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

Air date: 7/6/25

[00:27:25]

Ask The Professor memories from March 1996.   Host Edwin DeWindt is joined by Professors George Pickering, Kathy Bush, Greg Sumner, Hugh Culik, Claire Crabtree, Arthur Beer and student producer Melissa Samluk.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 6/29/25

[00:27:18]

In February 1996, Edwin DeWindt was the host of Ask The Professor, and in this episode he’s joined in the studio by Professors Kathy Bush, Greg Sumner, Arthur Beer, Hugh Culik and in-house musician Kevin Zajac.

ATP 2543 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 6/22/25

[00:27:58]

For this week’s episode, we travel back to October 1995.    Long-time Ask The Professor host Edwin DeWindt is joined by Professors George Pickering, Kathy Bush, Arthur Beer, Greg Sumner and Hugh Culik.

atp 2542 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 6/15/25

[00:27:48]

More Ask The Professor memories from Fall 1995.

ATP 2541 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 6/8/25

[00:27:34]

Enjoy these Ask The Professor memories from September 1995.  With Professors Edwin DeWindt, George Pickering, Kathy Bush, Greg Sumner, Arthur Beer, Claire Crabtree and  Hugh Culik.

ATP 2540 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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!

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.

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.”

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!

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!

Do you want to advocate for diversity and inclusive excellence in the search process? Become an ally for search advocacy and create a culturally rich, more diverse University setting by getting trained to be a search advocate on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28 on the McNichols Campus.

Over two days following the end of the 2025 winter semester you will:

• Learn strategies to mitigate implicit bias.
• Be the person on the search committee who ensures all voices are heard and encourages communication between the committee, candidates and other stakeholders.
• Learn tips to be better prepared to actively participate in all phases of the search process at Detroit Mercy.

The full schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday, May 27, at 9 a.m. to noon AND 1-4 p.m. (Modules 1 & 2)
• Wednesday, May 28, at 9 a.m. to noon AND 1-4 p.m. (Modules 3 & 4)

Please note, to complete the training, attendance is required at all four modules. There are also two pre-assignments for the workshop.

The search advocate trainers for Detroit Mercy are Jahzara Mayes, Mara Livezey and Yvonne King.

Please register by Thursday, May 22. For questions or more information, please contact Jahzara Mayes by email at mayesjm@udmercy.edu.

REGISTER HERE!

Come on out to Jimmy John’s Field this summer for a fun-filled day of America’s favorite pastime—baseball!

As a marketing partner with the United Shore Professional Baseball League, UDM faculty, staff and students can receive a $5 discount off game day tickets this entire baseball season! When purchasing tickets online, be sure to use this promo code: PARTNER25.

Come cheer on the future stars of Major League Baseball!

Purchase tickets!

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. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises.

Jeanette Andrade ’25 wants to help people.

It’s what she envisions doing with her Dental Hygiene degree from Detroit Mercy’s School of Dentistry.

“I hope to be improving people’s lives every day, just because oral health is such a big factor in how people live,” Andrade said. “I hope to be improving their smiles and oral health.”

But before helping others and finishing her degree, Andrade needed to pause her Dental Hygiene studies so she could take care of herself.

Andrade was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the summer of 2023, following the completion of her first year of her program.At the suggestion of her oncologist, she halted her studies to focus on fighting the cancer.

Andrade’s treatment included 12 rounds of chemotherapy.

“I was terrified because I thought that I would forget everything,” she said. “I got so used to doing it for a year and then not being able to do anything, I was definitely missing it.

“But in reality, I was working towards a health goal.”

Many people were there for Andrade during the health scare, especially her parents, with her dad driving her to chemo appointments and her mom taking care of her at home.

“They were there with me throughout everything, I am so appreciative of their help,” Andrade reflected.

She also heard often from the Detroit Mercy Dental family.

“I received so many messages saying they wished me the best, hoping for my speedy recovery,” she said. “Some of the faculty emailed me saying they couldn’t wait to see me back again.

“Many said they were praying for me, and I appreciated that so much. Their prayers worked.”

In May 2024, Andrade was told her cancer was in remission.

She returned for her final year of Dental Hygiene school, joining the Class of 2025. Andrade quickly picked up her academics where she left off.

“Everyone was really welcoming, they came up to me the first day and asked me if I needed anything,” she said.

