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

Air date: 10/6/24

[00:28:20]

Recorded before a live audience at Detroit Mercy’s Homecoming 2024.

Host Matt Mio is joined by Professors Heather Hill, Dan Maggio, Erin Bell, Stephen Manning, Danielle Maxwell and Dave Chow.  With special guest: Professor Brian Curtis, from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at University of Detroit Mercy.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 9/29/24

[00:28:38]

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 9/22/24

[00:28:41]

On this week’s episode, Host Matt Mio is joined by Professors Beth Oljar, Jim Tubbs, Erin Bell, Mara Livezey, Dan Maggio, Danielle Maxwell and Dave Chow.

ATP Ep. 2503 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 9/15/24

[00:28:48]

With Professors Matt Mio, Beth Oljar, Heather Hill, Stephen Manning, Danielle Maxwell, Dan Maggio and Dave Chow,  and welcoming special guest Professor Pat Pierce from  St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana.

ATP 2502 transcript – 1

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Air date: 9/8/24

[00:28:45]

Host Matt Mio is joined in the studio by Professors Beth Oljar, Stephen Manning, Dan Maggio, Dave Chow and special guest: Professor Danielle Maxwell from the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry.

ATP 2501 transcript

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Titan community, all are welcome for Detroit Mercy Night at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, Oct. 24 with the host Detroit Red Wings playing against the New Jersey Devils. Puck drops at 7 p.m. inside LCA!

Tickets for the event start at $57. The package also features a co-branded Titans and Red Wings quarter-zip in UDM’s colors and proceeds from the special package includes a donation to Detroit Mercy’s foundation of choice.

It’s the first College Night of the Red Wings’ 2024-25 season.

Purchase tickets now!

Faculty and staff are invited to the Office of Mission Integration’s half-day retreat for reflection and discussion of this year’s Celebrate Spirit theme, “Radical Hospitality,” from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8 inside of Lansing-Reilly Hall. Lunch follows the retreat.

Join Sr. Judy Mouch, RSM, and Patrick Kelly, SJ for reflection on our call to hospitality as it is rooted in our Mercy and Jesuit traditions and why it’s sorely needed in our University community in this time of polarization and conflict in our own society and wards in our world that impact students and many of us on campus in very direct and profound ways.

RSVP if you will be attending to kellypm@udmercy.edu with “Half Day Retreat” in the subject line.

Detroit Mercy Theatre Company‘s first production of the school year is WITCH, performed across two weekends, Oct. 25-27 and Nov. 1-3 at the Marlene Boll Theatre in downtown Detroit. Shows on Fridays and Saturdays are at 7:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Prepare to be spellbound by this sharp and subversive fable, where the boundaries between good and evil blur. In the quaint village of Edmonton, a mysterious figure with devilish charm appears offering to fulfill the deepest desires of its inhabitants. Elizabeth, a woman ostracized by the village and labeled a “witch,” should prove an easy target, but what unfolds is a captivating dance igniting unexpected passions and forging unlikely alliances.

In this modern twist on a class Jacobean drama, witness the transformation of a community grappling with the value of their souls in times of adversity. The show by Jen Silverman is being directed by Krista Schafer.

Full information and tickets can be found at www.DetroitMercyArts.com.

Assistant Professor Ashlee Barnes and Associate Professor Arthur Ko presented their research study titled, “Innovative Mental and Physical Interventions in Preparing Students for Educational Activities,” at the College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing Research Symposium on Sept. 28. Barnes and Ko won the Best Podium Presentation Award.

Professor of English Nicholas Rombes wrote the listening notes booklets for two new Ramones albums remasters and rereleases with Vinyl Me Please: Rocket to Russia (1977) and Too Tough to Die (1984). Both sets of listening notes contextualize the albums in their respective eras, focusing on the political and economic situations that framed their music.

Read the Forbes article here for more on the album rereleases.

Looking to take your fitness routine to the next level? The Student Fitness Center is offering a kickboxing class every Wednesday throughout the month of October, starting Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Open to all fitness levels and both students and employees, this class is designed to provide an energizing, full-body workout whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills.

To reserve your spot, visit IMLeagues.com/UDMercy. Once registered, you’ll have access to sign up for the kickboxing class, along with all of our other fitness classes. Don’t miss out—sign up today and get ready to punch, kick and sweat your way to a fitter you!

The Center for Career & Professional Development, the College of Engineering & Science and the College of Business Administration Student Advisory Board will host the 2024 Fall Career and Co-op Fair on Thursday, Oct. 10 from 3-6 p.m.

The fair will be held inside of the Student Union Ballroom and is open to all current students as well as recent UDM graduates.

Sponsored by Alliance Catholic Credit Union, the fair features more than 65 organizations and is a great opportunity for students to meet with a variety of employers as well as graduate schools to discuss full-time employment, graduate school options, co-op and internship positions as well as volunteering opportunities.

