Detroit Mercy students and also featured three movies about the effort of the Great Lakes Indian Tribes in habitat protection and restoration.

Students, got dishes? Campus dining services is looking for lost dishes. Please check your room and return all ReNew containers, plates, cups, bowls and silverware to the dining room by April 25.

CourseDog is our new system being used to process event requests and to reserve space on the McNichols Campus. If you submit room/event requests as a CourseDog user or from the website, this training is for you!

The training will take place on Tuesday, April 15 from 12-1 p.m. inside Room 10 in the Commerce & Finance Building.

Learn how to use the system, best practices and other helpful hints for planning an event on the McNichols Campus!

If you are planning to attend the training, please email Alysa Jackson at ouelleal@udmercy.edu.

Hear from two inspiring alumni who have used their education, resilience, and vision to lead their industries and drive success as part of UDM’s Emerging Leaders Program. The Leadership Slam is Tuesday, April 15. The first session is 2:30-3:45 p.m. inside Room 139 of the Commerce & Finance Building, and the second slam is 5:15-6:30 p.m. inside the College of Health Professions Building, Room 124.

Angelo Vitale ’80, retired general counsel of Rocket Companies, and Michael Birney ’15, founder and chief operation officer (COO) of Arbor Growth, will offer their experiences on their leadership journeys.

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

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

Adjunct Senior Instructor of Performing Arts and University Minister Dan Greig was chosen to conduct the Regional Honors Choir of the Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA). He conducted the 80-voice choir of the top elementary student singers from four counties in the state on April 12-13, hosted at Davison High School.

Are you thinking of buying a new home or refinancing a current loan? Check out the great savings being offered by Rocket Mortgage to all Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni.

See the latest specials being offered here!

Mark your calendar! The annual end-of-the-year De-stress Fest is set for Monday, April 14 from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Student Fitness Center on the McNichols Campus.

As finals approach, take some time to relax, recharge and have fun with a variety of stress-relief activities, including:

• Food and snacks
• Therapy dogs
• Massage therapists and sound bed therapy
• Car smashing and blow-up competitions
• Raffles and giveaways

Stay tuned for more details and get ready to unwind before finals!

The University held its annual Celebration of Scholarly Achievement showcasing the hard work, research, designs, ideas, projects, accomplishments and much more of all Titans on April 3 inside of the Student Fitness Center on the McNichols Campus!

For full photos from the event, click on the link below.

Photos: Celebrating Scholarly Achievement.

In late March, University of Detroit Mercy Cybersecurity and Information Systems student teams won $9,000 at the annual ISACA Cybersecurity Scholarship Competition for the Detroit Chapter. This is the third time in three years that UDM teams have brought home top prizes in this competition.

UDM’s Team Neapolitan with students Preston Duller and John-Paul Marvin won first place and $4,000. Team Zero Trust, comprised of students Hannah Burdinie and Andrew Caswell, won second place and $2,500. Team Rootkit Consulting, with members Ali Laho, Austin Bruce and Nate Paulik, also won second place and took home $2,500.

This is the third time in three years that UDM teams placed among the best at this competition. This year’s first place team of Duller and Marvin also won first place in the same competition two years ago. And the second-place team of Burdinie and Caswell won first place in last year’s competition.

Anne Kohnke, associate professor of Cybersecurity and director of the Detroit Mercy Center for Cybersecurity & Intelligence Studies, said that the success of these teams in three of the last three years demonstrates the exceptional quality of the UDM cybersecurity and Information Systems programs and commitment to helping students achieve success before they graduate.

“Cybersecurity competitions are invaluable experiences for students. They learn technical troubleshooting skills and get to apply their critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills to solve the technical aspects of a competition,” she said. “With the ISACA competition, students are also required to demonstrate the soft skills of presenting their findings to a panel of professional judges.”

UDM’s Cybersecurity and Information Systems programs offer an exemplary education rooted in the institution’s Jesuit and Mercy mission. To learn more about bachelor’s and graduate programs, please email laidlags@udmercy.edu or visit https://chass.udmercy.edu/academics/cis/.

Detroit Mercy students — and a special guest alumna — will read their original creative work at Book Suey, a vibrant local bookstore just 10 minutes from the McNichols Campus, on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. The bookstore is located at 10345 Joseph Campau Avenue in Hamtramck.