“The faculty were so, so helpful. They kept saying that it’s really like riding a bike for you. It’s muscle memory, and I was like, ‘I know, I’m surprised, too.’”

Her graduation from the Dental Hygiene program marks the culmination of studies across two campuses at Detroit Mercy. She enrolled at the University as an undergraduate after a field trip to the University during her senior year of high school, which included a trip to the School of Dentistry.

“I remember when I was on my tour in high school, I really liked the faculty when I met them,” Andrade said. “They were really kind and spoke highly of the school and the Hygiene program. They showed us around, it seemed very easy to find my way to everything, I loved the library. 

“It fit like a glove for me.”

During her undergraduate studies at UDM, Andrade worked as a receptionist in a dental office, which served as a good introduction to the profession, and helped solidify her career decision.

“I remember getting to see a lot of the procedures that were being done, and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

When it was time for Andrade to see her own patients during her second year of Dental Hygiene school, it was a transition, but through practice and her education, she fell in love with it.

“It’s a tough transition at the beginning, you’re scared to use these small instruments in someone’s mouth, but eventually you get really comfortable, and you build a great patient base,” she said. “It started to feel like second nature.”

It’s part of what makes the Dental Hygiene program outstanding, Andrade said.

“I feel so incredibly prepared,” she said. “The program is rigorous, and they teach you so much. And they expect you to know so much because they want you to be good clinicians and good hygienists in the field.

“I’ve learned more information in the past two years than I’ve learned in my whole life, and it’s valuable information that will help me in the long run.”

She had the backing of the Detroit Mercy Dental family throughout her journey. One of the biggest supporters was Sally Ammar, the clinical director of the Dental Hygiene program.

“She’s definitely been one of the ones that has helped me through everything,” Andrade said. “She was so excited to see me finally finish this era of my life. She was such a great help.”

Now, Andrade looks towards a future, one where she can help others.

“I thank God every day that I’m able to see a patient and that I’m able to change somebody’s life,” Andrade said.

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

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) walk in Michigan is set for Saturday, Sept. 20 on the McNichols Campus. All are welcome to join!

No matter how you want to get involved, NAMI needs you.

Get involved and make a difference in the lives of Americans living with mental health concerns. If you shake a hand, give a fist bump or cheer with your team, this year’s NAMI Walk is one of the most powerful days of the year, and you can make a real difference.

Please save the date and consider signing up for the walk or donating to mental health programs. Further details will be provided soon.

For more information, please contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@udmercy.edu.

UDM students and alumni were hosted by Stellantis Africa Tech Center in Casablanca, Morocco, as part of the International Business course taught by Professor Gregory W. Ulferts and senior lecturer Terry L. Howard. Global Propulsion Systems Safety and Security Manager Jason Hendler ’89 and his colleagues presented on the Center’s activities.

The University held four Commencement ceremonies over two days, May 9-10, inside of Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus, with more than 1,100 Titan graduates participating in receiving their diplomas. Featured speakers at the ceremonies included the former Detroit Police Chief James E. White, U.S. Senator Gary Peters ’84, and three-time School of Dentistry graduate Cheri Newman ’89, ’90, ’98.

Overall, 1,400 Titans graduated following the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year. Here’s the full breakdown of graduates:

• 1,022 total degrees awarded on the McNichols Campus (583 undergraduate, 439 graduate)
• 796 total Titans participating during Saturday’s McNichols Campus ceremonies
• 475 graduates walking during the undergraduate ceremony in Calihan Hall
• 321 Titans participating in graduate ceremony (44 doctoral candidates)
• 190 graduates from the Detroit Mercy’s School of Law
• 187 graduates from the School of Dentistry

Stay tuned for full coverage following Commencement, including live stream replays, photo galleries, profiles, social media content, and more.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025, you did it!

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. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises. 

Growing up outside of Detroit, Courtney Christian’s early life was steeped in a family tradition of medicine.

Her mother, as well her mother’s side of the family, work in the field of medicine. Naturally, Christian thought to follow suit and explore health care, and so she began her academic career at University of Detroit Mercy in the Nursing program.

UDM won Christian over with its intimate learning environment and dedicated faculty.

“I liked the idea of a smaller campus that is more close-knit,” she said. “That direct, one-on-one connection with the teachers that you get here, they care not only about you in the classroom, but outside of the classroom and in your career. They want to help you make those connections.”