For more information or with any questions, please visit the Center for Career & Professional Development or call 313-993-1017 or email at careerlink@udmercy.edu. Current students may pre-register through their Handshake accounts.

Pre-register now.

Join University Ministry, in partnership with TENN (Titan Equity Nourish Network), on Monday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a day of exploration, service and learning centered around the topics of food justice and food insecurity. Utilizing our Ignatian and Mercy values, students will visit SDM2, an organization in Detroit that focuses on providing sustainable solutions for local Detroit residents to combat the issues of food access and insecurity.

Lunch and transportation will be provided at no cost. Students will meet in the University Ministry Office (Lower Level of Student Union across from the Book Store) at 9:30 a.m. for a light breakfast prior to departure. All students are welcome. 

For questions, please email Associate University Minister Becky Vires at rvires@udmercy.edu or visit the University Ministry office.

Reserve your spot!

Join us for the inaugural Titan Move Challenge, happening throughout the entire month of October!

This exciting event is designed to encourage fitness and activity among students as we compete to see who can be the most active on campus. Each week, participants can take part in new fitness challenges, including the fastest lap and longest plank, and enjoy our brand-new fitness classes offered this month like kickboxing and Zumba.

Don’t miss your chance to win great prizes through weekly raffles!

Sign Up Here!

The deadline of Friday, Oct. 11 is just one week away for submitting a proposal needed in order to have your course listed with a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) attribute in the 2025 Winter Term.

The Institute for Leadership and Service is hosting one last CEL proposal workshop Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Health Professions Facility, Room 124. A Bucharest lunch will be provided for all. RSVP is required.

If interested in attending the workshop, please contact Director of Community Engaged Learning Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu and state if you plan to participate online or in-person and what your meal preference may be for schwarma: Chicken, beef or falafel.

Community Engaged Learning (CEL) is a form of experiential learning in which students achieve learning objectives of academic courses through collaborative work with non-profit and community leaders on issues in our community. The proposals are a tool for engaging all CEL faculty to get input on how we can work together to enhance CEL at Detroit Mercy. Participants from the first two workshops left with a clear sense of how we will be working together toward the CEL outcomes as we move forward.

Please consider this opportunity to create and publish art through Detroit Mercy’s second annual Science Communication Art exhibit, “UNREAL.” Students, faculty and staff can submit applications through Oct. 31.

This open call is looking for clever and evocative submissions that touch on topics like futurism, science fiction, inventions, fantasy, allegory/metaphor, challenging the impossible and dystopias/utopias. There will be opportunity to apply for funding. The exhibit will run for one week in February 2025.

SciComm Art is an interdisciplinary form of expression that incorporates STEM topics, art and educational content. It includes all mediums and can range from more science-focused to more art-focused but always includes an interesting back story and engages audiences on an intellectual and emotional level.

UNREAL. Extraordinary, Impossible, Nonexistent: this multiplicitous concept serves as a source of inspiration, a rallying cry, a warning and a tool of oppression. That which is unreal is limitless, but chipping away its edges has driven innovation, science and art for millennia.

If you have questions, please email Maris Polanco at polancmc@udmercy.edu.

Artists apply here.

Help support Safety Street, Detroit Mercy’s annual trick-or-treat event, by donating candy and sweets to ensure a fun, safe and successful time for our community. All candy donations should be delivered to the Lower Level of the Student Union until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.

The largest donation from college and departments will be awarded a pizza party for their respective office. Student Government Association (SGA) will be awarding money toward any program for the 2024-25 school year. The winning student organization must meet the following criteria:

• Donate at least 15 pounds of candy by Friday, Oct. 18
• Participate in the facade building decorations party on Thursday, Oct. 24
• Stay for the entirety of Safety Street on Friday, Oct. 25 from 4:30-6 p.m.
• Clean up their respective facade and area from the Safety Street event

Safety Street, now in its 35th year, will feature a decorations event that will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 4-10 p.m. in the Student Union Lower Terrace, outside near the fountain. Students and college departments are welcome to attend the decorations event.

For more information and with any questions, please contact Adam Hollman at hollmaap@udmercy.edu.

Is the United States a pluralistic democracy or a divinely ordained promised land for European Christians? The competing visions of the nation have divided Americans throughout our history.

Bruttell Endowment for Social Ethics presents this two-night event entitled “Who Are We? Democracy, Social Values and the American Story” on Oct. 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus. Come to one or both nights.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, President and Founder of the Public Religion Research Institute Robert P. Jones will draw on recent survey data and historical research in his New York Times bestselling book The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future to examine how competing American stories continue to divide the country as we head toward the 2024 Presidential election.

Then, on Thursday, Oct. 24, Jones will moderate a discussion with an esteemed panel of local religious and academic leaders on the question of “What is Religion Becoming?”

This is a free event and is open to students, faculty, administrators and the community. Light refreshments will be provided.

