Each year, University of Detroit Mercy chooses an alumnus from each of its Colleges or Schools to honor as someone who has excelled in his or her profession, demonstrated outstanding leadership in work and devoted himself or herself in service to the larger community. Award recipients reflect the University’s mission of excellence and service and bring pride to their alma mater. This year, the University will celebrate seven honorees at a special ceremony Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Ballroom of the Student Union on the McNichols Campus. If you are interested in attending the event, you can purchase tickets at udmercy.edu/awards.
This year, the College of Engineering & Science will honor Rose A. Ryntz ’83, President, Ryntz & Associates, LLC.
Ryntz got her start at Detroit Mercy before earning a doctorate in polymer/organic chemistry and going on to earn an Executive MBA from Michigan State University.
She has held a number of industrial positions at Dow Chemical, Akzo Nobel, Ford Motor Company, Visteon Corporation and was most recently the vice president of Global Advanced Development and Material Engineering at IAC, retiring in 2018.
Not one to sit around, Ryntz formed her own technical consulting company, Ryntz & Associates, LLC, where she serves as president. She has served on the Automotive Advisory Board of Directors for Carbon 3D, which manufactures additives; is a business development partner for 10EQS, a global consulting company; and acts as vice president of sustainability for itB Group, an international technical business consulting organization.
She has more than 50 patents, and has written more than 100 technical papers and four books. Ryntz’s many awards and honors include being named one of the Top 100 Leading Women in Automotive by Automotive News, becoming a fellow of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) and receiving a lifetime achievement award by the SPE Automotive Division.
Other honorees this year are:
College of Health Professions — Linda Walton Little ’97, president and CEO, Neighborhood Service Organization
College of Business Administration — John C. Donnelly ’72, consulting director, Donnelly Penman & Partners
College of Liberal Arts & Education — Marlena Peleo-Lazar ’72, chief creative officer (Ret.), McDonald’s Corporation
School of Dentistry — Cheri S. Newman ’89, ’90, ’98, adjunct professor (Ret.) Detroit Mercy Dental
School of Architecture & Community Design — Craig L. Wilkins ’85, senior lecturer of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan
School of Law — Patricia D. Kennedy-Scott ’78, regional president (Ret.), Kaiser Foundation Health of Ohio