Come show your support for student writers! All are invited, and snacks will be provided.

This event is hosted by the English Department and Poet-in-Residence and Adjunct Professor Stacy Gnall,

For more information or questions, please contact Department Chair and Associate Professor of English Mary-Catherine Harrison at mc.harrison@udmercy.edu.

Prospective graduating seniors, take a break from studying for the event of the year! Detroit Mercy will host a Senior Send-off for the Class of 2025 on Friday, April 11 at 4 p.m. in the Titan Club in Calihan Hall.

At this inaugural event, graduating seniors will celebrate the end of the 2024-25 school year with friends and bid farewell to their undergraduate or graduate journey as they move into an exciting next chapter of life!

The FREE event features:

• Champagne toast with President Donald B. Taylor (non-alcoholic option available) with take-home commemorative Class of 2025 champagne flute
• Exclusive food buffet (chicken and vegan options) and dessert bar
• Cash-only bar (beer and wine)
• Graduating cap decorating
• Photo booth

The event is being hosted by the Student Alumni Leadership Council, Alumni Relations and the Student Life Office.

With any questions, please contact Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Arneshia Austin at austinad1@udmercy.edu

Please register in advance here!

University Ministry is hosting a special edition of M.U.G. (Mingle. Unwind. Gather.) Hour in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month on Wednesday, April 9 at 3 p.m.

All are welcome to stop by the table set up in front of the University Ministry office located in the Student Union across from the Bookstore for more information, resources and activities about sexual assault prevention.

We hope you will join us and pledge to end sexual violence!

Join Titan Athletics as the softball team takes on rival Oakland University on Tuesday, April 8. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Buysse Ballpark on the McNichols Campus. Tickets are also free to the event.

The game will be a faculty and staff appreciation match-up with the first 25 employees in attendance receiving a FREE Titans travel mug!

Join Detroit Mercy and storyteller/artist Satori Shakoor for the final session of Bridges not Fences VI on Wednesday, April 9, from 5:30-8 p.m. in Health Professions Facility (CHP), Room 124.

In this session, four stories will be told offering a view into experiences of trauma and the healing that came after. Following the stories, various methods of healing — including sound therapy, Tai Chi and reiki — will be demonstrated.

Shakoor, a 2017 Kresge Literary Arts Fellow, is the executive producer for the award-winning The Secret Society Of Twisted Storytellers (TSSOTS), which she founded in July 2012 in Detroit. TSSOTS has a global mission to connect humanity, heal and transform community and to provide an uplifting, thought- provoking, soul-cleansing entertainment experience through the art and craft of storytelling.

Through these workshops, Shakoor provides a platform in the form of storytelling in which to share these stories and give others hope that with patience, love and support, we all can move past our trauma. Bridges not Fences will be attended by licensed professionals in the event that audience members need further support.

Students, faculty and staff are welcome, and food will be provided. For more information or questions, please contact Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Mara Livezey at livezemr@udmercy.edu. This event is sponsored by ReBUILDetroit and co-sponsored by the Office of Mission Integration and the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences.

Register here!

Join us for a vital conversation on the role of universal suicide screening in medical settings. This free event is open to everyone and will take place on Wednesday, April 9 from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus. Refreshments will be provided.

With suicide being a leading public health concern, early identification through routine screening can save lives. To truly strengthen suicide prevention, efforts must expand beyond behavioral health and into general medical care. A panel of medical professionals will explore its importance, challenges and impact on patient care.

Students with a future career in healthcare are highly encouraged to attend. Several local agencies invested in suicide prevention will be present with resources.

This event is sponsored by the College of Health Professions Wellness Committee and CNS Healthcare.

Register here!

Does your team or folks in your college, department or office have questions about the UDM rebranding? Would you like someone from MarCom to visit an upcoming department or staff meeting in your area and provide additional information or clarity in person?

We would be happy to visit and talk more with your teams about the rebranding and ways everyone can get involved as we work together to author a new brand.

If you would like to schedule a meeting or a visit, please let us know by emailing marcom@udmercy.edu.

Stop by the McNichols Campus Library on Wednesday, April 9 from 12-2 p.m., to celebrate Library Week with the Detroit Mercy Libraries and the folks who work there. Librarians and library staffers will be on hand, passing out slices of cake and bookmarks (until the treats run out) as part of National Library Week activities.

