Faculty — W
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Wade-Olson, Patrice D.
Patrice D. Wade-Olson
Assistant Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, College of Health Professions
Patrice Wade-Olson started at University of Detroit Mercy as an assistant professor in 2022. She previously worked as a full-time nurse practitioner at Corktown Health Center. Wade-Olson had the opportunity to teach at Detroit Mercy in 2014 as an adjunct professor in the McAuley School of Nursing Nurse Practitioner program. In her free time, Wade-Olson enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She maintains an active clinical practice at Corktown Health Center. She also enjoys running, yoga, weight lifting and being outside in nature. Wade-Olson is honored to work at Detroit Mercy and loves the focus on social justice and care of the vulnerable. She is motivated by the desire to help her students learn and have increased knowledge and compassion for the vulnerable.
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Warren, Cara Cunningham
Cara Cunningham Warren
Professor of Law, holds a B.A. from Michigan State University, a J.D. from University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, and an LL.M. from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. She clerked for Judge Virginia Morgan of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, then worked as a litigator before joining the University. Cunningham Warren teaches comparative applied legal theory and analysis and public international law. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the AALS Section on Law of the Americas; is a member of the Legal Writing Institute (where she served as co-chair of the Global Legal Writing Skills Committee); and is the author of a forthcoming textbook on International Law. She focuses her studies on how legal and institutional structures can be created or reformed to resolve sovereignty, balance of power, and good governance questions. She teaches in the Canadian & American Dual JD Program. She joined the University in 2000 as Associate Professor of Law and was promoted to Professor of Law in 2023.
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Weatherston, Rosemary I.
Rosemary I. Weatherston
Associate Professor of English, Director of the Dudley Randall Center for Print Culture and Director of UDM Press, specializes in 20th century U.S. literatures, narrative medicine, the health humanities and women's and gender studies. Weatherston holds a doctorate in English from University of Southern California and Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Michigan. From 2011 to 2021 she directed the Women’s and Gender Studies program. Weatherston currently directs the Mission Micro Grant program and is an inaugural Fellow of the Office of Mission Integration. She also serves as a curriculum consultant for Henry Ford Health and is co-chair of the Health Humanities Consortium’s Curriculum and Assessment committee. Weatherston received the Faculty Achievement Award in 2005 and the University's Agere ex Missione Award in 2018. She joined the University in 2000.
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Weaver, Jonathan M.
Jonathan M. Weaver
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, teaches vehicle dynamics, robotics, statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, mechanical measurements, design of experiments, CAD/CAE, systems architecture, systems engineering, system optimization, product development, innovation and creativity, and design for X. Weaver’s publications range from autonomous path planning for cooperating robotics to multimedia-based engineering education to topics in product development. He regularly works with industry on topics related to CAD/CAE, technical education, systematic innovation, and product development. He holds a B.S. degree from Virginia Tech, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He joined the University in 1993.
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Webber, Elaine D.
Elaine D. Webber
Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, teaches a number of courses in the undergraduate Nursing program – with a focus on pediatrics. She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and maintains an active practice in pediatric primary care. She earned her B.S.N. and M.S.N./P.N.P. from the University of Michigan and her D.N.P. from Oakland University. Her research and publications focus primarily on lactation education for students and healthcare practitioners. She joined the University in 2012.
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Weberman, Linda
Linda Weberman
Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Clinical Essentials and Simulation, teaches Essentials of Clinical Practice to DS 1 students and in the DS 3 dental clinic as Restorative and Oral Diagnosis faculty. Previously, Dr. Weberman was the supervising clinical dentist for several local dental hygiene programs and also taught local anesthesia, dental materials and oral pathology at those institutions. She obtained a B.S. degree (teaching certificate/math major) and M.A. degree (science education) from the University of Michigan / Ann Arbor and received her D.D.S. degree from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. She joined University of Detroit Mercy as full-time faculty in January, 2013.