Jones will be available for book signing both evenings.

The event is co-sponsored by University of Detroit Mercy College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences and the Department of Religious Studies.

Register Here!

The Detroit Mercy Libraries invite the University community to gather for a tree dedication and blessing to celebrate the life and legacy of Adia J. Palmer on Friday, Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. at Adia’s tree in front of the McNichols Campus Library.

Palmer, a Detroit Mercy Communication Studies major, Library student assistant, poet, Varsity News writer and photographer, Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) volunteer, warrior for food justice and true friend to many, passed away unexpectedly in March 2022.

A scholarship was created last year to honor her legacy of creativity, inspiration and elevation, and her desire to spread joy, peace and love to make the world a better place.

Following the dedication and blessing, UDM students, faculty and staff — especially those who knew Palmer or were touched by her tremendous spirit — are invited to stay for donuts and cider, and to share memories of Palmer, in the Library lobby.

The Becoming Fall Retreat, set for Tuesday, Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is an opportunity to get off campus, make new connections and learn tools and skills to create balance in your life through reflection, meditation, art and prayer.

Join University Ministry at the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House to reflect with fellow classmates and unwind before midterms. This retreat is focused on personal balance, but many activities will be done as a group.

Refundable deposit to reserve your spot is $20. This can be paid by cash to the University Ministry Office located in the lower level of the Student Union, across from the University Bookstore.

For questions please contact Anna Lawler at lawleran@udmercy.edu or 313-992-1925.

Register Here!

University Ministry is seeking gently worn winter coats, to give or take, for the Detroit Mercy community for FREE.

The coat rack will be located in front the University Ministry Office for the entire month of October. Any leftover coats will be donated to the Pope Francis Center in Detroit.

Gilbert A. Garcia, co-founder, managing partner and CIO of the $20 billion fixed-income asset management firm Garcia Hamilton & Associates, L.P., is the guest speaker for the Charlton Center for Responsible Investing‘s Student Visit Day on Oct. 12. The event, which coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month, focuses on exposing area Latinx sophomore, junior and senior high school students and their parents to the investment arena and career opportunities in the $82 trillion asset management industry.

Garcia, a Texas native, is a first-generation Yale University graduate. He has a genuine passion for diversity and inclusion and will be sharing his success story and encouraging those attending the event to consider a career in the money management industry.

The mission of the Charlton Center for Responsible Investing is to recruit, educate and train students desiring a career as an investment professional. A special focus is an outreach to black, brown and female students to work to offset the severe underrepresentation of this demographic in the industry.

Any UDM student wishing to attend should contact Dawna Edwards-Rodgers, director of the Charlton Center, at 313-993-3259 or edwarddj1@udmercy.edu to register no later than Friday, Oct. 4.

Detroit Mercy’s Busy Person’s Retreat is a four-week retreat run in daily life. Registration is now open for the retreat, which begins Monday, Oct. 14 and finishes the week of Nov. 8.

The retreat is designed for those who may not be able to physically get away from life/work for a few days and is held wherever you are, at your desk, in your car, in your dorm room, in your office, outside, etc.

Each week there will be a theme and selection of materials to use to pray and reflect with. Participants will be assigned a spiritual director to meet with once a week for about an hour. The spiritual director serves as a guide through the retreat process.

The retreat is open to students, faculty, staff and administrators, and is free to all participants.

For more information, visit the University Ministry retreats website or for questions please contact Anna Lawler Bryson at lawleran@udmercy.edu.

Register here!

Detroit Mercy students, staff and faculty can earn $40 through a mental health study at the University. The Department of Psychology is looking for participants for the study.

To qualify, you must be 18 or older, have experienced a traumatic event and have the ability to complete questionnaires and interview about current mental health symptoms in English. Each in-person appointment will take approximately 60-90 minutes.

Participants will be asked to fill out a few self-report questionnaires relating to traumatic experiences, relationships, emotions and coping. They’ll also be asked to participate in a confidential videotaped clinical interview regarding traumatic experiences.

The study will use the information to help clinicians diagnose trauma-related conditions and design better programs for people who have experienced traumatic events.

Please call 313-993-1486 or email Katelyn Lowe at loweke@udmercy.edu with any questions or to see if you may quality for the study.

Detroit Mercy’s 21st annual Ethics Bowl for all undergraduate students will be held on Friday, Oct. 11, from 12-4 p.m. The Ethics Bowl is a competition inspired by TV’s College Bowl, but modified rules adapt the game to the subject of ethics. The competition is a campus-wide event at the University, which involves students, staff, alumni, faculty and administrators alike.

At the Ethics Bowl, a moderator poses questions to teams of three to five students. Questions may address ethical dilemmas regarding:

• Classroom topics (e.g., cheating or plagiarism)
• Personal matters (e.g., dating or friendship)
• Professional ethics (e.g., in engineering, law, medicine)
• Social and political issues (e.g., free speech, gun control, etc.)

