News Release
UDM Commencement Ceremonies held on May 13, 14 and 15
University of Detroit Mercy held its annual Commencement ceremony for undergraduate and graduate students on Saturday, May 14 in Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus. UDM School of Law held its Commencement on Friday, May 13, and UDM School of Dentistry held its Commencement on Sunday, May 15. Both the Law and Dental ceremonies were held at Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus.
At the annual undergraduate/graduate Commencement, the University honored David C. Stone, an attorney and chairperson of Bodman's Business Practice Group with an honorary degree. Stone’s law practice concentrates mainly on corporate law and estate planning. He received his B.S. from Michigan State University in 1970 and his J.D. from Detroit College of Law in 1976. Stone is a member of the Detroit Historical Society and the John Hannah Society of Michigan State University, and is an emeritus member of the Board of Visitors of Duke University Divinity School. He is also a strong advocate for the City of Detroit, non-profit groups, higher education, and has been a benefactor of UDM.
The keynote speaker for this year's Commencement ceremony was Reverend Richard Malloy, S.J., vice president of University Ministries at University of Scranton. Malloy has worked at multiple universities as director of campus ministry, as a professor of anthropology and sociology, and as a Jesuit faculty in residence. Malloy is a 1976 graduate from St. Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He received a Ph.D. from Temple University in cultural anthropology, and a master's of divinity and S.T.L. from Weston Jesuit School of Theology.
Faye Nelson, an alumna of Mercy College of Detroit ’75 and University of Detroit School of Law ’80, was the keynote speaker for the School of Law Commencement. She is the president & CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, which was responsible for building an eight-mile River Walk from the Ambassador Bridge to the Belle Isle Bridge. Prior to that position, she was a corporate attorney and director of Government Affairs for Kmart Corporation and vice president of Government Affairs at Wayne State University.
The keynote speaker for the School of Dentistry Commencement was former Detroit Lion Lem Barney. Barney was named to the all-pro team in 1968, 1969 and 1972 and played in 10 Pro Bowls. As the ultimate tribute to his NFL career, he was selected for his sport's highest honor—membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He became only the fifth cornerback in history to enter the Hall.
Barney worked at MichCon as the utility’s manager of Civic Affairs from 1979-1993 and has worked in broadcasting. For the past four years, Barney has been employed at Sinai Grace Hospital, where he is the director of Physician Relations and an associate minister at Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield. He holds a bachelor’s degree in health and science from Jackson State University.
You can read the Commencement remarks by 2011 Valedictorian Dima Daimi in Nautilus, the School of Architecture alumni newsletter, and see photos from all three Commencement ceremonies in the UDM gallery.
Congratulations to all our 2011 graduates!
Release date: May 18, 2011
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The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest private Catholic University, offering approximately 100 majors and programs in 60 academic fields. Sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the University has three campuses located in downtown and northwest Detroit.
For the 12th consecutive year, UDM was ranked among the top tier of Midwestern master's universities in U.S.News & World Report's "Best Colleges," 2013 edition.