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Weekes, Carmon
Carmon Weekes
Associate Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, joined the faculty of Detroit Mercy in Fall of 2008. She teaches in the Nursing undergraduate program and primarily teaches Fundamentals of Nursing, Health Assessment and is the coordinator for the Freshman Success Program. She earned a B.S.N. from Howard University, M.S.N. from Wayne State University with a concentration in community health nursing and nursing education, and PhD. From The University of Texas at Tyler. Her areas of expertise are medical-surgical and community health nursing. She is a member of the medical ministry at the Franklin Road Church of Christ in Pontiac Michigan and is the Faculty Guide for Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Professional Nursing organization at Detroit Mercy. Her research interests are in health promotion, classroom simulation in education and health literacy.
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Weglarz, Joseph A.
Joseph A. Weglarz
Lecturer II, Department of Economics, comes to Detroit Mercy from Walsh College, where he was an assistant professor of finance and economics, director of the Master of Science in Finance program, center director of the Walsh College Center of the Michigan Council on Economic Education (MCEE) and Director of the Walsh College Certified Financial Planner (CFP) program. Weglarz has extensive experience in the securities industry at three Wall Street brokerage firms as an investment advisor and portfolio analyst. His research interests are in the areas of economic history, the history of economic thought, monetary theory and the development and importance of financial markets. He is the editor of the popular A Student's Guide to Economics. Weglarz holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oakland University and an M.B.A. from Wayne State University. He joined the University faculty in 2007.
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Weisfeld, Carol C.
Carol C. Weisfeld
Professor of Psychology Emerita, she teaches human development, sex differences and sex roles, cross-cultural psychology, and human sexuality. Weisfeld is the co-author of one edited book, and her research on male/female relations has appeared in such journals as Genetic Psychology Monographs and Ethology and Sociobiology. Her current research concerns marital satisfaction in the U.S., England, Turkey, Russia and China. Weisfeld was selected as the 1994 recipient of the President’s Award for Faculty Excellence at Detroit Mercy, and she received the University's Distinguished Faculty Award in 2004. Weisfeld holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Xavier College and a Master of Arts and doctoral degree from the University of Chicago. She joined the University in 1979. She retired in December 2018.
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Whalen, Michelle L.
Michelle L. Whalen
Clinical Associate Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, teaches pediatric nursing. Whalen is a board-certified neonatal nurse practitioner and currently practices at Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. She earned her B.S.N. from Saginaw Valley State University, her M.S.N./N.P. in neonatology from SUNY Stonybrook, NY, and obtained her doctorate from the University of Michigan School of Nursing. She is currently a Practicing Nurse Evidence Based Practice Fellow at Michigan Medicine and received the designation of Master's Level as a practicing NP in the Neonatal ICU at Mott Children's Hospital. In 2022 she received the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing. She joined the University of Detroit Mercy in 2014.
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White, Mary L.
Mary L. White
Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, teaches across the undergraduate and graduate Nursing programs. As a certified family nurse practitioner, she continues to practice in the community. Her research interests involve spirituality and spiritual self-care for chronic illnesses. She earned her B.S.N. and M.S.N. from University of Detroit Mercy and Ph.D. from Wayne State University.
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Williams, Justin
Justin Williams
Associate Professor of History and Director of the African American Studies Program. He specializes in the politics of modern Africa and its diasporas. He is the author of the book Pan-Africanism in Ghana: African Socialism, Neoliberalism, and Globalization, part of Toyin Falola’s Africa in The World Series on the Carolina Academic Press (2016). Williams has also published articles in African Studies, Journal of Pan African Studies, and the two-volume encyclopedia 50 Events That Shaped African American History. He joined the University in fall 2023.
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Williamson, Sheila R.
