Graduate Stories

Class of ’26: Law student finds his calling at Detroit Mercy
Internships, moot court competitions, mentors and lifelong connections were all pivotal in the Detroit Mercy Law experience for Class of 2026 graduate Andre Williams, who is already preparing for life after law school. Read the story

Class of ’26: CHP student finds her fit at Detroit Mercy
A wife, mother of college-aged children and practicing family nurse practitioner, Shreen Marini brings life experience, clarity of purpose and resilience into the classroom.  Read the story

Class of ’26: Valedictorian finds acceptance at Detroit Mercy
Victoria King’s life forever changed when she became pregnant during her fourth year of college. But instead of everything that she feared would happen next, King was embraced by the Detroit Mercy community with supportive, loving arms. Read the story

Class of ’26: After changing paths, international student finds joy in design
Finley Booth has tried to make the most of her college experience by getting involved and gaining a close friend group. But she isn’t like most students — she travels two hours and crosses an international border each day to attend classes at two universities.  Read the story

Class of ’25: CHP grad follows family’s path in medicine
Growing up outside of Detroit, Courtney Christian’s early life was steeped in a family tradition of medicine. Her mother, as well her mother's side of the family, work in the field of medicine. Naturally, Christian followed suit by studying at UDM's College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing. Read the story

Class of ’25: Childhood experiences fuel valedictorian to make a difference
Moments from Cristal Guzman's childhood sparked her interest in making a difference through advocacy and the law. They also inspired her to create a welcoming community at Detroit Mercy, where she’s served as a campus leader for the last three years.  Read the story

Class of ’25: For SACD grad, uplifting communities is key to design
Zaynab Alhisnawi was drawn to UDM because of its values of compassion, respect for all voices and meaningful engagement. These aspects aligned with Alhisnawi’s approach to design, one that encompasses the concept of working with and for community members and integrating their perspectives and spirit into her designs. Read the story

Class of ’25: Grad immerses self in Law experience
When Steven Meerschaert was leaving his longtime career in mental healthcare to go to law school, he never envisioned his experience going beyond the classroom setting. But after Meerschaert arrived at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, he found it to be the exact opposite, immersing himself into the Riverfront Campus. Read the story

Class of ’25: Accounting grad discovers holistic approach to business
Mark Formosa’s core values blossomed at UDM, where he found a tight-knit environment that supported his personal and intellectual development. Read the story