Faculty — R
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Rayess, Nassif E.
Nassif E. Rayess
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Rayess received his bachelor and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University. His areas of interest are noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), acoustics, finite element and boundary element methods and mechanical design. He teaches senior design, mechanical measurements, dynamics and a graduate course in NVH. His current research is focused on theoretical and experimental work in the areas of acoustic holography and coherence techniques for complex acoustic fields. He joined the University in 2001.
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Relich, Erin E.
Erin E. Relich
Assistant Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, Dental Hygiene Clinic Coordinator, is the course director for Clinical Dental Hygiene I-IV (CLN 8140, CLN 8150, CLN 8260 & CLN 8270). These four clinical courses provide patient care experiences that assist the dental hygiene student in achieving beginning stage to end stage competency for clinical skills. She is also involved in providing continuing education courses on fluorides and antimicrobials to practicing dental hygienists and dentists. Ms. Relich is a contributing co-author of the Fluorides chapter in the Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist (12 Edition). She received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene (BSDH) degree from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science Degree in Administration (MSA) with a concentration in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University. She joined UDM in 2012.
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Resnick, Noah S.
Noah S. Resnick
Associate Professor and Director, Graduate Architecture Program, currently teaches and practices in the city of Detroit, Michigan. He is a partner at Laavu (Laavustudio.com), A DETROIT-BASED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PRACTICE, ROOTED IN CITY-BUILDING, which operates under the interrelated concepts of the architectonics of multiple scales; the architect as urban collaborator; and the architect as community builder. Resnick grew up in Miami, Florida, where he attended the Design and Architecture Senior High magnet school (D.A.S.H.). He earned his BArch from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, graduating at the top of his class, for which he was awarded the AIA Henry Adams Medal of Excellence. Noah completed his Master of Science in Architecture Studies (SMarchS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Architecture + Urbanism stream. This degree culminated in an urban design thesis that focused on the potential for transit oriented development nodes in the city of Detroit. In addition to Detroit, Noah has lived and practiced in Chicago, Boston, and New York, as well as Berlin, Germany where he worked in the studio of Daniel Libeskind. His professional experience in architecture and urban design ranges from the conceptual and design development of a mall/spa complex in Switzerland, to in depth urban design studies and proposals for very high profile Central Artery sites above the ‘Big Dig' in Downtown Boston, to the full-service design and construction administration of a high-end townhouse building in New York City, to the landscape design of the City Hall Plaza and nearby park in Downtown Brockton, Massachusetts. Most recently, Resnick has completed several designs for local Detroit establishments. Resnick joined the University in 2009.
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Richards, Michelle
Michelle Richards
Associate Professor of Legal Writing and Research, received her undergraduate degree in Social Science, Multidisciplinary Studies, with special emphasis on Political Science, Economics and Psychology, from Michigan State University. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Richards is responsible for teaching Applied Legal Theory and Analysis. She has also developed a course in Pre-Trial Litigation Skills, in which students explore basic litigation skills in a problem-based context.
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Rihana-Abdallah, Alexa N.
Alexa N. Rihana-Abdallah
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, teaches courses on water and wastewater treatment, environmental chemistry, environmental microbiology and other environmental related topics. Her publications and presentations deal with physicochemical and biological processes and their role in determining contaminant bioavailability and the potential of in-situ bio-remediation. Rihana is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She joined the University in 2000.
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Rike, Jennifer L.
Jennifer L. Rike
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, teaches theology. Her publications and professional presentations have dealt with contemporary Roman Catholic theology, the Christian concept of love, and feminist theology. Currently she is exploring the paradoxical relationship between violence and religion. She edited and introduced a volume of essays in honor of David Tracy, Radical Pluralism and Truth. She is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). She holds a B.A. degree from the University of Michigan and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Rike joined the University in 1995.
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Robinson-Dunn, Diane L.
Diane L. Robinson-Dunn
Associate Professor of History. After receiving a Ph.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, she joined the faculty in 2001. She teaches courses in the history of modern Europe (especially Britain) and the modern Middle East. Published: The Harem, Slavery, and British Imperial Culture: Anglo-Muslim Relations in the Late Nineteenth Century (2006). Robinson-Dunn is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, UK.