Christian spent two years in the Nursing program before realizing her path lay not necessarily by a patient’s bedside, but more-so behind the scenes in shaping how care is delivered.

“I still wanted to be in health care,” she said. “But I want to be on the other side.”

The switch to Health Services Administration, which added only a year to her studies, made more sense in terms of fit. Many courses she already took carried over.

On Saturday, Christian will graduate from UDM’s College of Health Professions with her degree in Health Services Administration.

As a junior, Christian teamed up with other students for an artificial intelligence-based project called Detroit Urban Health AI Challenge, which the University hosted in partnership with Amazon Web Services.

This pitted her against other students and community stakeholders over a 48‑hour sprint challenge. Christian and her team’s idea — a smart, interactive tool and study aid built for Nursing students “to help bridge the gap between learning online versus actual, in‑person connection” — was a winning one.

Beyond recognition, Christian received a $500 Amazon gift card, access to UDM-AWS innovation programs, and a $4,000 TechTown Detroit MVP program that allowed her team to develop a functional app and prototype. The team’s proposal, which uses predictive modeling and targeted prompts, helped address low engagement at the Salvation Army’s downtown rehabilitation center.

“I didn’t think we were going to win, but we did and it was awesome,” she said.

Christian is also a leader at heart and she made sure to take advantage of that by pursuing a minor in Leadership Studies. This culminated in a capstone project that connected her with elementary students, something she was familiar with by working multiple years in pediatric behavioral therapy. This experience tested her ability to apply administrative skills in real‑world settings and deepened her commitment to community health.

Outside school, Christian balances work and personal interests.

She cherishes being around family, often spending time with her younger siblings, who are 20 and 17. Christian also enjoys exploring downtown Detroit.

“I like to read, so I like to go downtown because it has so many interesting spots,” she said.

Christian is not pursuing a typical career path in health care. She envisions a career in policy to leverage her health care background to inform systemic change.

“I honestly would like to work in this area to create policies and regulations that make it easier for people,” she said.

Among the issues that fuel her passion, Christian points to maternal health disparities.

“I find Black women’s mortality rate very interesting,” she said. “It’s interesting that a Black woman can go and have a baby, and their chances of surviving are way lower than people of other races.”

As her college career draws to a close, Christian hopes those who follow her will make the most of their UDM experience.

“Take advantage of anything and everything that you can here,” she said. “Your time at college goes by so quick.”

Graduation brings excitement mingled with uncertainty. Christian will soon begin a rotational program with DirectRX, learning every aspect of pharmacy administration and discovering where she fits best as she enters her professional career.

But Christian enters the next chapter of her life as she entered her first class: with curiosity, purpose, an eagerness to learn and time to find her footing.

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

Detroit Mercy has recently earned designation as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications. This designation highlights UDM as a model institution for fostering student success and advancing research on effective campus practices.

This new designation means that UDM is one of just 33 remarkable institutions nationwide that earned both Research College & University (RCU) and Opportunity College & University (OCU) designations in the new 2025 Carnegie Classifications.

The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published in April by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification evaluates how effectively institutions foster student success by assessing whether they enroll students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of their graduates compare to peers in the region.

In 2025, 479 institutions were designated as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is approximately 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities included in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.

“This new designation once again affirms Detroit Mercy’s commitment to student success and our dedication to encourage faculty and student research opportunities each year,” said Donald B. Taylor, president of Detroit Mercy.

The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities.

Updates to the Carnegie Classifications also include a redesigned Institutional Classification, formerly called the Basic Classification. Previously, this system grouped U.S. colleges and universities primarily by the highest degree awarded. The new Institutional Classification now organizes institutions using a broader set of criteria, including the range of degrees awarded, the fields of study offered and overall size of the institution.

Under this redesigned Institutional Classification, Detroit Mercy has been designated as an institution with an award-level focus of Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate, recognizing its strong presence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels with a sufficient focus on doctoral programs. The University’s academic program mix is Professions-focused. This means that most degrees are awarded in fields that are classified as pre-professional or career-aligned fields. Detroit Mercy is also categorized as a medium-sized institution, enrolling between 4,000 and 20,000 students. In addition, UDM earned the Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) designation, an additional recognition separate from the Institutional Classifications that identifies institutions with significant research activity, including those with at least $2.5 million in research and development expenditures (as reported through the NSF HERD).

