The Mission Micro-Grant Evaluation Committee and Office of Mission Integration are pleased to announce the 2025-26 Mission Micro-Grant Award recipients.
The program makes annual grants of up to $200 to any full- or part-time UDM faculty or staff member in support of activities that promote Detroit Mercy’s mission of being a Catholic, Mercy, Jesuit, urban and student-centered University.
Since its start in 2008, the program has supported over 380 mission-based projects and events. Congratulations to this year’s recipients:
- Jennifer Ahlquist (MSON/CHP): Support for a campus-wide mindfulness collective and book club
- Ashlee Barnes, Sherry McConnell, Rahima Ahmed, Matthew Rios (CHP): Support for a peer-to-peer student mental wellness campaign
- Danielle Bluford, Stacey Stevens (CHP): Support for a campus screening and dialogue featuring Detroit author and activist Dr. Yusef Shakur
- Angela Davis (CHASS): Support to stock a student pantry housed in Briggs Building
- Amy Ferguson (UDMSO): Support for a community dinner and study strategies session for Optometry students
- Sarah Foster RSM, Felicia Hartinger (University Academic Services/Student Success Center): Support to provide menstrual supplies in McNichols Campus Library public restrooms
- Cindy Gillham (McNichols Campus Library): Support for the McNichols Campus Library’s seed library
- Mary-Catherine Harrison, Melissa Converse (CHASS): Support for Rx for Reading Detroit to develop a reading celebration for its United Children and Family Head Start partners
- Sarah James, Kia Hart, Tommie Smith, Tony De La Rosa (CES): Support for meditative coloring supplies for CES students
- Andrea Kwasky (MSON/CHP): Support for a campus presentation by speakers from the National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Thad Lindsay, Chris Nichols (CES): Support to offer a hands-on workshop to local high school students in the McShane Makerspace
- Nour Lyon (CHP): Support for gratitude journals for Physician Assistant students
- Chelsea Manning (Titan Equity Nourish Network/Institute for Leadership and Service) Support for produce deliveries in collaboration with Princeton Street Block Club (PSBC) and Theresa Maxis Senior Apartments
- Molly McClelland, Megan Conrad (CHP/CES): Gift cards for community clients working with Nursing and Engineering student teams in Prototype Design & Assistive Technology courses
- Phillip Olla (CHP): Support for community digital literacy and practical AI training micro courses
- Kahtara Richardsen (CHP): Support to provide menstrual supplies in CHP public restrooms
- Alexa Rihana (CES): Support to stock a student pantry housed in CES
- Jessica Rouser (Scholarship & Financial Aid): Support to stock a student pantry housed in the Student Union
- Justin Williams (AAS/CHASS): Support for site visits for the new course AAS 3000: A Black Studies Tour of Detroit: Place-Based-Humanities
- Valerie Williams (CHASS): Support to stock a hospitality room housed in Reno Hall
Learn more information about the Mission Micro-Grants on its webpage or contact Rosemary Weatherston, director of the Mission Micro-Grant Program, at weatherr@udmercy.edu.