While you are there, share what you love about the library, answer our always popular Question of the Week, check out a new book, get a summer reading recommendation or help with those last-minute, end-of-the-semester research questions, or just find out what your librarians are reading.

There is something for everyone at our libraries, so don’t miss out!

University Ministry is hosting this retreat where you bring your school work with you!

The Study Retreat will be held on Sunday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Congregation Coffee House, located at 9321 Rosa Parks Boulevard in Detroit.

This retreat is a chance to get off campus, study in a quiet and relaxing space and have built-in optional study breaks that provide self-care and spiritual care! Students will have time to share home-cooked meals together and enter into finals prepared and equipped with the tools to take care of their whole persons as our mission calls us to through “cura personalis” (the care for the whole person — body, mind and soul).

There is limited space for this retreat in order to create an ideal study environment for participants. All transportation and food are provided.

The last day to register is 12 p.m. Friday, April 11.

For questions or concerns, please contact University Minister for Faith Formation Anna Lawler at lawleran@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1925.

Sign up here!

The Center for Career and Professional Development will host a Money Management Seminar, facilitated by Alliance Catholic Credit Union, on Thursday, April 10, at 12:45 p.m. inside of Room 206 of the Student Union.

All Detroit Mercy students and staff are invited to attend. Free boxed lunches and other giveaways are available for those who pre-register.

Attending Money Management seminars can be a good first step in the wise handling of personal wealth. Some of the topics that are frequently covered at these seminars may include investment strategies, conscientious budgeting practices, creating a savings plan and any number of other financial concerns. Issues such as credit card fraud and identity theft may also be covered.

Detroit Mercy faculty and staff can register by sending an email to careerlink@udmercy.edu. Students can register for the seminar through Handshake. The event is being sponsored by Alliance Catholic Credit Union.

Register now!

Dean of the College of Health Professions Ahmed Radwan spoke at HealthcareNEXT’s panel discussion entitled “Workforce Challenges and State of the Industry” on April 3.

As staff retention continues to be a top priority for most healthcare executives, this panel engaged senior-level managers who discussed best practices in staff retention and explored broader issues that are facing the healthcare industry. Panelists from different backgrounds provided unique perspectives, including how higher education institutes are recruiting new students and exploring ways in which nursing education is moving forward.

Detroit Mercy Theatre Company‘s production of The Grown Ups, by Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox, will be performed across two weekends, April 4-6 and April 11-13 at the Marlene Boll Theatre located at 1401 Broadway Street in downtown Detroit. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Grab a s’more and immerse yourself in this dark satire directed by Andrew Papa about a group of camp counselors thrust into a struggle to shape the leaders of tomorrow amidst looming uncertainty and fraught relationships.

The story unfolds underneath the starlit sky, as the campers drift off to sleep and the lake whispers its lullabies, and it’s time for the counselors to unwind. But amidst the tranquility, there’s an undercurrent of tension. What awaits in the morning to keep camp fun and safe? The news hints at something sinister, something lurking beyond the forest’s edge.

Ticket costs: 

• Students and veterans: $10
• Faculty, staff, alumni and senior citizens: $18
• Adults: $25

Special events are as follows:

• Friday, April 4: Opening Night Reception: Celebrate opening weekend with the cast and crew. Sponsored by Thomas E. Page ’71, ’76.
• Saturday, April 5: Detroit Mercy Accepted Students Night: Free tickets for incoming Detroit Mercy first-year students and their families. Call 313-993-3270 for details and reservations.
• Saturday, April 5: CHASS Night at the Theatre: $5 tickets for students and alumni of the College of Liberal Arts & Education/College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences with code CHASS25. Free tickets to faculty/staff of CLAE/CHASS by emailing theatre@udmercy.edu.
• Sunday, April 6: Navigating Chaos: Drawing on historical precedents and contemporary analyses, join us in an exploration the resilience of American institutions, the role of government agencies and the impact on civil society in the event of a nation-wide crisis on American soil. Led by Department Chair and Professor of Political Science Genevieve E. Meyers and presented as part of the Detroit Theatre Discussion Project.
• Friday, April 11: Community Night: Tickets are only $10!

Purchase tickets here!