Many students are surprised at how much they enjoy Ethics Bowl and often enthusiastically return to compete in subsequent years. Judges and moderators are drawn from faculty, staff, administration and alumni, many of whom return every year as well. A panel of judges rates answers in terms of intelligibility, focus, depth and judgment. No specialized knowledge in ethical theory is required to compete in or judge an Ethics Bowl.

In addition, the first-place team has the honor of representing University of Detroit Mercy at a regional Ethics Bowl and may go on to compete in the national Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, which takes place at the annual meeting of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics in February.

For more information or to sign up to be a judge, contact Professor Martin G. Leever at 313-993-1135 or ethicsbowl@udmercy.edu or check out the website.

Register your team here!

Appreciative advising is a student-centered advising model that emphasizes positive relationships between advisors and students and encourages students to reflect on their aspirations, abilities and the resources they can draw on to succeed. This workshop is organized by UDM’s Academic Advising Committee and will engage new and experienced advisors in hands-on application of the appreciative advising model.

Led by Assistant Dean of CHASS Kiantee Rupert-Jones and Associate Professor of English Mary-Catherine Harrison, the workshop will take place on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 12:50-1:50 p.m. in the CETL Classroom 324, McNichols Campus Library.

All advisors and student support professionals welcome!

RSVP to Carolyn Rimle at rimlec@udmercy.edu.

College of Health Professions Associate Professor Zigmond Kozicki, Stephanie Baiyasi-Kozicki ’15 and Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) Chief Operating Officer of Water and Field Services Cheryl Porter ’02 presented at the Great Lakes Drinking Water Conference Sept. 26.

Porter, who is also the first African American president of the American Water Works Association, presented the AWWA 2050 Initiative. The Kozickis presented on the topic of “Climate Change requires One Water and One Health Strategies to Ensure Safe Drinking Water.”

All are invited to attend the Office of Mission Integration’s first special monthly liturgy on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at noon in the St. Ignatius Chapel.

Fr. Charles Oduke, Detroit Mercy’s vice president for Mission Integration, will celebrate the liturgy and preach on a theme central to our Mercy-Jesuit educational mission. There will be a pizza lunch afterwards in the Commerce & Finance Building, Room 238.

At each monthly OMI liturgy and lunch, colleagues from different parts of the University have the opportunity to gather and reflect on a theme central to the Mercy-Jesuit educational mission.

Persons of all religious backgrounds and/or those not affiliated with a religious tradition are encouraged to attend.

The 2024 Faculty Recognition event is set for Friday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. inside of the Student Union Ballroom. Full-time faculty, administrators and guests will all receive an invitation for the evening. Hors d’oeuvres and dinner precedes the awards ceremony.

The event not only honors two distinguished Detroit Mercy faculty members, but also recognizes faculty from all of Detroit Mercy’s campuses, who contribute to the mission of the University and the education and development of UDM students. Being honored with awards are:

• Professor Claudia Bernasconi, School of Architecture & Community Development
• Assistant Professor Nadine Wodwaski, College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing

An electronic email invitation with additional information will be sent soon. We look forward to seeing everyone on Nov. 1!

Faculty Awards.

The Women’s and Gender Studies Program encourages the Detroit Mercy community to attend these three important Office of Equal Opportunity sponsored events.

Take Back the Night! — Monday, Sept. 30 from 7-8:30 p.m.: Meet at the Student Union for this short program, followed by a march to protest gender-based violence, support safe communities and stand in solidarity with people affected by sexual violence and discrimination. Pizza, drinks and snacks to follow. RSVP HERE!

Empowerment self-defense class — Oct. 11 at noon and 1:30 p.m.: Learn the basics of self-defense in this free, interactive class in the Fitness Center. SIGN UP HERE!

TheatreLab’s Ripped — Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.: One night only performance of Rachel Bublitz’s play exploring memory, consent and the search for clarity performed at Live 6 Alliance Event Space. Reserve your free ticket HERE!

All are welcome to attend these FREE events!

In an effort to support industry-sponsored partnerships, University of Detroit Mercy’s College of Engineering & Science was recently one of five institutions in a consortium awarded $2 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The consortium includes UDM, Andrews University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, University of St. Thomas Engineering and Western New England University. Each school will receive $400,000 over three years as part of the grant from NSF’s Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program.

“This grant will better enable Detroit Mercy faculty and students to engage with industry-sponsored projects,” said Rick Hill, associate dean for research and external initiatives for UDM’s College of Engineering & Science. “Working on such projects provides our students the kind of experiential learning that is core to a Detroit Mercy engineering education, while also benefitting our faculty by keeping their skills current and helping them gain a better understanding of the needs of our industrial partners which they can then bring back to the classroom.”