Sheila R. Williamson
Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Detroit Mercy
Master of Science in Anesthesiology, University of Detroit Mercy
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Austin Peay State UniversityDr. Sheila Williamson has worked as a certified registered nurse anesthetist for 13 years and is an alumna of Detroit Mercy. She likes the commitment faculty and administrators have towards living the University's mission and core values, and is motivated by students' "ah-ha" moments. "When a student gets it, I feel I've done my job to the fullest," she said. In her free time, Dr. Williamson spends a lot of time with her grandchildren, and enjoys building and renovating dollhouses.
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Wilson, Charles E.
Charles E. Wilson
Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, has more than 28 years of public safety experience, which included tenures as both the City of Detroit's Chief of Police and Executive Fire Commissioner. Wilson's police specialties included combating gang crime, narcotic enforcement, surveillance and intelligence tactics and investigative techniques. Additionally, he served more than 35 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve as a commissioned officer where he achieved and retired at the rank of Major General. His combined law enforcement and military careers have provided him with a unique blend of professional experience, expert knowledge and extensive leadership skills in the areas of police administration and military affairs. Wilson received a Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, from Wayne State University; Master of Science Administration from Central Michigan University; and Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School.
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Wilson, Sandra
Sandra H. Wilson
Associate Librarian, Public Services, McNichols Campus Library, serves as the Electronic Resources librarian, as well as provides reference services and research skills instruction. She is also responsible for collection development in architecture, community development, English, and mathematics/software engineering/computer science. She holds a B.S. from Michigan State University and a M.L.I.S. from Wayne State University. Ms. Wilson joined the University in 1997.
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Wittig, William S.
William S. Wittig
Professor of Architecture
Wittig currently serves the School of Architecture at University of Detroit Mercy as a full professor, where he has been tenured since 2006. His academic career began 22 years ago with his appointment as the Oberdick Fellow at the University of Michigan’s A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. He has taught courses for undergraduate and graduate architecture and Master's of Community Development programs, with expertise in urban design, sustainable design, construction and structures, and design/build practice. He is a licensed architect and LEED ® accredited professional. He began his professional career 30 years ago at Peter Marino Architect, and has practiced at several award winning firms in Detroit and New York. He was previously a founding principle of Crossings Architecture, Inc., and a senior principle for the Detroit Collaborative Design Center. His work and the work of his students has been exhibited in many galleries including the Venice Biennale, the Detroit Institute of Art, and the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. He has served in many leadership positions and boards of directors, including serving as dean of the School of Architecture from 2011-2019, and as president of the Michigan Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 2017. He earned a Master's of Architecture from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a professional Bachelor's of Architecture from the University of Kansas.
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Wodwaski, Nadine K.
Nadine K. Wodwaski
Associate Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, teaches face to face, hybrid and online for a variety of courses in the traditional, MEAGN, and graduate nursing programs. She earned a BSN from Oakland University, M.S.N.-ed, CNS from Detroit Mercy, and DNP from Wilkes University. Her clinical practice spans maternal-child, adult, emergency, medical-surgical nursing, and leadership. She has elected to focus on caring behaviors, breastfeeding, simulation, intact care, and emotional intelligence and has presented at numerous regional, national, and international conferences. She joined the University of Detroit Mercy in 2017.
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Wright, Adam
Adam Wright
Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, joined the University in 2023 as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law after many years working in the United States Attorney's Office in Cincinnati and San Francisco. He worked in both the civil and criminal divisions including the National Security & Special Prosecutions Unity and Organized Crime & Drug Enforcement Unit. His research interests include public corruption, white collar crime, and criminal procedure. He holds a B.A. from Michigan State University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
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Wyatt, Theresa R.
Theresa R. Wyatt
Professor, McAuley School of Nursing, teaches across the traditional undergraduate and online graduate nursing programs. Dr. Wyatt earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mercy College of Detroit, a Master's in Forensic Nursing from Fitchburg State College, a Ph.D. in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina where she also earned a certificate in Clinical Research Ethics. Her research interests include improving education and training on victims of violence and abuse in pre-licensure education as well as the healthcare community. She joined the University of Detroit Mercy in 2010 as adjunct faculty and has been full time since 2015.