The new Detroit Mercy Pre-Law Society will host its inaugural Moot Court Competition on Friday, April 11 at noon, where students of all majors can refine their legal reasoning, public speaking and advocacy skills in a simulated appellate court environment. Participants will present a hypothetical case before a distinguished panel of judges, including UDM faculty.

The competition will follow a traditional moot court format, where multiple teams will present arguments on both sides of a legal issue. This is an oral competition–no writing involved.

This year’s competition will focus on TikTok v. Garland, a case that examines the complex intersection of national security, free speech and corporate rights. Competitors will receive case materials in advance.

It only takes two to make a team for this competition, so find a friend, come up with a team name and sign up! The event will take place in the Briggs Building, and teams will be notified of their location once the match schedule is released.

Participants will also compete for exciting awards and cash prizes, including best dressed, best presenter, most creative speaker and more!

To register, teams must email Pre-Law Program Director Lee Dionne at dionnele@udmercy.edu by March 14.

April is National Poetry Month, and Thursday, April 17 is National Haiku Poetry Day!

To celebrate, come and “Complete the Haiku” at the Write Something! desk at the Detroit Mercy Creative Arts Kiosk, which is located between the Briggs and Commerce & Finance buildings.

This opportunity to fill in the blanks of a famous haiku will be available Monday, April 14 through Thursday, April 17.

The haiku is a traditional Japanese poem written in three unrhymed lines of five/seven/five syllables, which focuses on a brief moment in time with provocative, colorful images from nature and ends on a sense of sudden enlightenment.

All are welcome to take a moment and stop by the desk to observe National Poetry Month with this fun activity!

Two teams of Detroit Mercy students put their cybersecurity skills to the test at the 2025 NCAE Cyber Games Midwest Regional Competition on March 1. One of the teams claimed third prize in the event.

The eight-hour contest challenged teams to identify and fix vulnerabilities in a compromised network before defending it against continuous cyberattacks from an organizer-controlled Red Team.

Competing against 11 teams from eight universities, UDM’s Team 2, made up of Gorky Carlos, JP Marvin, Preston Duller, Stev Onwudiach and Harrison Haviland-Longo, secured third place after a demanding seven-hour defense period.

As the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals continues to grow, universities are enhancing their programs to provide students with practical, real-world experience.

“Hands-on technical labs, a vibrant Cybersecurity Club and cybersecurity competitions provide our students with real-world simulations and activities that give them an edge when it comes to preparing for the cybersecurity workforce,” said Anne Kohnke, associate professor of Cybersecurity and director of the Detroit Mercy Center for Cybersecurity & Intelligence Studies.

The competition provided students with hands-on experience in cybersecurity defense, simulating real-world threats and response strategies.

Also competing were Zak Abdul-Aziz, Isabelle Francis, Gianna Esho, Dmytro Lichykaki, Kyle Ssesanga, Noel Renu and Jonah Dabesh.

Detroit Mercy has been recognized as a 2025-26 Military Friendly School in the military friendly list of schools that serve veterans and service members.

In the 16 years since its creation, the list has become the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful opportunities for the military community.

UDM earned its place among the ranks for the many services designated for veterans and dependents that promote student support and success through one-on-one counseling.

The information evaluated to create the comprehensive guide for veterans and their families is collected from public data sources, proprietary surveys and personal input from veterans themselves. Additionally, the list uses a logic-based assessment that measures a school’s ability for retention, graduation and job placement to provide the best opportunities for veterans, active service members and their spouses.

The 2025-26 Military Friendly Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs Magazine and can also be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.

For more information about Detroit Mercy’s veteran’s programs, visit udmercy.edu/current-students/registrar/veterans.

Detroit Mercy’s English Department hosted its third annual Triptych virtual reading series, featuring three award-winning writers in conversation with UDM’s poet-in-residence Stacy Gnall. You can now read features on all three events in Between the Pages, the department’s digital magazine.

• Kateri Sollars’ feature on Brandon Som
• Michelle Gomez-Angeles’ feature on K-Ming Chang
• Melissa Converse’s feature on Aracelis Girmay

The Detroit Mercy College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, along with the African American Studies Program, will host a Zoom webinar on April 9 at 7 p.m. featuring Christopher Tounsel, associate professor of History and director of African Studies at the University of Washington, who will discuss the conflict in Sudan.

