Current Students

As finals approach, take some time to relax, recharge and have fun with a variety of stress-relief activities at the annual end-of-the-year De-Stress Fest.

De-Stress Fest takes place on Thursday, April 23, from 4:30-7 p.m. in the Whitty Student Fitness Center.

Whether you’re trying to chill, compete or just grab some food, this is the spot to be.

What’s going down:

• Photo Booth + Mocktails + Esports Lounge
• Arts & Crafts (coloring + flower potting)
• Massages & Sound Beds
• Therapy Dogs
• Active Games (bubble soccer, yard games, water pong)
• FREE Food (taco bar, nitrogen ice cream, DNA candy)

No registration is needed. Just show up.

Bring your friends. Stay as long as you want. De-stress before finals hit.

The 43rd annual Pax Christi Michigan State Conference will be held at Detroit Mercy, Saturday, April 18, in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus. The theme of this year’s event is “Be Not Afraid: Living in Hope and Resistance,” and features keynote speaker Charlene Howard, national director for Pax Christi USA.

Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., and the event will run until approximately 4 p.m. 

Through humor, storytelling, music and innate wisdom, Howard will advise conference participants in the courage and resiliency needed to confront racism, violence and greed with Gospel-based nonviolence and effective activism.

A discussion will follow Howard’s call to action in which a panel of experts will offer insights and specific ways to effectively resist today’s culture of violence.

Panel experts include:

• Elly Jordan: Advocacy for immigrants
• Andrea Pierce: Advocacy for the environment and Indigenous cultures
• Saeed Khan: Advocacy for Gaza, the West Bank and Middle Eastern cultures.

Howard received her master’s in Religious Education and Catechesis from the Catholic University of America and has been a teacher, school principal and a religious department chair. In July 2024, she became the executive director of Pax Christi USA.

Pax Christi Michigan promotes peace locally, nationally and globally through prayer, study and action. Rooted in spirituality, the organization is dedicated to examining issues of justice from the perspectives of all involved and promotes peace with justice through nonviolent conflict resolution.

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Cost for attendance:

• Early registration: $65 (includes breakfast and lunch). Registration after April 10 is $70.
• Student rate: $25
• Conference scholarships are available.

The Detroit Mercy Commencement Planning Committee is seeking dependable student and employee volunteers to help make 2026 Commencement Day a special event for graduates and their families.

Two McNichols Campus Commencement ceremonies, as well as Baccalaureate Mass, will take place on Saturday, May 9 on the McNichols Campus.

Please see sign-up below for volunteer opportunities and available time slots. Whether you have availability for one shift or for multiple shifts, your help is greatly appreciated! Breakfast and lunch are provided to all volunteers.

Volunteer Meeting
All volunteers are required to attend a mandatory meeting on Tuesday, May 5 at 1 p.m. via Teams. For more information, please contact Alysa Jackson (ouelleal@udmercy.edu).

Dress Code
Employee volunteers are asked to dress in business casual and/or Detroit Mercy gear. A volunteer name badge will be provided at check-in, which is located in the Athletics Office in Calihan Hall.

Thank you for supporting graduating Titans on this special and exciting day!

The Rocket Classic PGA Tour event at Detroit Golf Club is seeking volunteers for this year’s tournament. The event takes place July 29 through Aug. 2.

Volunteering at the Rocket Classic is a great way for students to gain hands-on experience in a professional sports and event environment. It’s an excellent addition to a resume and offers exposure to areas such as event operations, hospitality, guest services and more.

A variety of roles are currently available, and tournament organizers would love to welcome UDM students interested in being part of this unique experience. Please note that most volunteer roles require participants to be 18 years or older.

For questions, please feel free to reach out to volunteer@rocketclassic.com.

Rescheduled to Thursday, April 23, at 1:30 p.m.

University Ministry will host a special time of prayer and reflection at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, inside of the Holy Spirit Chapel, located in the Student Union, Lower Level.

Together, we will pray the Rosary, a traditional Catholic devotion, in support of Pope Leo XIV’s monthly intention for April: that priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation may find the accompaniment they need and that communities will support them with understanding and prayer.

While the rosary is a traditional Catholic prayer, all are welcome to participate. Rosary beads and easy-to-follow how-to guides will be provided.

For any questions, please contact glafond@udmercy.edu.

Need to relax before finals? Engage in some retail therapy during De-Stress Fest by stopping by Titan Equity Nourish Network’s (TENN) Thrift Pop-Up Shop on the second floor of the Student Fitness Center.

Enjoy sustainable shopping while supporting TENN’s work. Join us starting at 4 p.m. on April 23 and shop till you drop! All proceeds go to a good cause.

Panelists are as follows:

• Archbishop Edward Wiesenberger, metropolitan archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Detroit
• Helen Marie Burns, RSM, former president of Leadership Conference of Women Religious
• Bishop John Stowe, O.F.M. Conv. of Lexington, Ky., president of Pax Christi, USA
• Matt Mio, professor of Chemistry, University of Detroit Mercy, expert on Laudato Si

The session will be moderated by Bridget Deegan-Krause, author of Together Through Reflection: Themes for Those Who Lead and Serve in Catholic Organizations.

Hear from two inspiring alumni who have used their education, resilience and vision to lead their industries and drive success at UDM’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) Leadership Slam.

The Leadership Slam is set for Tuesday, April 21. The first session is scheduled for 2-3:45 p.m., and the second slam 5:15-7 p.m., both taking place in Room 208 of the Commerce & Finance Building. Both alumni will be speaking in Slam 1 and Slam 2.

The slams offer a unique opportunity for students to gain valuable insights. This event counts as [+1 Leadership Development].

Angelo Vitale ’80, retired general counsel of Rocket Companies, and Michael Birney ’15, CMO of 1 Natural Way, will offer their experiences on their leadership journeys.

Vitale provided strategic business and legal guidance throughout his career, serving as the first CEO of Rocket Central and EVP/general counsel of Rocket Mortgage, where he specialized in leasing, litigation and regulatory compliance.

Birney drives business growth with advanced marketing tech, leveraging his experience as a former Google growth strategy manager and MLL champion to apply teamwork and strategy for success.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Zimmerman-Oster at zimmerka@udmercy.edu.

Are you interested in applying to graduate school? Make your applications stand out by attending the Graduate Admission workshop at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 14.

During the workshop, students will learn about best practices for requesting letters or recommendation and interview etiquette.

The session is offered in-person in the Office of Admissions, located on the first floor of the Student Union, in Room 181, as well as virtually.

The Graduate Admission workshop is hosted by the Center for Career & Professional Development and the Office of Admissions.

UDM will celebrate Senior Week with a lineup of events designed to honor and send off graduating students in style.

All graduating students are invited to take part in these Senior Week opportunities:

• Monday, May 4, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.: Job Search Bootcamp — Kick off Senior Week by preparing for life after graduation at the Center for Career and Professional Development’s Job Search Bootcamp in Room 206 of the Student Union. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
• Tuesday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m.: Tigers vs. Red Sox at Comerica Park — Join classmates for a night at the ballpark as the Detroit Tigers take on the Boston Red Sox. Tickets are just $10, and transportation will be available via the Student Life van. Purchase game tickets here.
• Wednesday, May 6, 2-4 p.m.: Graduation cap decoration workshop — Local hatmaker Andrew Wilson will be in the Lower Level of the Student Union to help seniors personalize their caps for graduation day.

Seniors, don’t miss out on these special events to wrap-up your journey at Detroit Mercy.