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• December 05: McAuley School of Nursing partners with others to provide healthy food to homes

  Monday December 05, 2022
  

  

  Detroit Mercy empowers students and faculty to integrate their intellectual, spiritual and social development. Nowhere is this more clearly on display than in the McAuley School of Nursing’s Fresh Incentive Program.  

  This program began when Jonetta Banks, community representative for the Fitzgerald Neighborhood, learned about a program at Eastern Market called Fresh Prescriptions. The program delivered boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables to individuals in neighborhoods who don’t have access to healthy food.  

  She brought the idea to Fr. Tim Hipskind, S.J., and shortly after, Fr. Hipskind brought McAuley School of Nursing Clinical Associate Professor Elaine Webber on board; she got the ball rolling. 

  “In order to participate in Fresh Prescriptions, we needed funding for the food that we would provide to these people,” Webber said. “Fr. Tim asked me to write a grant that would meet the needs of this community that is right in our backyard.” Funding was provided by the Ford Motor Company Fund. 

  The program aims to improve the health of participants of the Fitzgerald community by providing shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables right to the participant’s doors. In addition, Nursing students will be going to the participants’ homes, providing in-home healthcare services and helping them set goals for their health and wellness.  

  To accomplish this, Webber brought on board Karen Mihelich, assistant professor of Nursing, and chair of the graduate Nursing programs. Together, they started building a partnership. 

  “We pulled together with Farmacy Food, Eastern Market and Fresh Prescriptions to provide six weeks of prepared meals to the 11 participants within this pilot project,” Mihelich said. “We were able to develop a unique program that addressed some of the food insecurity issues for those who are disabled or suffering from chronic health conditions.” 

  Directed by their professors, students in the Doctor of Nursing Practitioner program did much of the work to design the program and carry out its implementation.  

  “With the help of the students and a variety of stakeholders including individuals here at the University, we pulled together with Farmacy Food and Eastern Market, and started to have some meetings to see what this project could look like in the Fitzgerald Neighborhood,” Mihelich said. 

  The Fresh Incentive Program serves not only to benefit the community participants, but the students as well. Webber feels this program has the potential to change how her students view public health.  

  “When students do community health, they are giving immunizations and participating in public health activities, but they are not really connecting with the people in the communities,” Webber said. “What is unique about this program is that students are going into individual homes, checking heart rate, blood pressure, providing support regarding their health conditions and teaching people about good nutrition and taking care of their health.  

  Among the students who worked to design and implement this partnership was Afsana Uddin ’16, ’22. She became integral to the project, working directly with the students and the Fitzgerald community members and is now adjunct clinical faculty implementing the program. 

  Uddin says that access to food and education about taking care of your health are the two largest barriers to eating well. 

  “Going into this, we thought that access to food would be a major deterrent,” Uddin said. “We are learning that education is a big part of that as well. The neighborhood itself does not have grocery stores or farmer’s markets, so they don’t have access to these resources that other communities do. It is an inconvenience to the community to have to leave and find those resources outside.” 

  Uddin and other students compiled the data they gathered and studied the results.  

  “One participant lost 10 pounds on the program,” Uddin said. “It’s interesting and heartwarming to see how, when given fresh meals, physical activity modules, education on nutrition and stress eating, you see the participants take this seriously, and get motivated to meet their health goals.” 

  For Mihelich, this program speaks to a higher good as well, embodied in the mission of Detroit Mercy. 

  “I think that we very much believe, as a Jesuit and Sisters of Mercy institution, that it is important for us to connect with our community’s vulnerable populations, demonstrate compassion and take this opportunity to actually put our mission into action,” Mihelich said. “We talk about it a lot, but how do we put it into action, and how do we demonstrate this to others.” 

  Everyone involved in the project hopes for it to continue in future courses, however finding funding will be the big challenge moving forward.  

  “Farmacy Foods and Fresh Prescriptions have been great to work with, and they have been invested in the community, but if we have the ability to establish that program long term, it would really help,” Uddin said.  

  The program has set up a crowdfunding page, and they are seeking additional funding from outside grants. Everyone involved is hopeful this program can continue to serve the community and do good in their own backyard.  

  “I would love to see it continue, and possibly incorporate culinary education aspects,” Uddin said. “Not only providing the food and fresh meals, but the education on how to prepare good food.” 

• December 05: Detroit Mercy Theatre Company continues award stream with ‘Antigone’

  Monday December 05, 2022
  

  

  The Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) is the recipient of two 2022 Wilde Awards for outstanding work on the stage.

  “Antigone” won an award for Best Play and its director Sarah Hawkins Rusk, scored a Best Director award.

  “This recognition is incredibly significant for our program and for our students,” said Professor Greg Grobis, managing director of the DMTC. “Encore Michigan only recognizes professional theatre companies. This elevates the caliber of our University productions to professional status.”

  The Wilde Awards – named in honor of 19th Century playwright Oscar Wilde – recognizes the best productions, performances and technical work produced or presented by professional theaters across the state. Nominations are based on reviews written by EncoreMichigan.com’s team of professional critics.

