CHASS faculty and staff convened in the Architecture Exhibition Space on Wednesday, August 19th to kick off the 2025-2026 academic year. Dean Jocelyn Boryczka launched this year’s focus on radical transformation, challenging us all to reach for the magis, the more by making a big or small change in our professional lives with the focus on student learning.
Dean Jocelyn highlighted our College’s continued growth in enrollments, community partnerships, and grant success, and facilities advances such as the Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre and renovations to CHP where the Counseling and Addictions Studies and Psychology departments will move in 2026. Dean Jocelyn recognized significant accomplishments and awards of faculty and staff, including tenure and promotion decisions, recognition awards, and major grants. She concluded by expressing her gratitude to the CHASS community for their unrelenting commitment to transformative education over the past three years as she begins her fourth year as Dean.
Initiatives such as the Discover Detroit Series, Student Ambassador Program, and Appreciative Advising were spotlighted as key to building community and connection as we increase student retention in the College. The Director of African American Studies, Prof. Justin Williams previewed the program’s events such as the Six Mile Meet Ups and Alumni Reception. Lara Wasner, Director of Language and Cultural Training, shared the exciting Colleg’s exciting global engagement from India to Tanzania and the upcoming Spring 2026 immersion experience in Mexico.
The College meeting set the tone for an energized start to the year as our community felt inspired its accomplishments and the opportunities to come.