Class of ’26: Valedictorian finds acceptance at Detroit Mercy

Each year, University of Detroit Mercy’s Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating class. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University. Visit our Commencement webpage for more information about 2026 commencement exercises.  

Victoria King’s life forever changed when she became pregnant during her fourth year of college.  

She had no idea what would happen next. But instead of everything that she feared, King was embraced by the University of Detroit Mercy community with supportive, loving arms.  

“I’m not married, I got pregnant and I’m at a Catholic school,” she said. “It was very overwhelming and I figured everyone was going to shun me. Like, we don’t want you here anymore. 

“But everybody here has encouraged me to keep going. ... They’re really just here to meet you wherever you are, and make sure you get wherever you need to be.”  

Despite treading through the unknown two years ago, King’s biggest fears never materialized. On May 9, her journey at UDM will conclude when she walks up to the Commencement stage in Calihan Hall to deliver her speech as the Class of 2026’s valedictorian.  

In the audience will be her 19-month-old daughter, Marietta, watching along with family.  

“I think being able to look back and tell my daughter that I did this while I had you, it’s a very empowering message,” King said. “It’s going to be a long day for her, but I know in 10, 20 years, when she looks back on it, it’s going to be something she’s so proud of.” 

King describes her collegiate journey as a “whirlwind.” It began at Henry Ford College during COVID, and in 2022, she transferred to Detroit Mercy.  

King was drawn to UDM for its Catholic traditions and because it’s where her mother, Kelly, graduated from in 1987. Her mother, who works as an accountant, also inspired her career path — King is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Accounting, a minor in Leadership and a certificate in Catholic Studies.  

It took some time for King to become acclimated to the UDM community after transferring. She felt out of place at first, mostly focusing on her studies and spending time in the Commerce & Finance Building as a College of Business Administration student.  

“I definitely felt like I was a little bit of an outsider, because I came here as a transfer student and didn’t have a freshman class that I went through PTV to connect with,” she said. “Once I started trying to branch out and join things, shortly after was when I ended up getting pregnant, so I was always feeling like I might be this outsider.”  

Instead, King found acceptance on the McNichols Campus. And her fellow Titans made it feel like home.  

She’s worked for the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and Student Life Office, served as an orientation leader and helped the community with tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. King has been involved with many student organizations and honor societies, including through leadership roles with UDM's Protect Life and Alpha Sigma Nu chapters. She also rushed Gamma Phi Beta this semester, accomplishing her goal of finding a group of friends through her new sorority sisters. 

King’s first summer as an orientation leader coincided with her pregnancy. She fondly remembers her peers going above and beyond as she welcomed new Titans to campus. 

“The first year, they were so supportive with making sure I ate, drank and got rest,” King said. “It was very funny and sweet. But then the second year, when I’m not pregnant anymore, it wasn’t like ‘I’m just this older mom now.’ They still treated me as one of them and invited me out after our training days.” 

The support King received at UDM hasn’t been limited to her peers. 

Megan Novell, executive director of the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity, was the first person King went to after learning she was pregnant. 

“It’s not like I needed her because there wasn’t anyone fighting against me,” she said. “But it was so nice to have someone there as a support who knows my story and what additional things I might need here and there. She’s seen me grow through all of this.” 

King’s impact as a campus leader has stood out to Novell. 

“The way Tori has given of her time and talents to serve and accompany people in our university and our broader community is really remarkable,” Novell said. “I am grateful for what we were able to accomplish together, and I know her contributions to making the university more welcoming and inclusive for parenting students will be a lasting legacy.” 

Associate Professor of Accounting Fang (Rose) Yang was also supportive. King said she tried her best to make it through Yang’s Intermediate Accounting class after learning she was pregnant, but had to drop it until her daughter was born. 

“I tried it again and she was so happy to see me,” King said of Yang. “On day one, she was like, ‘Tori, I’m so glad to see you.’ She always asked me how my daughter was and was very happy to see me again. She helped me get through that time.” 

Accounting is something that came naturally to King, who interned with Plante Moran and will start with the company full-time later this summer.  

“It felt like second nature,” she said. “This was all really solidified when I did my internship. I did it in auditing and everything felt like second nature.” 

King later joined Beta Alpha Psi, a national accounting fraternity which is advised by Yang. This year, she received the Beta Alpha Psi Award, given to a graduating member with the highest GPA in their program. 

College can be a busy time for any student, let alone someone who is balancing all of King's roles and responsibilities. She commutes each day to UDM from Allen Park and credits her family for helping to make it feasible. 

“If it were not for my parents and boyfriend, it would not be possible,” King said. “Completely re-arranging their schedules, running low on sleep and leaving work early, they make it possible.” 

King’s faith in Christ and UDM’s Jesuit and Mercy mission and values have played an important role in her life. She’s grateful to be graduating from a university that impacted her beyond the classroom. 

“I think it has come to encompass almost every part of my life,” she said. “My degree matters because I have a job lined up. But the mission just made my education even more important, because it’s not just for a career, I’m getting to really deepen my faith while I’m here too. 

“Detroit Mercy has really just prepared me to be in the real world and be a person that serves other people.”