In his knit Detroit Pistons cap and well-loved jeans, a ready smile suggesting an openness to conversation, John Freeman ’02 doesn’t seem to fit the traditional image of a poet. Yet Freeman, who publishes under the name Cal Freeman, is just that: an award-winning, widely published poet whose third book of verse, The Weather of Our Names, …
It didn’t take Jim Harrington long to get to work helping others after graduating from University of Detroit’s School of Law in 1973. In fact, he started what would become his life’s work just 36 hours later in rural Texas. “I absolutely knew what I wanted to do,” Harrington said. …
Over the past decade, Tina Castleberry’s love of gardening has blossomed into a career as a Detroit business owner. Castleberry ’92 is the owner of The Garden Bug, a seasonal garden center that sells various indoor and outdoor gardening supplies and unique yard fixtures. She opened the business in 2014 …
For more than 20 years, Michelle Murphy ’98 held onto a regret from college: the time she let fear win. It was her senior year at University of Detroit Mercy and, at that time, students in the Theatre program were required to perform a solo show in order to graduate. …
University of Detroit Mercy has named the recipients of this year’s Spirit of Detroit Mercy alumni awards. “These seven alumni are exactly the kind of people Detroit Mercy strives to create,” said University President Donald B. Taylor, who chose the honorees. “They have made a difference in their field and …
Kara Wolfbauer ’23 found her calling behind the microphone as a student at University of Detroit Mercy. It didn’t go unnoticed. Wolfbauer, who gained valuable experience as a host in Calihan Hall and at the USPBL baseball league in Utica, is now showcasing her voice, talent and enthusiasm in some …
Detroit is targeting blight in its neighborhoods with the powerful connection between art and community. “Community art is all about ownership and connection,” Bethany Howard ’21 said. “It’s about bringing people together to create something special, something that reflects their shared values and experiences.” That was the inspiration behind the …
Individually, Christa and Zach Funk are pretty impressive. But together, this couple is a force, shaping lives and the city of Detroit each in different ways. Christa ’12, ’14 is the executive director of Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS), a program that prepares students who might have thought a …
Animals have played an important role in shaping the life and work of Shakesha Alexander ’19. The Detroit Mercy Social Work alumna remembers playing with cows and horses during childhood summers on her family’s Mississippi farms and growing up alongside household dogs. Those moments sparked a love for animals, which …
Paul Manuszak ’22 has long been connected to the Jesuits. His father, Joe, works for the Colombiere Retreat and Conference Center, which is run by the Jesuits, in Clarkston, Mich. It’s also part of the reason he chose to attend University of Detroit Mercy. And now it’s a big reason …
