Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

Open All | Close All

• January 29: Cook live with Savoy Detroit chef, TENN on Feb. 25

  Thursday January 29, 2026
  

  

  For those looking for healthy, flavorful meals that won’t break the budget, Detroit Mercy alumna Melba Dearing, executive chef and co-owner of SAVOY Detroit, will hold a special live cooking demonstration on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 4:30 p.m., in Room 124 of the Health Professions Facility.

  In partnership with the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN), Chef Melba will share practical, budget-friendly cooking tips designed especially for college students. Participants will learn how to transform simple, affordable ingredients into a delicious one-pot meal while picking up real-world kitchen skills they can use every day.

  This is a free demonstration, and all are welcome.

  Chef Melba’s work bridges food, business and community impact. From leading Detroit’s celebrated SAVOY Detroit to supporting student-led food access initiatives through TENN, her approach to cooking is rooted in creativity, intention and equity. This demonstration shows how nutritious meals can be accessible and flavorful.

  RSVP here.

  

• January 29: UDM unites for wide-ranging Black History Month celebration

  Thursday January 29, 2026
  

  

  A wide variety of events featuring award-winning poets, films, talks and workshops are being planned at all Detroit Mercy Campuses to celebrate Black History Month.

  The events are designed to show the importance of Black history in the United States.

  You’re sure to find something educational, inspiring and entertaining at these events. Please see full listing of events below. Check back regularly as new events and updates will be added periodically.

  Full BHM info.

• January 29: UDM’s online graduate programs earn national recognition from ‘U.S. News & World Report’ 

  Thursday January 29, 2026
  

  

  

  Three University of Detroit Mercy online programs are ranked among the best in the nation in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Online Programs rankings. The latest rankings were published on Jan. 27.

  The College of Business Administration’s online MBA Management program cracked the top 10 and was ranked No. 8 in the country, up five spots from last year. This is the 11th year in a row that the program was ranked among the top 25 programs in the U.S.

  In addition, UDM’s overall MBA was ranked No. 276 out of 364 programs for 2026. This is the second consecutive year that the overall MBA program has been ranked nationally.

  In the College of Health Professions, the McAuley School of Nursing’s online master’s in Nursing program was ranked No. 72 out of 198 ranked programs.

  At Detroit Mercy, students receive personalized attention from faculty who care deeply about their growth and development. They leave UDM’s academic programs with more than just a degree — the University’s Jesuit and Mercy values mold graduates into compassionate leaders who are ready for success in today’s highly competitive job markets.

  In addition to national recognition for online programs, the College of Business Administration and the College of Health Professions have been lauded for other academic programs.

  Last year, UDM’s MBA program was ranked No. 16 for Graduate Management by U.S. News and World Report, while its Undergraduate Business Programs in Management and Entrepreneurship received a No. 18 ranking nationally.

  UDM’s College of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Only the top 5% of business schools in the world are accredited by the AACSB.

  The College of Health Professions, which includes the McAuley School of Nursing and School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, offers more than a dozen academic programs across undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.

  Last fall, UDM’s Physician Assistant Program was recognized as the top PA program in the U.S. The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) honored UDM with its 2025 Excellence in PA Education award, one of the highest national recognitions in the field.

  These Best Online Program rankings from U.S. News & World Report follow the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse report that ranked Detroit Mercy No. 36 nationally and No. 2 in Michigan. Detroit Mercy’s national ranking improved seven spots from the previous year.

  UDM’s ranking from WSJ/College Pulse makes it the No. 3 Catholic university in the United States and No. 2 ranked university among all Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the country.

  Detroit Mercy also ranks among the top 9% of all colleges and universities in the U.S. for career earnings, according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce research report Ranking 4,476 Colleges by ROI (2025). This data means that Detroit Mercy graduates can expect to earn more than $2.1 million in salary over their 40-year career compared with those who forgo a college education.

  Learn more about UDM’s graduate nursing and MBA programs.  