In April 2023, civil war exploded in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces has killed thousands, displaced millions and devolved into the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis. In January 2025, the U.S. State Department officially determined that it had documented evidence of genocide.

Why did the civil war break out? What is the present situation, and what factors may determine a speedy or delayed end to the conflict? Tounsel will discuss the civil war’s historical context and important features of the crisis and offer perspective on the country’s uncertain future.

All are invited to attend this very important and enlightening discussion.

Register here!

The African American Studies Program‘s last Six Mile Meetup of the 2024-25 school year is set for Saturday, April 12 from 6-8 p.m. at Detroit Pizza Bar, located at 7316 West McNichols Road, just down the road from the McNichols Campus. All are welcome!

Celebrate the end of the year with faculty, students and community members. The meetups offer anyone interested a chance to explore the surrounding neighborhood of UDM, support local Black-owned businesses and meet African American Studies Program faculty and students.

RSVP to reserve a spot!

The Detroit Mercy English Department and College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) will host author and Fairfield University Professor of English Sonya Huber for “Writing the Midwest,” a conversation and reading on Tuesday, April 8 from 6-7:30 p.m.

This free event is open to all and will take place in the Commerce & Finance Building, Room 138.

Huber’s books include the forthcoming anthology, Nothing Compares To You: What Sinead Means to Us; the essay collection, Love and Industry: A Midwestern Workbook, finalist for the 2024 PEN/Diamondstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay; and the writing guide, Voice First: A Writer’s Manifesto. She is also the author of the award-winning essay collection on chronic pain, Pain Woman Takes Your Keys and Other Essays from a Nervous System, as well as Supremely Tiny Acts: A Memoir in a Day and The Backwards Research Guide for Writers. Huber’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Creative Nonfiction, The Guardian and other outlets. View more of Huber’s work at www.sonyahuber.com.

For more information or any questions, please contact Associate Professor of English Mary-Catherine Harrison at mc.harrison@udmercy.edu.

RSVP here!

Please join the Office of Mission Integration on Tuesday, April 1 at 12:45 p.m. for a panel discussion entitled “How UDM’s Mission Meets this Moment.”

This event in the Student Union Ballroom is open to all and will provide a safe space for dialogue, reflection and action. A Zoom option is also available for those that wish to attend virtually.

The discussion will explore the intersections of Catholic social thought, Mercy critical concerns, Jesuit universal apostolic preferences and the work of Jesus, the first DEI officer. The panelists for the discussion are: Sr. Gilmary Bauer, RSM; Fr. Si Hendry, SJ; Fr. Joe Daoust, SJ; Moderated by Fr. Charles Oduke.

At a time when many may feel uncertain, we stand together as Titans to support and uplift one another. All are welcome!

Virtual/Zoom link.

Renowned leader and education professor Sabin Prentis Duncan will deliver a special keynote address, “The Community Needs Titans,” as part of the Celebration of Scholarly Achievement and Community Engagement (CSACE) on Thursday, April 3.

Duncan’s address is set for 6:15-7:20 p.m. inside of the Student Fitness Center on Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus.

The reception for CSACE is from 5:15-6:10 p.m. with light hors d’oeuvres and scholarly research presentations, publications and community service activities available to browse. Duncan’s keynote address follows the reception, before a talent show, Titans Got Talent, from 7:30-9 p.m.

Duncan currently serves as a professor of education at Hampton University and has served in various leadership roles, including as an executive director, principal and teacher. His research focuses on the collaboration between community organizations and schools to create a lasting impact.

All are invited to attend!

RSVP for the keynote address.

Saundra McGuire, director emerita of the Center for Academic Success and retired assistant vice chancellor at LSU, will be a guest presenter for a pair of Detroit Mercy events, for both students and faculty, set for April 3-4.

The first presentation, “Metacognition — The Key to Acing Courses” is set for Thursday, April 3 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Engineering Building, Room 237, and is geared towards students. In this session McGuire will share tools to help students excel in their coursework.

McGuire will provide a professional development opportunity to faculty on Friday, April 4 from 9-10:30 a.m. in the Engineering Building, Room 260. In this presentation, titled “Teach Students How to Learn: Metacognition is the Key!” She will share tools with faculty to assist students in acing their classes.

A special one-on-one session for faculty who have follow-up questions or questions about specific disciplines will take place on Friday, April 4 from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Engineering Building, Room 131.