University announces 2026 Commencement speakers

University announces 2026 Commencement speakers

Commencement ceremonies for the University of Detroit Mercy are nearly one month away and UDM has announced its lineup of speakers across the four 2026 ceremonies for May 8-9 on the McNichols Campus.

Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, former president at both DePaul University and of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, is the featured speaker for the two McNichols Campus ceremonies that will be held on Saturday, May 9.

Law School graduate Brian K. Zahra ’87, who has served many years on the Michigan Supreme Court, is the commencement speaker Friday, May 8 during the graduation ceremony for Detroit Mercy Law.

Also on Friday, May 8, Detroit Mercy Dental adjunct professor Judith Jones will address the Dental graduates during the School of Dentistry ceremony.

For full information on the 2026 Commencement exercises, visit Detroit Mercy’s Commencement website.

The three 2026 Commencement speakers for UDM.
From left: Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, Judith Jones, D.D.S., and Brian Zahra.