This reclassification has significantly shifted the perception of Detroit Mercy, elevating it from regional recognition to inclusion in national rankings alongside other prestigious institutions.

Rocket Mortgage has an exclusive offer for Detroit Mercy that could save you thousands!

Thinking of purchasing a new home or refinancing an existing home mortgage? UDM employees can now save 1% of their loan amount. For example, if the loan amount is $270,000, you’d save $2,700!

Visit www.rocketmortgage.com/partners/vip/detroitmercy to get started and discuss other special incentives.

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. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises. 

Cristal Guzman’s passion for advocacy and care for others started long before she stepped foot on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus. 

It goes back to her childhood as a Mexican American in Hamilton, Mich., a rural community on the western side of the state. 

“I saw how not only immigration policy impacted my family, but how they were treated differently by society,” Guzman said. “I remember hearing insults and derogatory terms being thrown around at a young age and being so confused.” 

Those moments sparked Guzman’s interest in making a difference through advocacy and the law. They also inspired her to create a welcoming community at Detroit Mercy, where she’s served as a campus leader for the last three years. 

On Saturday, Guzman, a first-generation college student, will graduate one year early as the valedictorian of UDM’s Class of 2025. 

It’s an unexpected conclusion to Guzman’s undergraduate career — that’s because she never planned on applying to be valedictorian. 

“I ended up submitting my application the last day it was due,” said Guzman, a Political Science major. “Being a first-gen student, part of that journey is combatting a lot of imposter syndrome and feeling like it’s not a space that’s meant for you.” 

Finding community 

Guzman was first exposed to Detroit Mercy as a middle schooler, when her brother attended an event hosted by the Engineering program. 

When it came time to make her college decision, a “full-circle moment” brought her back to UDM. 

“It was kind of out of the blue,” Guzman said. “I was initially planning on committing to University of Michigan, and then something inside me just said, ‘I think this is where I’m supposed to be.’ 

“Having that smaller school creates a closer-knit community, and that was something that I really valued and still really value. I would not have gotten as many opportunities and support anywhere else.” 

Guzman wasted little time forging that sense of community at UDM. 

As a freshman, she founded the Latinx Student Union and got involved with Titan Dreamers, an immigration advocacy group that is part of University Ministry’s social justice programming. 

With Titan Dreamers, Guzman was able to experience the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice, one of the largest annual student social justice conferences that brings together Jesuit institutions from across the United States. 

Participating was meaningful for Guzman given her background, but it also provided her with an impactful teaching moment. 

“That involvement made me realize the importance of not only doing advocacy work but also taking the time to educate our fellow classmates and peers,” Guzman said. “We have to have patience and not expect everyone to come in with the same knowledge base, because everyone’s lived experiences are different.” 

Guzman later served as vice president of the Student Government Association as a sophomore. She also worked as a resident advisor and was part of the Feminist Coalition and Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. 

“To be able to have the sense of community meant a lot, because a lot of what I’ve done here has to do with my roots and my own lived experience,” Guzman said. 

It also helped Guzman with transitioning to college. 

First-generation college students can face several challenges and barriers during their educational experience. According to First Gen Forward, first-generation college students graduate with a bachelor’s degree at a rate of 24% versus 59% for continuing-generation students. 

While Guzman faced her share of challenges, what helped was knowing she wasn’t alone. 

“There’s a lot of other first-generation students on this campus, which I really love, because it’s such a good reminder that it’s OK,” she said. “We’re all facing imposter syndrome. We are all going through it; we’re not by ourselves.” 

Academically, Guzman — who minored in Women’s and Gender Studies and Philosophy — worked toward her goal of attending law school to become a policy writer. 

Detroit Mercy’s Pre-Law Program helped prepare her to achieve those next steps. 

She participated in moot court, law class simulations and legal research and writing courses. These hands-on experiences helped her gain internships with the Allegan County Public Defender’s Office and Friend of the Court after her freshman year. 

“Instead of being on the forefront of politics, I want to do more behind the scenes work,” she said. “I would love to be a policy expert that representatives come to.” 

Taking up space 

A lot of good has come of Guzman’s first-generation journey. 

She said it has helped her grow as a person and proves that she is worthy of opportunities. 

“Being able to prove to myself that I do belong in higher education and these spaces that I never thought I did before, it’s very validating,” she said. 

Guzman got a reminder of that earlier this year. 