The focus of the grant is on emerging technologies prevalent in engineering and computer science programs at UDM, they include artificial intelligence, physical cybersecurity, product innovation, and robotics and autonomy. Potential opportunities for other disciplines include pure sciences, health professions, business and computer information systems.

Hill said UDM will benefit from working with the other consortium members during the tenure of the grant, using each other’s strengths and experiences to support one another.

The grant also serves as an opportunity to build new partnerships with those in the industry.

“Engineering at Detroit Mercy has a long history of industry engagement, an example of this is the cooperative internships required of our students,” Hill said. “We plan to use this award to build on those relationships to expand the amount of industry-sponsored research conducted at the University.”

Alumni, friends of the University and any potential industry partners interested in working with the College of Engineering & Science can contact Hill at hillrc@udmercy.edu.

Now in its 17th year, the Mission Micro-Grant Program awards annual grants of up to $200 to any full or part-time Detroit Mercy faculty or staff member in support of a wide range of activities that promote Detroit Mercy’s mission of being a Catholic, Mercy, Jesuit, urban and student-centered university.

There are only four criteria a project or activity must meet to be considered for a Mission Micro Grant:

• The project or activity must promote one or more elements of Detroit Mercy’s mission.
• You must personally be involved in the project or activity.
• You must be employed by the University during the time the project or activity takes place.
• The grant monies must be spent in the same fiscal year in which they are received.

Please visit the Mission Micro-Grant website to learn more about what type of projects are eligible for funding and project deadlines. You can also browse previously-funded projects and activities.

The application process is very simple. This year’s one-page online applications are due Friday, Oct. 11.

Questions can be sent to Rosemary Weatherston at weatherr@udmercy.edu.

Submit application here!

Detroit Mercy will host the 19th annual Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 17-18 on the McNichols Campus. This year, students, staff, administrators and faculty are invited to attend the environment-centered event for free.

This year’s theme is “Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Celebrating Our Interdependence” and it will be, as always, a platform for community members to network and highlight innovative approaches to environmental and social challenges.

This year’s highlights include tours to environment-related destinations within Detroit along with many “learnshops,” which offer hands-on activities and panels with special guest speakers.

Registration includes bus transportation and lunch for Detroit Mercy students and employees, but is limited due to the size of the venue, so register early.

For others, registration is “pay as you are able,” with a minimum of $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Adult programming is 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. The youth program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

More information on Bioneers/register here.

Would you like to see your writing, photographs or visual art published?

All Detroit Mercy students can submit their work to the UDM student arts journal, [sic], which is looking for poems, short stories, personal essays, both color and black and white photographs and other visual artwork to publish in its next issue. The journal is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

[sic] offers $100 prizes for the best visual, poetry and fiction/prose submissions. There is no limit to how many submissions a student may make.

Students should send in their submissions online with the deadline set for Friday, Oct. 11.

Please contact Associate Professor of English Rosemary Weatherston with any questions at weatherr@udmercy.edu.

Submit to [sic].

Professor of History Greg Sumner reflected on the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter on WJR-AM radio with host Kevin Dietz on the occasion of Carter’s 100th birthday. You can listen to it HERE, by searching “Happy 100th Birthday President Jimmy Carter.”

College of Health Professions Associate Professor Zigmond Kozicki and Stephanie Baiyasi-Kozicki ’15 presented Sept. 26 at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Conference in Novi on the topic of “Climate Change Requires One Water and One Health Strategies to Insure Safe Water: Making the Future Stronger with Water System Resiliency.”

Climate change will create conditions that require changes to the Safe Water Act of 1974. Public Health will become more influential in the regulation and availability of drinking water worldwide. This session explored how utilizing One Water and One Health strategies communities can provide safe, affordable drinking water in response to future ongoing environmental threats.

During the month of November, the Catholic Church remembers family and friends who have died. University of Detroit Mercy joins the universal church in celebrating the lives of those we know and love with the Mass of Remembrance, held Sunday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. inside of the St. Ignatius Chapel.

November highlights this tradition with two feast days, All Saints Day and All Souls Day, during the first two days of the month.

This liturgy is open to everyone, and if you would like to honor a friend or family member, please join us for the service. Complete the registration form below to have your loved one’s name added to the list and to RSVP.

RSVP for Mass of Remembrance.

Five College of Business Administration alumni will be honored during the annual Business Leadership Awards on Sunday, Oct. 13.

The event begins with Mass at 10 a.m. in the St. Ignatius Chapel, followed by brunch and the awards ceremony at 11:15 a.m. at the Detroit Golf Club. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online until Sept. 23.

CBA annually recognizes exemplary individuals who demonstrate professional success, outstanding contributions to society and embodiment of the Jesuit and Mercy values. This year’s honorees include two lifetime achievers, who will be inducted to CBA’s Hall of Honor, and three rising stars.

