College of Liberal Arts and Education News

College of Liberal Arts & Education (CLAE) alumnus Elmore Leonard '50 returned to UDM Feb. 27 with his son Peter Leonard for a lecture followed by a question and answer session and book signing. The event was attended by more than 150 alumni, students, faculty and staff.

Elmore Leonard studied Philosophy and English at University of Detroit and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1950. In 1997, UDM awarded Leonard an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters. He was also awarded the UDM Alumni Achievement Award in 2007, and in 2010, CLAE inducted Leonard into its Hall of Honor.

An author of more than 45 novels/screenplays, Leonard is currently executive producer for the television show “Justified” on FX, based on his novel Fire in the Hole. Many of Leonard's novels have been adapted to film, such as “Get Shorty,” “Out of Sight,” “Hombre,” and Rum Punch, which was filmed as “Jackie Brown.” Leonard discussed his latest novel Raylan, as well as his life and career as a writer. Raylan is the fourth installment of Leonard's mystery and crime series that follows U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens and his ongoing battle with corruption in a Kentucky coal-mining town.

Leonard was awarded the 2012 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by the National Book Foundation. The award recognizes his outstanding achievement in fiction writing. Also, the film adaptation for Leonard's 1957 short story 3:10 to Yuma was one of 25 films to be added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for 2012 and was chosen for preservation because of its cinematic importance and lasting cultural significance.

Like his father, Peter Leonard is also a successful writer and has written six novels. He discussed his most recent work Voices of the Dead and Back from the Dead.

Watch the YouTube video of their talk.

Beginning in June, the first two levels of the Briggs Building, the primary classroom space in the College of Liberal Arts & Education, will undergo major face lifts. The lockers in the first-level hallways, a heritage of an earlier time, will be removed and replaced by laptop bars, built-in seating, big-screen monitors announcing college events and playing student video projects and worldwide news, eye-catching displays, color panels, individualized lighting and computer plug-ins. Furthermore, a new student lounge will be created on the ground level, allowing students a comfortable place to study and socialize between classes.

This renovation will be the first phase of a projected multi-stage effort that will modernize the most heavily used academic building on the McNichols Campus and will immediately impact students from all disciplines, as most core curriculum classes are held in Briggs. Be a part of this effort to give Briggs a “new look.” Please contact CLAE Director of Development Dennis Carlesso to discuss ways you can help at 313-993-1429 or dennis.carlesso@udmercy.edu.

The renovation of Briggs is made possible by gifts from several alumni donors, especially by a portion of a significant planned gift from the estate of the late Catherine Caraher '53, '62. Caraher served CLAE as professor and chair of History and associate dean in a career that spanned nearly three decades. Her gift will also allow scholarships to help undergraduate and graduate students attend UDM. 

Thanks to the efforts of Michael DiGiovanni ’70, ’72, former executive director of global markets and industry analysis at GM, and now an instructor in Economics, UDM will participate in the GM Student Corps this summer. This is a million-dollar effort by GM to employ 110 promising student leaders from 11 local Network of Excellence high schools to work with UDM student interns and GM retirees on cleanup and improvement projects throughout the city. GM is providing $50,000 for stipends and camera equipment to Communication Studies for the documentation process. 

The College unveiled five new undergraduate minors during the 2012-2013 academic year. A new minor in Education is aimed at individuals not seeking teaching certification but who train individuals in the workplace. Four other new minors include Economics, Financial Economics, Islamic Studies and Religious Studies. Other minors, including Catholic Studies (currently a certificate program) and Jewish Studies, are in development. 

Alumni are welcome to travel with UDM faculty and students to China for 12 days (July 1-12) to explore the impact of megacities on Chinese culture, education, and society. Contact Director of Language and Cultural Training Lara Wasner at 313-993-1191 for information. Or, travel to Italy to visit our newly renovated campus in Volterra, Italy (May 7-June 18).  For further information, contact Associate Professor of History Sarah Stever, 313-993-1099 or email at steversn@udmercy.edu.