Megan Novell, executive director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and her Honors thesis advisor, encouraged Guzman to apply as class Valedictorian. 

It was another opportunity to conquer imposter syndrome. 

“I feel like I’m always preaching to others to go for it and that was a moment where I had to prove to myself that you need to do it, too,” Guzman said. “You need to believe in yourself, even if you feel like you’re not good enough or not deserving. 

“If I’m going to preach these things, I also need to live them out. Don’t let your imposter syndrome stop you from reaching for opportunities. You belong in these spaces and are supposed to be here.” 

Guzman’s “incredible heart” has stood out to Novell. 

“She thinks and cares deeply about justice, about being a good person and doing the right thing, and she lives it in her academic life, in her work and in her relationships with others,” Novell said of Guzman. “Advising her on her Honors thesis was the best part of my year.  Cristal has so many gifts, and we have been very fortunate that she has shared them with us.” 

Guzman’s childhood experiences fueled a desire to make a difference in the world. They’ve also helped her create a welcoming community at UDM. 

As she prepares to walk across the stage in Calihan Hall and deliver her valedictorian speech, Guzman is grateful for what her journey has brought her. 

“Leaning back on that community and allowing others to be there for support has taught me a lot,” Guzman said. “And in creating the community, that brought me a lot of joy, because where I grew up, it wasn’t so accepting.  

“Being able to be the person that I needed when I was younger was very healing for me.” 

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

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

The University of Detroit Mercy will confer nearly 1,400 degrees following the 2024-25 academic year, with approximately 1,150 Titans participating in Commencement ceremonies May 9-10 inside of Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus.

Of note, construction on Livernois Avenue is expected to continue through the weekend, which could cause delays in traffic. Detroit Mercy’s Public Safety is opening a third gate on Fairfield Street, near Florence Street, in addition to the Livernois and McNichols entrances.

All coming to the McNichols Campus over the weekend should utilize any entrance/exit that is available and should prepare to arrive early for the ceremonies. A live stream will be broadcast for all Commencement ceremonies, beginning with Friday’s 9:30 a.m. School of Dentistry ceremony.

FRIDAY, MAY 9

• 9:30 a.m. — School of Dentistry Ceremony
• 2 p.m. — School of Law Ceremony

Saturday, May 10

• 9:30 a.m. — Undergraduate Ceremony
• 1 p.m. — Baccalaureate Mass (Student Union Ballroom)
• 3 p.m. — Graduate Ceremony

Full information on Commencement, including maps, programs, live streaming, speakers, FAQ, etc., can be found at udmercy.edu/commencement.

Congratulations, Titans!

Senator Gary Peters, a 1984 graduate from the College of Business Administration at the University, is among the three Commencement speakers during the 2025 ceremonies on the McNichols Campus. Peters will speak at the School of Law ceremony, 2 p.m. Friday, May 9.

Three-time School of Dentistry graduate Cheri Newman ’89, ’90, ’98 is the featured speaker for the School of Dentistry ceremony, set for 9:30 a.m. Friday and former Detroit Police Department police chief James E. White will give the addresses for both McNichols Campus ceremonies Saturday, May 10.

Detroit Mercy will confer degrees upon the nearly 1,150 Titans participating in Commencement ceremonies on May 9-10 inside Calihan Hall. The full profiles of each speaker are below:

School OF Dentistry SPEAKER: Cheri Newman, D.D.S. ’89, ’90, ’98,

Cheri Newman has worked in private practice and is an adjunct faculty member at Detroit Mercy Dental. Newman’s work focuses on dental services for special needs patients, and she coordinates a clinic for these unique patients every week at Detroit Mercy Dental. Each year, she runs a weeklong outreach program to provide dental services for disabled adults at Bay Cliff Health Camp, which helps people with disabilities achieve greater independence. Her inclusion of Detroit Mercy Dental students in this community service is both meaningful and educational.

Newman is a past president of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an international honorary dental service organization founded in 1936 and is a member or board member of many local and national dental organizations.

School of Law SPEAKER: Gary Peters ’84

Gary Peters has dedicated his life to public service, combining a rich educational background with a career that includes positions in business, academics and politics. His four degrees include an MBA from University of Detroit and a J.D. from Wayne State University.

Peters served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1993 to 2008, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his service, he supported Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf. After the events of September 11, 2001, he again served overseas.

