Dear CLAE Alumni and Friends,

The life of the College of Liberal Arts & Education is immeasurably enriched by the involvement and support of our alumni and friends of the College. The CLAE Alumni Council, as one example of alumni support, is a longstanding and valuable organization that focuses on supporting a range of CLAE activities.

These include their efforts on behalf of The Theatre Company, which include sponsoring CLAE Alumni Afterglows following a Saturday evening performance of each of the Theatre Company's four major productions, as well as sponsoring "Career Daze" which links CLAE students with CLAE alumni representing various corporations and other organizations to discuss networking and career opportunities.

There are currently openings on the Alumni Council. Please contact Linda Small, associate vice president of Annual Giving/Alumni Relations, at 313-993-1538 if you might be interested in interviewing for a position on the council. We are especially interested in adding recently graduated alumni to the council.

The financial support of our alumni and friends is crucial to the success of the College.  The number of alumni who financially support the College is legion as are the opportunities to help. Currently, Jamie Dylenski, a CLAE alumnus, and Mary Lou Zieve, a friend of the College, and Greece Theatre alumni are raising funds to provide financial support to help CLAE students participate in one of our CLAE summer study abroad programs.

Study abroad programs provide a tremendous enriching experience for our students, especially those who have never been abroad. CLAE currently has summer study abroad programs in Brazil (Language and Cultural Training), Greece (Theatre), Italy (History), and London (Information Assurance).

Alumni support the College in a variety of other ways. For instance, this year the Ralph and Barbara Cushing Endowed Lecture in Religious Studies will be delivered by Professor Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza of Harvard University on April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at an on-campus location to be determined. Please join us for the lecture. Such lectures enhance the educational experience of students across the University.

There is an array of opportunities available to fund scholarships, lectures, and special events across the College, either on an endowed or one-time basis. If you would like to learn more about such opportunities, please contact Jennifer Dafoe, CLAE advancement officer, at 313-993-1429 dafoejm@udmercy.edu.

Alumni play an important role as judges in the annual UDM Ethics Bowl. This event is directed by Marty Leever, chair, and his colleagues, in the Department of Philosophy. Each year the winning Ethics Bowl team represents the University at the regional and hopefully the national Ethics Bowl Competition.

Dr. Leever (248-477-7945) is always searching for alumni who are interested in using their critical thinking skills in applying ethical principles in judging the student teams participating in the Ethics Bowl. If you have any interest in being involved in the Ethics Bowl, please contact Dr. Leever at leevermg@udmercy.edu.

I thank all our friends and alumni of the College for all their support. If you have any interest in volunteering, making a donation, or attending an event, please contact Jennifer Dafoe at 313-993-1429 or dafoejm@udmercy.edu.

Charles E. Marske
Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Education