Lifetime Achievement Award recipients:

• David R. Fitch ’79, ’83, senior vice president (retired), Chemical Bank
• Jeffrey T. Antaya ’80, ’87, partner & chief marketing officer (retired), Plante Moran

Rising Star Award recipient:

• Gabriela Santiago-Romero ’15, councilmember, City of Detroit
• Travis Spencer ’11, ’15, head of supplier diversity, Ford Motor Company
• Nicole Fitch ’18, ’19, operational risk associate, Goldman Sachs

Purchase tickets online.

The first President’s Town Hall of the 2024-25 school year is set for Tuesday, Oct. 1 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Fountain Lounge on the McNichols Campus.

The town hall is an opportunity for employees to ask questions of and share comments with the President’s Council members, along with mix and mingle with UDM colleagues. Donuts, cookies and cider will be served to those who attend.

The 2024 Wellness Expo will take place on Thursday, Oct. 3 from 12-2 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. The expo is free for all students and employees.

Many local wellness vendors will be present, such as Skin Bar, who will be giving out skin care products, and Healthy Eats with Dee, who will be distributing free healthy juice.

Raffles, snacks and fun activities will be provided! In addition, we will have our favorite guests back, the therapy dogs!

Also, specifically for employees, we will have all UDM benefit companies there and free blood pressure readings!

Learn more about traveling to India with Detroit Mercy through an online informational session on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Students will learn more about the trip dates, costs and grant opportunities during this meeting.

Visit United Nations Educations, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites in the cities of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, including a visit to the famous Taj Mahal.

Register for virtual info session!

Interim Dean and Associate Professor of Law Nicholas Schroeck was named to the 2024 Class of Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellows. He is the only law dean and faculty member named to be a Fellow.

Each year, the Michigan State Bar Foundation recognizes Michigan lawyers for their professional excellence and service to the community. Fellows embody the highest traditions of the legal profession and make a difference in the administration of justice.

Professor of Psychology Steven Huprich was a guest Sept. 29 on WXYZ-TV Channel 7’s Spotlight on the News. Show host Chuck Stokes interviewed Huprich on how people can navigate the anxiety and tension that many are experiencing surrounding the upcoming election.

Watch the full interview.

Did you take some great photographs this summer? Enter your photo(s) in the second annual Detroit Mercy Photography Contest!

Photography offers a mode of creative communication and a lens into the communities we inhabit and visit. Photographs can capture various moments and expressions, people, places and events. As such, the Office of Academic Affairs and Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning would like to invite all Detroit Mercy community members to submit digital photographs for consideration as part of a special 2024 photography contest.

You can submit one photograph per category. This contest is open to all employees and students across all UDM campuses who will be employed or enrolled in Fall 2024. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 3, 2024.

First-place winners in each category will receive cash prizes and an enlarged, mounted copy of their winning photograph!

Be sure to visit the UDM photo contest page for contest rules, submission and release forms, and to view the previous winners.

Current categories for submissions include:

• Abstract/Conceptual: Images of unusual patterns, lighting or objects recognized for their design element (i.e., streaking light photos, mechanical structures, reflections in glass or metal, etc.)*
• People: Photos of people, alone or in a group. Such pictures may be candid, humorous, journalistic or interpretative portraits where an emphasis is placed on the person, not the environment.*
• Nature/Scenic: Images of animal life, plant life, wild creatures, insects, landscapes, seascapes, underwater, architectural, industrial scenes, seasonal scenes, etc.*
• After Dusk to Dawn: Details the photographic imagery captured after the sun goes down. This includes but is not limited to starry skies, life under neon lights, streaking traffic lights, night life, etc.*
• Digital Manipulation: Images are to be digitally enhanced or altered to create a different photograph other than what was originally taken. Removed images, inserted images and cloned images may be used to create a different picture. Images should still appear to be a photograph and not a collage. All images used are to be from the photographer, not taken from other sources.

*Appropriate and accepted image enhancement in these categories must be limited to minor adjustments such as contrast, exposure, cropping, HDR, dodge and burn.

For inspiration, take a look at the 2023 winners and honorable mentions. Last year’s winners and honorable mentions included an administrator, nine students and three professors across multiple colleges and disciplines.

The photos of last year’s winners will be displayed in the Office of Academic Affairs for the 2024-2025 academic year!

You may direct any questions to photocontest@udmercy.edu.

Call for judges: If you are interested in serving as a judge for the 2024 photo contest, please send an email expressing your interest to photocontest@udmercy.edu for consideration.

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For a sixth year in a row, University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) was ranked among the top national universities by U.S. News & World Report in its Best Colleges 2025 edition.

The University is ranked in the National University category and its place is virtually unchanged from the 2024 list. But there were several areas where rankings improved substantially:

• Best Value Schools, National Universities — No. 28 (up from No. 31 in 2024)
• Undergraduate Business Programs-Finance — No. 36 (up from No. 50 in 2024)
• Undergraduate Nursing Program — No. 149 (up from No. 183 in 2024)
• Entrepreneurship — No. 18 (up from No. 31 in 2024)  

 The University’s rankings in Undergraduate Business Programs-Management (No. 24) and Best Colleges for Veterans, National Universities (No. 134) were also nearly identical to the 2024 rankings.