He served as an assistant vice president at Merrill Lynch and a vice president at Paine Webber and was the third Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government at Central Michigan University from 2007-08. His other academic positions include teaching finance and strategic management and business policy.

Peters has served as an elected representative since 1993 at the city, state and national levels and is the senior senator from Michigan, serving in the U.S. Senate since 2014. He is currently serving his last term, having announced he will not run again for the Senate.

MCNICHOLS CAMPUS Speaker: James E. White

James E. White is a servant leader dedicated to providing exemplary behavioral health services to the citizens of Detroit and Wayne County. As president and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, White works to drive sustainable growth for the agency by improving access and availability to services, strengthening the provider network and ensuring individuals know there is help available to anyone who is struggling with mental health, substance use or disability concerns.

White spent the majority of his career as a public servant, starting in the Detroit Police Department in 1996, working his way up to police chief, a position he held for four years. He was also executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, bridging his work in law enforcement with protecting the rights of Michigan residents, working to bring awareness and inclusion in everything from housing and education to public services in underrepresented communities.

Full information on Commencement, including maps, programs, live streaming, speakers, FAQ, etc., can be found at udmercy.edu/commencement.

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. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises. 

Years ago, Zaynab Alhisnawi’s move with her family from Minnesota to the metro Detroit area sparked her passion for community-engaged learning.

“Growing up among many different communities influenced my approach to design,” she said. “Architecture is more than just designing structures. It shapes the built environment, and designers must create with the community and environment in mind.”

Alhisnawi’s passion was later ignited at University of Detroit Mercy. On Saturday, she will graduate with a degree in Architecture from UDM’s School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD).

She was drawn to UDM because of its values of compassion, respect for all voices and meaningful engagement. These aspects aligned with Alhisnawi’s approach to design, one that encompasses the concept of working with and for community members and integrating their perspectives and spirit into her designs.

“Students are taught to balance conceptual thinking with technical skill, to be just as confident drawing structures as discussing social impact,” she said.

Her work as an intern at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) demonstrated the many layers involved in a design project and fueled her call to work in partnership with the community.

Alhisnawi said that collaborating with community partners and classmates has been essential to her growth as a designer and person.

“Community members are the true experts of their own lived experiences in a society,” she said. “Instead of making assumptions about their needs, designers must give them a voice in the decisions that impact their neighborhood and spaces.”

As a senior, Alhisnawi participated in a pair of capstone projects that left an impact on her.

Her team’s first-semester Integrated Design project was recently presented at Detroit Mercy’s Celebration of Scholarly Achievement & Community Engagement, an annual University-wide event that recognizes academic and creative achievement.

“Our challenge was to design a net-zero business incubator that is flexible for future tenants and open to the community on the main level,” said Alhisnawi. “Our group successfully achieved zero greenhouse gas emissions, and the project is one I’m super proud of.”

Her second-semester Public Interest Design capstone project focused on community-engaged design. She and her teammates sought to translate the lived experiences of community members into a building. The group experimented with sustainable design and proposed a space that connected the neighborhood and the University.

The SACD holds an annual competition where students, faculty and deans vote on the best capstone projects. This year, Alhisnawi’s team won bronze in the Student Choice category for their work on the Public Interest Design project.

“I’ve learned a lot about the technical side of the design process and the importance of early design thinking and teamwork, trusting your instincts and understanding the bigger picture — uplifting both people and place,” she said.

SACD students gain real-world experience through the mandatory cooperative education program at the DCDC. There, Alhisnawi worked with Senior Designer and Project Director Julia Kowalski-Perkins, alongside community partners, to design healthy spaces in Detroit.

“I’ve been lucky to learn from incredible mentors,” Alhisnawi said. “By working with Julia on several community projects, I’ve realized what it means to engage with the people we design for. She’s advising me on a research project focused on bringing sustainable design strategies onto our campus — something I’m passionate about.”

She also credits Assistant Professor of Architecture and Community Development Tom Provost with helping her understand that the skills developed at UDM can be taken anywhere.

“Studying Architecture has given me many creative outlets and taught me how inclusive design can be,” she said. “It’s not just about structures, but rather the people and stories inside the walls.”

Being part of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), a club that seeks to minimize the effects of racism in the profession, has been a transformative experience for Alhisnawi.

“NOMAS has shown me the importance of leadership and how activism in design can uplift minority voices to help build a more sustainable world,” she said. “It has opened many doors for me and helped me grow in ways I never expected.”

