News Release
University Community will "Celebrate Spirit!" to Begin the New School Year
UDM faculty, staff and students will gather on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 11:30 a.m. in Gesu Church, one block north of UDM's McNichols Campus, for their annual "Celebrate Spirit!" event.
PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE FOR SERVICE
This event gathers the entire University community together to rededicate everyone to UDM's mission, to renew friendships, and to welcome new members. A longstanding tradition, “Celebrate Spirit” is a symbol of the beginning of a new academic year. The festivities include a worship service for all faiths in Gesu Church (see info), followed by a picnic lunch and student organization fair on McNichols Campus around the Fisher Fountain.
“Celebrate Spirit” will be celebrated by UDM President Gerard L. Stockhausen, S.J Rev. Gerard L. Stockhausen, S.J., Ph.D. He was appointed UDM president effective on July 1, 2004. A doctoral graduate in economics from the University of Michigan, Stockhausen's academic expertise is in the area of international economics, including trade theory and policy, political economics and social ethics. During the 1991-92 school year, he was a visiting associate professor of Economics at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.
In addition to his doctorate in economics, Stockhausen holds a master's degree in social ethics, a Master of Divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California and a master's degree in mathematics from St. Louis University. Prior to being appointed president, he served as UDM's Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.
He currently serves on the boards of Detroit Downtown, Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, New Detroit and on the executive committee of the Board of Advisors for University Commons community organization.
His professional affiliations include serving as director of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and as a member of the Council of Presidents, Conference for Mercy Higher Education. He is a board director for Wheeling Jesuit University and Creighton University as well as a trustee of Loyola Jesuit High School, Detroit.
In addition, Fr. Stockhausen is a director of the Ignatian Lay Volunteer Corps and a director of the Horizon League Athletic Conference.
For more information regarding Celebrate Spirit! and a complete list of Founders Celebration activities, please visit www.udmercy.edu/founders-celebration.
Release date: September 15, 2009
# # #