   

• January 29: Rosary devotion opens Mission Week, Feb. 2

  Thursday January 29, 2026
  

  

  To open Mission Week (Feb. 1-6), University Ministry will host a special time of prayer and reflection on Monday, Feb. 2, at 3:30 p.m., in the Holy Spirit Chapel, located in the Lower Level of the Student Union.

  Together, we will pray the rosary, a traditional Catholic devotion, in support of Pope Leo XIV’s monthly intention for January: Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

  While the rosary is a traditional Catholic prayer, all are welcome to participate. Rosary beads and easy-to-follow “how-to” guides will be provided.

  For any questions, please contact glafond@udmercy.edu.

• January 29: Mission Week activities planned on McNichols Campus, Feb. 1-6

  Thursday January 29, 2026
  

  

  Mission Week (Feb. 1-7) celebrates the gathering of our community to honor, reflect on and learn more about our Detroit Mercy mission and identity through our Mercy heritage and Ignatian traditions.

  A number of activities designed to acknowledge and teach us more about our mission and identity will take place during Mission Week from Sunday, Feb. 1, through Friday, Feb. 6, as follows:

  • Sunday, Feb. 1, at 8 p.m., Sunday Mass (St Ignatius Chapel)
  • Monday, Feb 2, at 3:30 p.m., Rosary for the monthly intentions of Pope Leo (Holy Spirit Chapel)
  • Tuesday, Feb 3, from 12:45-2 p.m., M.U.G. Hour and Conversation (Ministry Office)
  • Tuesday, Feb 3, at 7 p.m., Adoration (St. Ignatius Chapel)
  • Wednesday, Feb 4, from 6-8 p.m., Interfaith dinner and panel discussion (Student Union Ballroom)
  • Thursday, Feb 5, at 12:45 p.m., Mission Mass, sponsored by Office of Mission Integration (St. Ignatius Chapel)
  • Friday, Feb 6, from 1-3 p.m., Jummah Prayer and Social, Theme: The Legacy of Black Muslims in America (Student Union, Fountain Lounge)

  

• January 29: Teaching (and doing) reflection, faculty panel and workshop set for Feb. 6

  Thursday January 29, 2026
  

  The College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) will hold a faculty development workshop on Friday, Feb. 6, from 12-1:30 p.m., in Room 208 of the Health Professions Facility.

  This faculty development workshop will share several ways faculty can guide students through reflecting on their experiences and learning, after which participants will begin developing a new reflection activity using one of the approaches presented. Participants will leave with drafted plans for new or revised reflection assignments.

  The workshop will be facilitated by the following faculty:

  • Elaine Webber, CHP
  • Irene Brisson, SACD
  • Varinder Kaur, CHASS
  • Elena Garcia, CHASS

  The workshop is open to all faculty (not just those from CHASS), and a light lunch will be provided.

  Register here by Feb. 3.

• January 29: Speaker Josh Rivedal brings ‘The i’Mpossible Project’ to UDM, Feb. 12

  Thursday January 29, 2026
  

  

  Detroit Mercy will host an uplifting event for students focused on mental well‑being and thriving during the college experience on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 12:30-2 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom.

  As part of The i’Mpossible Project, Josh Rivedal couples stand‑up comedy with a keynote designed to teach students “How to live mentally well and crush it in college,” bringing mental health awareness to the McNichols Campus.

  Rivedal has dedicated his life and career to bring awareness to mental health issues, suicide prevention and social change. In May 2011, he launched the one-man show and suicide prevention keynote Kicking My Blue Genes in the Butt at Baruch College in New York City. In 2013, Skookum Hill published his memoir, The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitzvah, now on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s recommended reading list. In 2014, Rivedal launched The i’Mpossible Project and since then has released four additional books. He continues to provide programming that positively influences and affects people worldwide–providing hope, help and life-saving skills.

  This event is open to all students and offers an encouraging space to learn, laugh and strengthen mental well‑being.