Alhisnawi will stay connected with NOMAS next year as a graduate advisor when she returns to UDM to complete her Master of Architecture.

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

Take advantage of UDM’s benefits and unlock up to 12 months of FREE access to Kaplan’s comprehensive test prep through the All Access program! Prepare for graduate school admissions exams, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and DAT, and free test prep for professional licensing exams including the bar exam, INBDE, NCLEX-RN exam and Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. Additionally, students can prepare for a number of business and financial-focused products—all at no cost to you.

Kaplan has prepared students for standardized tests for more than 85 years. Invest in your future this summer!

Available to faculty, staff and students! For more information, visit our website!

Enroll today and gain access here!

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. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises.

When Steven Meerschaert was leaving his longtime career in mental healthcare to go to law school, he never envisioned his experience going beyond the classroom setting.

“Get in there, get the degree and get out,” he thought.

But after Meerschaert arrived at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, he found it to be the exact opposite. He immersed himself in the Riverfront Campus, becoming president of two student organizations and executive director of another, among other opportunities.

“I don’t know where the line is between involved and overinvolved — I probably was on the overinvolved side,” Meerschaert said.

On Friday, May 9, Meerschaert will graduate from Detroit Mercy School of Law, grateful for how his experience turned out.

“I found that one of the most rewarding things I did here was finding communities where I believed in what they were advocating, and I wanted to advocate on their behalf,” he said. “And when I started thinking about it and doing it, I realized, ‘Well, that’s the whole reason I’m going to law school.’ ”

Meerschaert spent more than a decade working as a mental health counselor in areas of addiction and substance abuse. But he began reflecting on his career and life during the COVID pandemic. There was a sense of purpose, passion and accomplishment that Meerschaert felt from his career, but a feeling of repetition was setting in. He was working on the administrative side of mental health then and challenges started to feel the same.

“My father had passed away early in the pandemic, and I was looking at really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he said.

The law held a fascination for Meerschaert during his career, as he worked primarily with people battling addictions and who had sought treatment through legal means.

“I had these experiences that kindled an interest in law, and this seemed like the perfect time for me to make that transition,” Meerschaert said. “My daughter was at a point where she was very stable and busy and wasn’t needing quite as much of me at home.”

Meerschaert sought a law education that was going to be practical and local, so he could be present with his family. UDM checked those boxes. He began law school in the fall of 2022.

“I wanted to find something that was going to give me the best value and education for my dollar,” he said.

He jumped in with both feet.

Meerschaert started out with Moot Court, which provides students with hands-on lawyering experience through appellate court simulations. He competed in internal and national competitions through Moot Court, eventually becoming its executive director of external competitions. In that role, Meerschaert selected and developed UDM’s teams that compete nationally.

Meerschaert also led a pair of student organizations as president: the American Constitution Society and the Mental Health Association, the latter of which holds a special place in his heart.

“We are really advocating for the mental health needs of legal professionals and law students, with a special eye on advocating for the needs of the law students at Detroit Mercy,” Meerschaert said.

A 2023 study published in the journal Healthcare reported that attorneys are twice as likely as other working U.S. adults to have suicidal thoughts. Other studies show that the occupation faces significant risk for suicide.

Meerschaert’s work with the Mental Health Association earned him a spot on the Michigan Supreme Court’s Commission on Well-Being in the Law, along with Associate Dean Ieisha Humphrey. The appointment allowed Meerschaert to collaborate with judges and lawyers to help combat mental health issues in the legal profession. He also sought ways to make a difference in mental health at Detroit Mercy Law.

In 2023, Meerschaert worked with Humphrey on a Titan Innovation Fund proposal to establish mental health counseling services at the Riverfront Campus.

Meerschaert’s proposal was one of 18 to receive funding during the first year of University President Donald B. Taylor’ initiative for change.

He believed that it was important to start combatting mental health issues while students are in law school — where struggles can start to build — rather than waiting until they have graduated and are practicing attorneys. As a former counselor himself, Meerschaert said having access to mental health counseling services at Detroit Mercy Law would also help to reduce barriers that students may face in seeking help, such as lack of privacy or the high cost of care.

“I talked to a number of administrators and faculty here and all of them agreed wholeheartedly that the need is significant,” he said. “They have all come across students who are experiencing different levels of crisis, either coming from home, their past or something directly linked to their law school experience.”

