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Air date: 5/25/25

[00:28:15]

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 5/18/25

[00:28:45]

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

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Air date: 5/11/25

[00:28:32]

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Air date: 5/4/25

[00:28:49]

Host Matt Mio is joined by Professors Heather Hill, Stephen Manning, Danielle Maxwell, Jim Tubbs, Dan Maggio, Dave Chow and special guest – Professor Molly Barlow of Detroit Mercy’s Department of English.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 4/27/25

[00:28:27]

With Professors Matt Mio, Beth Oljar, Dan Maggio, Dave Chow, Erin Bell, Jim Tubbs, Heather Hill and Stephen Manning.

ATP 2534 transcript

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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.”

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!

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!

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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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.

The Live6 Alliance will host a Spring Forward event on Saturday, May 3, from 12-5 p.m. at its Neighborhood HomeBase headquarters located at 7426 West McNichols Road in Detroit.

This FREE event will feature prizes, food, giveaways and activities for the kids and our entire community. Come out and have some fun with our neighbors. For more information, please visit www.live6detroit.org.

Congratulations and cheers to the Class of 2025! The University celebrated upcoming graduates with a senior send-off April 11 inside of the Titan Club in Calihan Hall. Check out the full gallery below to download pictures from the event.

Full gallery!

Nine Detroit Mercy students from different campuses attended the Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry Mass and cook-out with the new Archbishop Weisenburger this past Sunday, April 27.

Vice President of Mission Integration Charles Oduke provided in-studio commentary on Saturday, April 28, at the WDIV Newsroom during the funeral for Pope Francis. For more and to hear what Fr. Oduke said, please check out the video here.

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!

“People with disabilities are entirely capable of performing daily activities and tasks when they’re provided with the proper tools and support,” said Jesse Lindlbauer, a 29-year-old avid biker, who is partially wheelchair-bound after a sinus infection at age 16 traveled to his brain, causing an abscess.

Lindlbauer was one of three clients participating in University of Detroit Mercy’s (UDM) patient-centered student program Faces on Design this year, hoping to receive the right tools and support.

The program paired seniors from the College of Engineering & Science and higher-level Nursing students from the College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing to enhance the lives of people like Lindlbauer by creating a unique assistive device to address their particular needs.

“I grew up just like most people, went to public schools, played sports and hung out with my friends. In the fall of 2010, I started to get severe headaches and unbearable pain in my neck,” recalled Lindlbauer

This meant countless trips to the physician’s office over the several months — until one morning in early December, when his mother found him unconscious and breathing abnormally. Lindlbauer was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent two surgeries for a ruptured brain abscess. After the procedures, he was in a coma for several weeks, and when he finally woke, he was unable to speak, eat or even move.

After more than 14 years of rehabilitation, Lindlbauer continues to improve every day, and some students at Detroit Mercy have provided him with a tool designed to allow him to engage in a daily activity that brings him great joy.

Lindlbauer received a motorized lift/harness that will allow him to get in and out of his recumbent bicycle on his own. He enjoys cycling every day, but relies on the assistance of his parents to get him in and out of the bike.

How it works

Recent technological advances in healthcare yield better patient care and create possibilities for future innovations. By working together, nurses and engineers can generate inventive solutions to address patients’ unmet needs. These professionals share similar problem-solving approaches, which help them develop highly effective multidisciplinary teams.

The collaboration enabled Engineering students to develop innovations from concept to completion, while Nursing students applied their expertise to augment the health-related aspects of the design.

The two-semester course began with the team of students meeting the client, understanding their daily routines and then collaborating to identify a challenge they can help the client overcome.

The student team then built a prototype of their design, assessing and adapting it over the second half of the course to meet the client’s specific needs.

This year, the program had three student-client teams: Team Nancy, Team Mike and Team Jesse.

Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor Megan Conrad said Detroit Mercy’s senior capstone experience is unique when compared to other universities.

“At other institutions, students may work on a specific research project with a predefined outcome or maybe an industry project where they’re linked up with an industry partner,” she said. “At Detroit Mercy, students are paired with a patient/client, and we don’t tell them specifically what they should build. They work with the client to determine what type of need they can meet for that client, with a goal of providing something that can help the client be more independent at home, at work or in their community.”

The clients

Nancy Flaharty, who contracted polio in 1952 when she was just two years old, heard about the Faces on Design project during a routine visit with her clinician.

“I’ve used braces and/or crutches for most of my life to help me move around,” said the 74-year-old. “But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown weaker,” necessitating the increased use of her motorized scooter.

“What I really want is a magic carpet, but these Detroit Mercy kids are the next best thing. I wish I could have them on retainer,” Flaharty said.

To help Flaharty become more independent, the students designed a platform with a motorized lift to move her down the two steps from her kitchen into her garage, where she could then use her crutches to get into her vehicle.

“When we began this project, we had no idea what post-polio syndrome was,” said Steven Monaghan, an Engineering student on Team Nancy. “The biggest issue we aimed to tackle for Nancy was her inability to leave her house unassisted.”

