“The time I spent at U of D was amazing and the friends I made were priceless, although we have lost touch. I hope this post will allow us to reconnect. My favorite professors were Dr. Cindy Langham and Michael McCoin. I can remember participating and competing against friends in the annual speech competition. If I remember correctly, the last time I competed it was against Lori Irla and Lauri McKinnon. Lori won first place and Lauri won second. I received a certificate of participation. It wasn’t the winning that mattered but being there with some truly great friends. As I write this I keep remembering other things, like working part time in the financial aid office, and just hanging out in the student center. These were definitely good times.”
—Felecia Seldon ’91 College of Liberal Arts & Education
“I had tremendous learning experience at UDM, all through my three graduate degree programs, 1992-94 M.E. Electrical Engineering, 1994-96 MBA, and 1996-1997 MA Economics.
I have many cherished memories from the times that I spent with learned professors under their astute guidance. But the most poignant one is that of my time working as a cook at the UDM Jesuit Residence — Lansing-Reilly Hall, during fall 1992. As an international student, this was my very first Job in the United States, earning a full $4.35/hr. I used to start my work at 5 a.m. and cook bread for the Jesuit priests. And had great privilege to serve them all different kinds of breads, as part of their morning breakfast. It was labor of love and gift to be in their service.
To this day, I cherish the values and virtues of humility, simplicity and transparency that I witnessed there.”
—Himanshu Gandhi ’94, ’96, ’97 College of Engineering & Science, College of Business Administration
“When I began my University experience in 1961 (at the upper age of 26), the foundation of my chosen career also began. As I progressed, the University environment nurtured my development and helped to bring about the profession that I aspired to. Finally, in 1967, I became a Bachelor of Architecture, my diploma signed by my favorite Dean Bruno Leon, our great mentor.
As my profession unfolded, I felt the faculty inspiration and influence that I acquired during the years in the School of Architecture and the University itself. I am extremely satisfied with the impact that the U of D had on my life. For almost 50 years I have thoroughly enjoyed my profession that grew out of my education. I hope that the University of Detroit Mercy continues to do well as it has done for this grateful alumnus,
Our class of 1967 remained in close communication over the past 49 years. One of the highlights of our class was the 40th reunion that occured on May 19, 2007 in the Warren Loranger Architecture Building. The photo shows the classmates who attended.”
—August Caringi ’67 School of Architecture
This photo is of our 40th reunion in 2007 and was taken in the Warren Loranger Building on the McNichols Campus. The location of this photo was at the Detroit Mercy School of Architecture building when the 40th reunion took place. Our guest of honor was professor John Loss. Top row from left, Fran Scott AIA, Jim Meloche, Vince Lyons, Paul Mirski, Joe Vargo, Tom Paczkowski and Tony Mielke. Front row from left are professor John Loss, Robert Makara, Brian Miller, Anthony Buchinger, Tom Anglewicz FAIA, Frank Dolasinski and August Caringi AIA.
Jesuit philosophy has always been my moral compass. It guided my professional life as a teacher and later as a college administrator. U of D was always thoughtful toward students — an excellent model to follow during my career. Besides the regular academic curriculum, my peers and I were encouraged to be involved in university life. We worked on the yearbook and the great fund raising project , the Carnival. Friendships developed during those years (’49-’53) continue to be part of our lives today. I would hope that today’s students benefit from University of Detroit Mercy as much as we did.
—Edward Nussel ’53, College of Liberal Arts & Education
“U of D Faculty provided the entire Jacobs family (two of my sons—Paul J. and Peter—graduated in the 1990s with D.D.S. degrees, too) with the finest enjoyable education that we appreciate beyond words. Dean Rene Rochon enabled me to try out in Olympic Tryouts while in Dental School. He was very supportive of athletes and was a personal friend of all students. I became a Nordic ski jumping judge and worked for the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics and throughout Europe. I was also a ski jumping coach for many years. I was inducted in the Ski Jumping Hall of Fame in Red Wing, MN, in 2014.”
—Paul A. Jacobs, D.D.S. ’58, ’70—School of Dentistry
“I grew up around the University of Detroit, since our dad (Dr. Chuck Dause) was a professor, department chair then Assoc. Dean of Liberal Arts. We went to many of the home basketball games as kids watching future NBA players, coaches and commentators. Even though we lived only 25 minutes away, I chose to live on campus for my entire undergraduate time of U of D and loved it! The connection with my teacher/advisor, Cynthia Langham, was invaluable to my success as a student and opened multiple doors during and after graduation for experience and contacts in my field. She and I are still in contact today! She may not know the value and importance of networking with colleagues I come in contact with that she taught me; it has stayed with me into my professional career. Lifelong friendships were made on and around campus along with many life lessons learned while at U of D.
There is a huge advantage to alumni of such a close-knit school and community to stay in contact with one another and reach out to connect professionally.”
—Kathleen (Dause) Novetsky ’90 College of Liberal Arts & Education
“Let’s start with my father, William J. Giovan, Sr., a dentist. He told me once that he had made a generous contribution toward the construction of the Alumni Memorial Building, now known as Callahan Hall, because he never would have become a dentist, but for the University of Detroit Dental School, which was established just in time for him to be able to attend. He was a member of its first graduating class in 1935.
When I myself started as an undergraduate in 1954, similarly, it was the only affordable Catholic University I could attend. Besides giving me a quality education, U of D gave me the opportunity to participate in several extracurricular activities, and I spent all four years as a member of the fencing team, the U of D Players, and the debate team. I’m sure that all those facilities wouldn’t have been available to me at a smaller school, and I expect that the competition would have been a hindrance in a larger one.
I went on to a more or less successful career in the law. I doubt that all of this would have been possible had I gone to school elsewhere.”
—The Hon. William Giovan, Jr. ’58, College of Liberal Arts & Education
Kathleen (Nacy) Stasys ’69 was one of many alumni who visited the Detroit Mercy videobooth at Homecoming to talk about what the University means to them. Click here to see what she had to say. Her name was drawn at random from those who participated to win a basket of Detroit …