The U.S. News rankings put Detroit Mercy among the top five universities in Michigan and the top independent institution in the state.

“We are thrilled that U.S. News & World Report continues to rank UDM among the top institutions in the country,” said President Donald B. Taylor. “Their algorithm recognizes our value to our students, alumni and the community, and that is gratifying and important.”

In recent news, the University announced the opening of a new dental education center in Vermont. It will be the first dental school in the state and will provide quality dental care to Vermont residents, who often must wait years to see a dental professional.

In addition, the University welcomed its largest first-year student class since 1990 when the University was formed by the merger of Mercy College of Detroit and University of Detroit. In total, 651 new freshmen joined the University community. Also, the University will continue its Titan Edge program, which provides a Detroit Mercy education tuition free to high-achieving students who are eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant and the full Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

University Advancement will present a lunch-and-learn session for faculty and staff seeking information on alumni affairs, annual giving, advancement and marketing and communications. This event takes place Wednesday, Oct. 23, in Room 208 of the Student Union from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Seating and a free box lunch are limited to the first 25 who register.

The goal of the “Ask The Experts” lunch-and-learn session is to provide attendees information on advancement services, annual giving, major gifts, alumni relations and marketing and communications. These sessions also discuss current best practices used within each area and around the country by higher education organizations.

The Oct. 23 session will focus on the specific topics:

• Alumni Affairs: Most Effective Ways to Engage/Communicate with Alumni
• Marketing & Communications: How to Plan and Promote Your Events for Maximum Success
• Annual Giving: Day of Giving
• Advancement: Partnering with your Dean and Development Director for Major Gifts

We respectfully request that you share this information with faculty and staff in your college and departments. The goal is to provide our University community with clear and impactful information to help with alumni affairs, marketing and communications, annual giving and advancement initiatives designed to impact your college, students and all UDM stakeholders.

For more information, please email marcom@udmercy.edu.

Register Here by Oct. 10.

Join the University for the Detroit Urban Health AI Challenge, a groundbreaking event where technology meets community needs. This two-day hackathon, organized by Detroit Mercy, is designed to foster AI innovation to address Detroit’s urgent urban health challenges.

Work with technology companies and community organizations, showcase your talent and win exciting prizes on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., inside of Room 124 of the College of Health Professions Building on the McNichols Campus.

Supported by the Titan Innovation Fund, this event offers a dynamic platform for experimentation, learning and advancing the responsible use of AI in healthcare. This is an excellent opportunity for students, community members and professionals to develop actionable AI solutions that can transform health outcomes for Detroit residents.

Register Here!

Join the Center for Practice & Research in Management & Ethics (PRIME) for “A Personal and Professional Perspective on Civil Rights,” featuring Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal. She will share her insights from a career dedicated to supporting workers and championing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

This event will take place at on Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and learn from a respected leader in the field.

This event is free and open to the public with advanced registration.

Reserve your spot here!

Students, alumni, employees, family, fans and friends are all invited to join in the festivities at the University’s Homecoming, set for Saturday, Sept. 28 on the McNichols Campus.

A full day of events has something for everyone, from games and tours to informational sessions and a battle of high school marching bands.

Among the highlights are the annual bike tour of the historic areas surrounding the McNichols Campus, a men’s soccer game, a non-competitive alumni kickball game, a taping of Detroit Mercy’s long-running show, “Ask the Professor” and a reader’s theatre performance.

The main event is the Fall Festival which is slated to begin at 4 p.m. It features hayrides, a rock wall, bubble soccer, food trucks and a petting zoo, all located inside or near the Student Fitness Center. After dusk, a bonfire will be lit to celebrate all Titan Athletic teams!

Also included in the weekend’s events are a KBG Luncheon, a 50th reunion for the Class of 1974 and the presentation of 2024’s Alumni Achievement Spirit Award honorees.

Volunteers are also still needed to assist with the celebration of Homecoming. Visit this link for more information on how you can get involved!

Full Homecoming info!

Take Back the Night! returns on Monday, Sept. 30 from 7-8:30 p.m. on the McNichols Campus. Participants are asked to meet outside of the Student Union, Lower Level.

Join the Feminist Coalition, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the Office of Equal Opportunity for a short program followed by a march to protest gender-based violence, support safe communities and stand in solidarity with women and others affected by sexual violence and other forms of discrimination.

There will be pizza, drinks and snacks for all after the march!

Register here!

Titan community, join us for the Adia J. Palmer pop-up shop during Homecoming on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. inside of the Fountain Lounge on the McNichols Campus.