“We’re excited to see her use the lift and not have to worry if her husband is home every day to help her get out, go to the grocery store, go see her sister, things like that,” Monaghan continued.

Sara Herweyer, the Nursing student on the team, said this class taught her to think more creatively.

“I have learned that no idea is a bad idea, and each design attempt brought us one step closer to the final design,” she said. “The collaboration of two different perspectives in a setting welcoming of all ideas fostered open communication and allowed for more creativity and structure in our design.”

For Nursing student Evie Wright — who said she is passionate about caring for vulnerable populations — this class has expanded her way of thinking by encouraging her to explore what she can do to make things better for patients, rather than making existing solutions work better.

“I was able to use my knowledge of Mike’s condition to make sure that the devices designed by my fellow students are functional and practical, so that he can actually use them safely, comfortably and efficiently,” she said.

Michael Franz suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 16 following a motor vehicle accident, which left him quadriplegic. Paralyzed from the chest down, he has no hand or triceps function, but does have good biceps strength and some wrist extension.

Though Franz could ask his caregivers to take care of his facial shaving needs, he prefers to perform this daily task himself using a handheld manual razor. Therefore, to help him get a clean shaving experience, the students designed a shaving kit for him.

The kit included an adaptive razor with a wider grip to fit Franz’s hand and a pivoting joint that rotates to follow the contour of his face, along with a shaving cream dispenser that sits on the countertop with a spring-loaded button that dispenses cream when pressed.

Wright’s contribution to the design of this device focused on safety.

“Because we designed a razor, there was a risk of compromising his skin integrity, causing bleeding,” she said. “An engineer may not have as much knowledge of this risk.”

“It’s easy to overlook how difficult it can be for someone with a spinal cord injury to perform everyday tasks – things that many of us take for granted,” said Gabriella Greenlaw, a Biology student with a minor in Biomedical Design on Team Mike.

The design students tested various spring loads on the dispenser button to adapt it to Franz’s push strength and make it easier for him to perform this essential daily task and, hopefully, make it feel more routine.

According to Franz, using this device for his daily shaving needs will avoid the sometimes shaky hands of caregivers.

To help Lindlbauer be more independent with his bike riding, the students built a swiveling support arm mounted to the wall in his garage with an attached harness that will assist him with transfers to his bike. The students hoped to make this device portable so Lindlbauer can take it with him someday when he can live alone.

“Jesse’s got a super positive attitude, and it’s inspiring how he approaches his disability so optimistically and still gets out and rides his bike and enjoys life as much as he can,” said Chris Williams, an Engineering student on Team Jesse.

During the design and building process, Engineering students considered such things as whether the device is safe, whether it will hold up and how manageable repairs would be should they be needed. Julia Fortino, the Nursing student on Lindlbauer’s team, believed nurses should be more involved in designing assistive devices where medical knowledge about a patient’s condition is crucial to the design and implementation of the device.

“I was able to critically think about Jesse using the bike lift and what might go wrong for him physically, as well as limitations the design may have regarding his condition,” she said.

During this two-semester-long project, not only did students learn the importance of communication during teamwork, but they also gained some insight about this underserved community, the members of which simply seek independence to go about their daily lives.

“There are a lot of us with disabilities who need adaptive products, though I think spinal cord injuries are relatively rare,” said Franz. “I think it’s good that more people understand the problems and complications that people like me have to deal with.”

Patrick Bone’s experience in this class opened his eyes to these obstacles.

“Wherever I go, I now notice the small details, like elevators without ramps or other barriers, that make accessibility challenging for people with disabilities,” said the Team Jesse Engineering student. “As engineers, we are so focused on the build, but this class also improved our interpersonal skills, teaching us not just how to talk to a client, but a better way to communicate with them.”

Williams, one of Bone’s engineering partners on Team Jesse, empathized with the difficulties those in the disabled community face every day just to function in the world.

“Even here in the machine shop, it’s just not set up for anybody with disabilities,” Williams said. “Wherever you go, there are accessibility issues, and just simple things that we take for granted are extremely difficult for Jesse.”

Gabriella Mirakaj, a Biology major with a minor in Biomedical Design, said this class has helped her focus more on the people behind the design, rather than just the process and mechanics.

“Working with Mike has made me pay attention to little details in designing and designing for usability and has made me feel like a better engineer overall,” she added.

Conrad said design collaborations are the key to success.

“I do believe the more perspectives we have in the design process, from both engineers and nurses, the easier it will be to mitigate some of the situations with respect to the disabled community that we might face down the road,” she said.

Students and clients met and tried their devices at a special event on April 16 in the Engineering Building’s High Bay on the McNichols Campus.

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.

A team of Detroit Mercy students, along with Tommy Titan and members from the Office of Admissions were in attendance April 22 for the 2025 Michigan Independent Colleges and Universities Day (Advocacy Day) at the state’s capitol in Lansing.

Political Science students Morgen Rhodes, Kaydence Marrogy, Donika Dedvukaj, and Nour Sobh made the trip to Lansing to help advocate for financial aid support for the University, as well as bring attention to independent higher education institutions in Michigan.

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:

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.

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!

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.