Current Students

The Detroit Mercy English Department will host poet and writer Keith Taylor for a poetry reading and conversation on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 12:45-1:45 p.m. in the Bargman Room on the second floor of the McNichols Campus Library.

Keith Taylor is the author, editor or translator of 20 books, and is the A.L. Becker Collegiate Lecturer in English, Emeritus, at the University of Michigan.

This event is free, and all are welcome.

All UDM students are invited to an overnight fall semester retreat at the Maxis Spirituality Retreat Center in Riverview on Friday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m., until Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m.  The retreat will focus on Faith in Action — connecting faith to the causes we care about.

This mid-semester retreat offers students a chance to take a break, disconnect, unwind and move at a slower pace. Included are self-care opportunities like Qigong and yoga, homemade food, witness talks, small group reflection, bonfire and more.

The cost is $20 deposit to hold your spot. The deposit will be returned at the retreat but will be forfeited for those who cancel without proper notice or fail to show up.

Transportation to and from the retreat is provided. 

Please contact Anita Klueg at kluegag@udmercy.edu with any questions.

University Ministry and Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) will hold a day of exploration, service and learning centered around the topics of food justice and food insecurity on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This immersion program is for UDM students only. No classes will be held on this date as it is fall break for students.

Students will volunteer with Oakland Ave. Urban Farm, where they will learn about the role of local food production in combating food insecurity. This organization promotes local food production as a sustainable solution for local Detroiters to address food access and insecurity.

Students will meet in the Mercy Gathering Place on the first floor of Shiple Hall at 9 a.m., where a light breakfast and coffee/tea will be available. Transportation to and from the Oakland Avenue Urban Farm as well as lunch will be provided.

For any questions, please email Associate University Minister Lilly Walsh at lwalsh@udmercy.edu or visit the University Ministry office in the Lower Level of the Student Union (across from the Bookstore).

Detroit Mercy will host the 21st annual Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit (GLBD) Conference on Thursday, Oct. 15, in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus.

This year, students, staff, administrators and faculty are invited to attend the environment-centered event for free.

The redesigned one-day conference will bring together community members of all ages to discuss critical environmental and social challenges and explore ideas for addressing them. This year’s theme is “Revolution from the Heart of Nature: Change Makers.” 

Conference topics include:

• The science behind sustainable living
• How pollution and renewable energy affect public health, especially in communities of color
• Youth leadership and environmental responsibility for community change
• Social justice and eco-spirituality
• Storm water management and flood prevention
• Water affordability and justice

The program features pre-recorded keynote presentations from nationally recognized thought leaders, including:

• Samantha Skenandore – Re-Evolving Indigeneity to Save Our Planet
• Brett KenCairn – Nature-based Climate Solutions: Centering Life to Heal the Planet
• Nina Simons – Living Between Paradigms
• Leah Penniman – Free the People! Free the Land!
• Julian Brave NoiseCat – The Epic Misadventures of the Trickster Coyote

Pre-recorded performances by Destani Wolf, the Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company, and Garth Stevenson, along with inspiring youth leadership presentations by Coley Kakols Miller and Kyle Trefny, highlight the important role young leaders play in creating a more sustainable and equitable future. 

The Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit conference is a platform for community members to network and highlight innovative approaches to environmental and social challenges. The conference is for people of all ages who are interested in exploring topics, developing skills and motivating action for the betterment of our One Earth Community.

The Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive (CLASA) will co-sponsor, along with the Nurse Anesthesia Program and the Psychology Department, presentations by members of the Torture Abolition Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) on Friday, Oct. 9, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Briggs Building, Room 317.

During the program, participants will hear directly from TASSC survivors. Their stories will shed light on the 1.3 million survivors of torture in the U.S., including their holistic needs. Future clinicians and communities partnering with survivor-led initiatives are an ideal model to address this rapidly evolving issue.

The program will consist of four speakers, two of whom are:

• Aymen Tabir — Torture survivor and executive director of TASSC International. Tabir is also a certified human rights consultant.
• Sara Bauman ’02, ’06 — A trauma survivor and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), Bauman serves as the board secretary of TASSC International and a founding member of the Detroit Chapter of TASSC. Also, a founder of Ether and Thread, she works to ensure that survivors are the primary voices in identifying their physical, psychological and spiritual needs.

The Battery Show North America returns Oct. 12-15 to Huntington Place in Detroit. More than 16,000 engineers, executives and innovators will gather to explore the latest innovations in electrification, battery technology and next-generation manufacturing.

The event is also a great opportunity for students, faculty and staff to connect with industry and discover internships, careers and partnerships.

Through Detroit Mercy’s partnership with The Battery Show, UDM students will receive a free expo pass and faculty and staff will receive 20% off a conference pass.

The expo will feature hands-on demonstrations, live product showcases and free educational sessions through the Open Tech Forum and Battery Tech Theater. The conference will feature more than 250 expert speakers, technical sessions and in-depth workshops.

If interested in attending, please email ces@udmercy.edu to receive the University’s unique promo codes for students and employees.

The Detroit Mercy English Department is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Magnetic Poetry Contest:

• First Place: A.C. Dertinger
• Second Place: Alex Popp
• Third Place: Ashlee Jones
• Honorable Mentions: Phoebe Clark and Eemi Toma

Be sure to check out the next issue of [sic], UDM’s literary and arts journal, where these winning poems will be featured.

Detroit Mercy’s McAuley School of Nursing will offer an immersion trip to Ireland from May 4-14, providing participants with the opportunity to learn about the life and work of Catherine McAuley (Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy).

Those interested in this experience are encouraged to register for an upcoming virtual information session on Monday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. A confirmation email with meeting details will be sent upon registration.

This immersion program is being offered as an interprofessional experience that will expose participants to not only the life and work of McAuley but also Irish culture, healthcare and history through the lens of the critical concerns of Mercy.

This opportunity is offered to UDM faculty, staff, administrators and students (third year and above).

For more information, contact Andrea Kwasky at kwaskyan@udmercy.edu.

University Recreation (URec) is bringing a new event to the turf at Titan Field on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 7-10 p.m. URec Under the Lights will feature flag football, team challenges, field games, music and food.

Students can put together a team for the flag football tournament, tug-of-war challenge, or sack relay. Team registration is available on IM Leagues.

Coming to play without a team? Gaga pit, 9 Square Air, axe throwing, giant cup pong, giant cornhole and giant horseshoes will be open throughout the event, with no registration required.

A food truck will provide free meals for the first 100 attendees. There will also be hot cider, donuts and giveaways for the first 100.

Bring your friends for one big night of recreational fun on Titan Field.

The Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) is sponsoring a hands-on introduction to the basics of puppetry, led by acclaimed puppeteer and Associate Professor of Psychology Preston Foerder, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 12:45-1:45 p.m., in the Detroit Mercy Black Box Theater, located on the Lower Level of the Student Union.

As part the inaugural year of DMTC’s Spotlight Series, this workshop will explore the fundamentals of puppet performance, including movement, manipulation, character, storytelling and the art of bringing an inanimate object to life.

Foerder has extensive experience as a professional puppeteer and is the creator and performer of eight puppet theatre productions for family and adult audiences. He has received numerous awards, grants, and national and international festival performances including two UNIMA-USA/Jim Henson Citations for Excellence in the Art of Puppetry, the highest award in the field. He was a guest artist at the O’Neill Theatre Center Puppetry Conference and a New Jersey State Arts Fellow.

This event is free and open to all.