Once Meerschaert walks across the Calihan Hall stage during Commencement, it will be time to study for the bar exam. He’s accepted a position at Secrest Wardle, a defense firm based in Troy, Mich., where he’s worked as a law clerk for more than a year.

As Meerschaert reflects on the past three years at Detroit Mercy Law, he is grateful for a well-rounded educational experience.

“It’s the writing, the advocating, the doctrine of learning, getting all of that wrapped into one,” he said. “That’s the real beauty of it and what I’ve enjoyed the most about my experience.”

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

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.  Click here  for more information about 2025 Commencement exercises.

For Mark Formosa, UDM “awakened” him to the power of faith-guided decision-making.

Growing up in Grosse Ile in a family rich in Maltese ideals, Formosa’s values were formed early on, particularly the importance of strong family and community bonds. These core values blossomed at UDM, where he found a tight-knit environment that supported his personal and intellectual development.

“I chose Detroit Mercy because I instantly felt a sense of community,” said Formosa, who will complete his MBA next year through the University’s accelerated BS/MBA program. “I knew I wouldn’t be just another face in the crowd as I might at other institutions. I believed I could make a palpable difference at UDM.”

Formosa embarked on the road to self-growth by first enrolling in the University Honors Program. This program challenged him to explore deeper academic experiences and purposeful campus and community involvement.

He made his mark at UDM by serving as president of the Student Government Association, and as a sophomore, he was elected president of the College of Business Administration’s Student Advisory Board (SAB). He also joined two distinguished honor societies: Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society, and Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society.

“My high school experience in a small class setting taught me to build meaningful relationships and to take initiative in group settings,” he said. “At Detroit Mercy, I was able to put my interpersonal skills to work, and I never hesitated to step up when an opportunity presented itself.”

When he came across a floundering SAB at a time when the University was still managing the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Formosa stepped up.

The SAB is a student-led organization within the CBA where students are provided a forum to connect about matters that affect the quality and nature of their education.

“When I entered UDM in the fall of 2021, student morale and engagement in the SAB was low,” he said.

With the help of alumni and fellow students, Formosa spearheaded a rescue campaign to revive the group, helping it grow to 20 to 30 active members under his leadership. Today, it sits at about 60 members and was the recipient of the 2024 Detroit Mercy Student Organization of the Year award.

“No other student organization has meant more to me,” Formosa said.

Formosa said he chose Accounting as a major because he believed “Accounting is the language of business,” but his education at UDM was more than learning to prepare balance sheets and cash flow statements. Through courses in ethics, decision making, economics and organizational design, he saw the bigger picture.

“Many of my business classes focused on making ethical decisions to help businesses and society,” he said. “While revenue is an obvious driver for businesses, at Detroit Mercy, I learned that it is only a small part of what makes a business successful.”

At UDM, students put their education to work in service of others, a part of the University mission that was key in shaping Formosa’s holistic approach to business. Guided by mentors like Director of Community Engaged Learning Tim Hipskind, S.J., and lecturer in Economics Joseph Weglarz, he sought “God’s perspective” and began to ask the deeper questions.

“Can a business share its success with employees and consumers? Does it use profits to help those in need? Does it make decisions that protect people’s health?” he said, listing some of the questions he often posed to himself.

“Service helped me realize that education is a privilege that not only expands the student’s mind, but allows us to better the lives of others as well,” he reflected. Enriching the lives of others is something he hopes to do with his MBA.

Formosa still has more to do at UDM. In 2026, he will complete his final year in the accelerated MBA program while continuing to work for Plastipak, where he has developed key skills through internships as an undergrad. He is also preparing for the CPA exam and considering a future in public service, perhaps even running for local or city council positions.

“My experience at UDM was eye-opening, and I want to help people in all the ways I can,” he said. “We will see where God takes me.”

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

McAuley School of Nursing Assistant Professor Ashlee Barnes was named an Oakland Together 40 Under 40 awardee for the Class of 2025, which recognized leaders under the age of 40 who are making a difference in Oakland Country and beyond.

She was named as a recipient of the award on April 29 and has previously been recognized as College Educator of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and was a winner of the Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence by Oakland University.

CourseDog is our new system 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, May 20 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 would like to attend the training, please email Alysa Jackson at ouelleal@udmercy.edu.