Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• April 06: University announces 2026 Commencement speakers

  Monday April 06, 2026
  

  

  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.

  From left: Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, Judith Jones, D.D.S., and Brian Zahra.

• April 06: DMTC presents ‘I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire,’ April 10-19

  Monday April 06, 2026
  

  

  Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) will close the inaugural season of the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre with I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire by Samantha Hurley.

  Six performances will run in back-to-back weekends, Friday through Sunday, April 10-19, in the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus.

  I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire is set in 2004 and follows 14-year-old Shelby Hinkley, who is obsessed with Hollywood star Tobey Maguire and creates a play to kidnap and marry him in her basement.

  “This play is as hilarious as it is heartfelt,” said DMTC managing director Sarah Rusk. “Shelby truly believes Tobey Maguire is her destiny, and through her obsession we get a look into the complicated emotions of growing up during the Y2K era.”

  “I absolutely love working with young actors,” said director Cassandra Svacha. “Watching them create and rise to the challenge is thrilling. I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire to college-aged kids is like a period piece; none of them were alive when this story takes place, so it’s extra fun to have them dive into this world in an anthropologic way. They aren’t reminiscing or remembering 2004, they have to study that world and build it for themselves.”

  The DMTC Ticket Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with tickets being available for purchase anytime online. Individual tickets are $25 for adults; $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni; and $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.

  Those looking to buy tickets should note that the play is rated R and contains adult language and situations, including drug use, suicidal ideation and sexual situations. See full list of subject matter.

   SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS

  • April 10: Opening Night Celebration.  Join the cast and crew following the performance for a reception in the Lower Level of the Student Union.
  • April 11: Community Night. All tickets $10.
  • April 12: Detroit Theatre Discussion Project.  Join in the discussion following the first Sunday’s matinee performance as we welcome Professor Erin Henze from the Psychology Department at Detroit Mercy to expand upon themes and ideas from the performance in a talkback.
  • April 17: College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) at the Theatre. Join CHASS in celebrating the arts on campus with $5 tickets for CHASS students and alumni with coupon code CHASS_5. Free tickets to faculty/staff of CHASS by calling 313-993-3270 or email theatre@udmercy.edu.
  • April 19: Closing Night

  Get tickets here.

  

• April 06: Graduate Admission workshop set for April 14

  Monday April 06, 2026
  

  

  Are you interested in applying to graduate school? Make your applications stand out by attending the Graduate Admission workshop at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.

  During the workshop, students will learn about best practices for requesting letters or recommendation and interview etiquette.

  The session is offered in-person in the Office of Admissions, located on the first floor of the Student Union, in Room 181, as well as virtually.

  The Graduate Admission workshop is hosted by the Center for Career & Professional Development and the Office of Admissions.

  Click here to join virtually. The Office of Admissions on the McNichols Campus of University of Detroit Mercy.

• April 06: Steven Brady to discuss Catholic perspectives on Vietnam War at CLASA Mercy Peace Forum, April 9

  Monday April 06, 2026
  

  

  Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive (CLASA) and Detroit Mercy collaborate with three other Mercy Universities — Gwynedd Mercy University, Saint Joseph’s University and Georgian Court University — along with the Peace History Society, to offer an online Mercy Peace Forum event each semester.

  The spring 2026 event is set for Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m. All are invited to this free event.

  This webinar features Steven Brady, associate professor of History at George Washington University, who will discuss his new book Less Than Victory: American Catholics and the Vietnam War, and how an earlier generation of Americans responded to the moral dilemmas posed by a troubling war.

  This semester’s event is hosted by Michael Clinton, professor of History at Gwynedd Mercy University.

  For more information contact Clinton at clinton.michael@gmercyu.edu or Director of CLASA Gail Presbey at presbegm@udmercy.edu.

  Register for webinar here.

  

• April 06: Cushing Distinguished Lecture series features Ruben Habito, April 8

  Monday April 06, 2026
  

  Ruben Habito

  The Detroit Mercy Department of Religious Studies presents the 2026 Cushing Distinguished Lecture series, featuring Ruben L.F. Habito. The lecture is set for Wednesday, April 8 at 7 p.m., in the Fountain Lounge of the Student Union.

  Habito‘s lecture is titled, “Contemplation in Action: Emerging from Helplessness to Being of Some Help amidst our Wounded and Troubling World.”

  Living in the midst of our deeply divided, demoralizing and deteriorating world, one tends to ask: “How may I be of help in alleviating this situation?” This important talk will offer guidelines for contemplative practice that may inspire and empower one to active engagement toward healing our collective woundedness on many fronts. 

  Habito is professor emeritus of World Religions and Spirituality at the Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University) and founding teacher of Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas. He is the author of Healing Breath: Zen Spirituality for Christians and Buddhists in a Wounded World, and many other titles.

  This event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. Please contact Todd Hibbard for more information at 313-993-1088 or hibbarja@udmercy.edu.

  The Cushing Distinguished Lecture Series is made possible by the generous endowment of Ralph and Barbara Cushing, alumni of the graduate program in Religious Studies at Detroit Mercy.

  Register here.

• April 06: UDM to hold conversation with Catholic thought leaders, April 25

  Monday April 06, 2026
  

  All are invited to a conversation with Catholic thought leaders to reflect together on the “Church’s Mission in this time and place.” The discussion will take place on Saturday, April 25, at 2 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom, on the McNichols Campus.

  Panelists are as follows:

  • Archbishop Edward Wiesenberger, metropolitan archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Detroit
  • Helen Marie Burns, RSM, former president of Leadership Conference of Women Religious
  • Bishop John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv. of Lexington, Ky., president of Pax Christi, USA
  • Matt Mio, professor of Chemistry, University of Detroit Mercy, expert on Laudato Si

  The session will be moderated by Bridget Deegan-Krause, author of Together Through Reflection: Themes for Those Who Lead and Serve in Catholic Organizations.

  If you have questions about the event, please contact Fr. Charles Oduke at odukeca@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1651 Register here.

• April 02: Walk to Stop the Violence set for Good Friday, April 3

  Thursday April 02, 2026
  

  

  University Ministry invites students, faculty and staff to take part in the Walk to Stop the Violence on Good Friday, April 3.

  Guns are the leading cause of death for youth, and gun violence has affected most, whether through crime, domestic violence or accidental shooting.

  Grounded in the nonviolence of Jesus, this event is an opportunity for people of faith to advocate for gun safety laws and show up to stop the violence in our communities.

  Event Schedule:

  • 5:30 p.m.: Meet at St. Ignatius Chapel (Commerce & Finance Building)
  • 6 p.m.: Prayer and reflection
  • 6:20 p.m.: Short walk (signs provided or bring your own)
  • 6:50 p.m.: Soup supper in Gesu School

  All are welcome to participate in any part of the evening.

  For any questions or to RSVP, please contact Anita Klueg at kluega@udmercy.edu.