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Roberts-Kirchhoff, Elizabeth S.
Elizabeth S. Roberts-Kirchhoff
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches allied health chemistry and biochemistry. Her research interests include the (1) analysis of food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics using X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry; (2) investigation of cytochrome P450 enzymes and their role in the metabolism of xenobiotics; (3) analysis of pesticides and pharmaceutical compounds in southeastern Michigan waterways; and (4) use of active-learning strategies in the university classroom. Roberts-Kirchhoff received a B.S. in Chemistry from Texas A & M University and Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from University of Michigan. She completed postdoctoral research at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan. Roberts-Kirchhoff joined the University in 1997.
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Roche, Jason John
Jason John Roche
Associate Professor of Communication Studies, teaches courses in audio production, video field production, television studio production, electronic music production and mass media and documentary film production. Roche's research includes documentary film production and media content analyses. His most recent documentary, "Stealing Home," was named best feature documentary at the 2014 Detroit Dreaming Film Festival. He served as director of The Honors Program at University of Detroit Mercy from 2012-2015. Roche holds an A.A. from Cayuga Community College, a B.A. from Geneseo State University of New York and an M.A. from Syracuse University. He joined the UDM faculty in 2009.
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Roche, Margaret A.
Margaret A. Roche
Clinical Instructor, McAuley School of Nursing, teaches medical-surgical nursing in the undergraduate program. She is a certified Adult Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and earned her MSN from University of Detroit Mercy.
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Rockwell, Richard
Richard Rockwell
Instructor, Department of Education. Richard Rockwell, Ed.S., teaches introduction to elementary and secondary school leadership, elementary and secondary internship, and legal foundations in education courses. He has experience as a classroom teacher, a building principal, an assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment, and as a district superintendent. His presentations have been in the area of grading practices, classroom observation, and teacher/administrator development. He has an Ed.S. from Wayne State University, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan Dearborn.
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Rombes, Nicholas D.
Nicholas D. Rombes
Professor of English. His research and teaching interests include digital culture, early American literature, and creative non-fiction. In addition to many articles and book chapters, Rombes is author of the book Ramones, published by Continuum as part of their 33 1/3 series, and editor of New Punk Cinema, published by Edinburgh University Press. He is completing one book on humanism in digital cinema, and another on the cultural poetics of punk rock. Rombes earned his B.S. from Bowling Green State University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English from Penn State. He joined the university in 1995.
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Ross, Robert
Robert Ross
Professor of Physics, teaches general physics, modern physics, and solid state electronics along with electrical engineering courses. He has 14 years of industrial research experience in the field of solar energy. His research and publications in the field of amorphous silicon photovoltaic cells helped lead to the development of more efficient solar panels. He is currently doing research on the transport and optical properties of thin films and solid state devices. Ross holds B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Wayne State University. He joined the University in 1995.
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Rouen, Patricia A.
Patricia A. Rouen
Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, teaches in the Family Nurse Practitioner and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Her areas of interest include health education and management of chronic disease in adults. Dr. Rouen earned her B.S.N. from the University of Michigan and her M.S.N. from Oakland University. She holds a post-master’s certificate as a family nurse practitioner from Oakland University and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Dr. Rouen maintains a clinical practice at the McAuley Health Center. She joined the University in 1999.
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Ruel, Jennifer L.
Jennifer L. Ruel
Clinical Associate Professor, FNP Program Clinical Coordinator, McAuley School of Nursing. Dr. Ruel holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Oakland University of Rochester MI, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and a Post Master's Certificate - Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Detroit Mercy. She holds ANCC board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Emergency Nurse Practitioner. She completed a post- doctoral fellowship and became certified in anti-aging, regenerative and functional medicine. She joined the University in 2008.
Dr. Ruel’s clinical experience includes emergency, integrative urgent care, family practice, labor & delivery, and critical care nursing. As a family nurse practitioner, she has practiced mainly in the emergency department along with primary care family practice. Dr. Ruel’s practice and research interests include APRN role/advocacy, emergency, advanced procedures & assessment, informatics, women’s health, alternative modalities to health, nutrition, health promotion, wellness and anti-aging management.