Discover a curated selection of unique goods. Support a meaningful cause in honor of a cherished member of the Detroit Mercy community. All proceeds provide financial assistance to students in need.

For more information, email palmervl1@udmercy.edu.

Learn more and donate!

Detroit Mercy’s Chaldean American Student Association is working with other university groups to collect school supplies for students of all ages in Iraq.

A variety of supplies or monetary donations are needed by Friday, Sept. 27!

If you are interested in donating, you can drop off supplies to a box located outside of the University Ministry office in the Student Union or to Room 05 in the Commerce & Finance Building.

To make other drop-off arrangements, please email gatheredbygrace.info@gmail.com.

Don’t miss this opportunity to network with alumni leaders during Homecoming weekend.

The College of Business Administration’s Student Advisory Board (SAB) will hold a free leadership networking event during Homecoming weekend. The discussion and open mic/Q&A session will take place on Friday, Sept. 27, from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. The event will feature alumni Asia Rawls ’18 from Magna International and Tiquita Bell ’11, ’14, an author and entrepreneur, discussing “The Highs and Lows of Leadership.”

All are welcome.

Register here!

The Vermont State Dental Society (VSDS), University of Detroit Mercy (UDM), Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Peter Welch are partnering to bring an innovative Dental Oral Health Education Center to Vermont in fall 2027.

This new dental clinic and education program would bring UDM students to Vermont to complete their final years of training – strengthening the dental care provider pipeline and expanding access to much-needed care across the state.

At a press conference on Sept. 20, VSDS, UDM, Sanders and Welch celebrated the program receiving its accreditation from the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA) – an essential step in establishing the teaching program in Vermont.

Sanders and Welch are working to secure $4.6 million in federal funding through the FY25 Congressionally Directed Spending process to support this historic initiative. The funding was recently approved by the Appropriations Committee and needs to be passed by the House and the Senate before being signed into law by President Joe Biden.

“By partnering with University of Detroit Mercy, we are opening doors to educational opportunities that haven’t existed before in Vermont, and increasing access to oral healthcare for Vermonters as well,” said Justin Hurlburt, board president of the Vermont State Dental Society. “We are excited to partner with Detroit Mercy on this opportunity to expand the dentistry workforce in the state,” he added.

“University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry has a long tradition of graduating practice-ready clinicians and it is an honor to help bring the Detroit Mercy DDS program to the Green Mountain State,” said Mert N. Aksu, dean of Detroit Mercy Dental. “UDM recognizes the need for dentists in Vermont, and looks forward to providing a program to educate and graduate dentists in the state.”

“The suffering that the dental care crisis causes Vermonters and people across this country too often goes unseen and unaddressed,” said Sen. Sanders. “Far too many, especially in rural areas like Vermont, do not have access to a dentist, which forces them to either travel long distances or go without the care they need. In some Vermont counties, there is a year-long waitlist. In others, there are no dentists at all who treat kids with Medicaid. And because we don’t have a dental school in the state, there’s no natural pipeline for dentists to train and eventually work in our communities. It is time for that to change. This historic initiative brings me a lot of hope for the care and education opportunities we can deliver to Vermont. I am proud to partner with the Vermont Dental Society, University of Detroit Mercy, and Senator Welch to make this a reality. Let’s get it done.”

“This accreditation is an important step forward in the process to expand access to dentists here in Vermont, so every patient can get the care they need. I look forward to working with Senator Sanders on this important issue, and will continue to advocate for more federal funding to support workforce development in dentistry and health care across our state,” said Sen. Welch.

University of Detroit Mercy-Vermont will increase oral health education opportunities and address the statewide dental provider shortage. The tentative location for the new center will be in Chittenden County.

VSDS, a nonprofit professional healthcare organization whose mission is to improve the oral health of Vermonters and to serve the profession of dentistry in the state, is pioneering the new institution with UDM as it brings more than 90 years of experience in educating dentists worldwide.

Beginning in the fall of 2025, the partnership between VSDS and UDM will include two years of foundational and preclinical education at the UDM School of Dentistry Campus in Detroit, followed by two years of clinical and didactic education at a new dental clinic based in Colchester. The University of Detroit Mercy-Vermont dental program will offer DDS dental education in the state of Vermont, accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA).

University of Detroit Mercy-Vermont will house modern classrooms with on-site clinics to support its clinical education program and serve as a public health Medicaid clinic to provide dental care to qualifying individuals. Extending its reach beyond its Colchester facility, the new dental program will partner with clinical organizations in Vermont to reach areas with a shortage of dental health professionals and underserved populations.

Are you interested in getting involved with student organizations?

Detroit Mercy’s Student Life Office is seeking faculty, staff and administration to serve as moderators (advisors) and make a positive impact in our University community. Get involved, offer a hand and become a part of something bigger than yourself. Visit the Student Code of Conduct website and click on Student Organization Policy to read more about responsibilities of organization moderators.

Submit interest form here!