  Earlier this year, the DMTC production of “Antigone” was awarded two national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, an honor last achieved in the 1970s.

  “Our theatre model stresses collaboration and mentorship with professional artists is clearly a winning formula,” said Grobis. “We are honored and humbled by these awards. And we are so excited for our students to receive this independent acknowledgement of their skills.”

  “The College is thrilled for DMTC to receive these awards,” said Jocelyn Boryczka, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Education. “Theatre is central to the Liberal Arts. It draws on our fields of study — in this case philosophy, history and literature in ‘Antigone’ — to push us to think beyond what is known to what is possible.”

  The next DMTC production, “Pride and Prejudice,” hits the stage in February 2023. Tickets are available now at detroitmercyartsuniversitytickets.com.

  

• December 05: Celebrate TENN with holiday social event on Friday, Dec. 9

  Monday December 05, 2022
  

  

  Help celebrate the Titan Equity Nourish Network with a holiday party in the lower level of the Student Union on Friday, Dec. 9 from 1-2 p.m.

  Celebrate TENN’s volunteers and members and meet TENN’s new manager, Chelsea Manning. Also learn about upcoming TENN volunteering opportunities. Cookies and snacks will be provided!

  

• December 05: Prep for finals with Late Night Munchies event in TDR, Dec. 12

  Monday December 05, 2022
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s annual Late Night Munchies event for students prior to the start of finals week (Dec. 13-17) is set for Monday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m. in the Titan Dining Room on the McNichols Campus.

  Late Night Munchies will feature boneless wings, avocado toast bar with hummus, mac and cheese bar, as well as ice cream.

  

• December 02: Holiday Pop-up Shop coming to McNichols Campus Library, Dec. 5-9

  Friday December 02, 2022
  

  

  The McNichols Campus Library is set to hold its second annual Holiday Pop-up Shop during the holiday season. The shop will be open in the lobby of the library, Monday through Friday, Dec. 5-9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

  Shop for handmade Christmas cards, ornaments, photo albums, small gifts, scarves, dog and cat treats, chocolates and more, all while supporting a good cause.

  ALL proceeds from the shop will go to support The Hive, Detroit Mercy’s student-led organization whose goals include providing students with needed resources, fostering student leadership and unity, and increasing student diversity and retention. The Hive currently manages a student food pantry in Reno Hall, Room 41.

  Additionally, members of the Detroit Mercy community are welcome to donate crafts and “like new” Christmas decorations and other items to the sale. All donated items should be dropped off at the Library’s first-floor check-out desk no later than Monday, Nov. 28, and should be tagged with a name and contact information. Canned items and cash donations will also be accepted.

  For more information, please contact Associate Dean for Technical Services Sara Armstrong at armstrsj1@udmercy.edu.

  

• December 02: Detroit Mercy Dental student organization wins Chapter of the Year honor

  Friday December 02, 2022
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s American Student Dental Association (ASDA) was honored recently as the District 6 Chapter of the Year.

  Congratulations to all!

  More on Detroit Mercy’s ASDA.

  

• December 02: Antoine Davis breaks Horizon League men’s basketball scoring record

  Friday December 02, 2022
  

  

  

  Antoine Davis became the Horizon League’s all-time leading scorer on Thursday, helping lead Detroit Mercy men’s basketball to a 75-66 road victory over preseason league favorite, Purdue Fort Wayne.

  Antoine Davis, right, hugs his father and head coach Mike Davis.

  Davis made three consecutive 3-pointers in a span of 90 seconds later in the contest to break the record and give the Titans the lead for good. He finished the contest with a game-high 22 points, making five 3-pointers.

  The graduate senior guard moved into 13th place in NCAA history with 2,919 points, surpassing Loyola Chicago’s Alfredrick Hughes, who had held the Horizon League scoring mark since 1985. Davis was presented with a game ball following the contest by Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach.

  Davis is closing in on 3,000 career points and would become the 11th player all-time in Division I history to reach that mark.

  Davis also passed J.J. Redick of Duke (2002-06, 457) and Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon (2016-22, 455) during the contest to move to third all-time in NCAA history in career 3-pointers with 459. The career record is 509 by Wofford’s Fletcher Magee.

  Four Titans scored in double figures in Thursday’s victory including Gerald Liddell, who made his Titan debut in the victory, totaling 16 points and 16 rebounds.

  Photos by John Nagel.

  Full Media Coverage

  Detroit News — Grieving death of grandfather, Detroit’s Antoine Davis makes Horizon history

  Detroit Free Press — UDM’s Antoine Davis sets Horizon League all-time scoring mark on flurry of 3-pointers

  ESPN — Antoine Davis becomes Horizon League’s all-time leading scorer

  USA Today — Antoine Davis sets Horizon League’s all-time scoring record

  DetroitTitans.com — Davis Breaks #HLMBB All-Time Scoring Record as Titans Slay Mastodons in HL Opener

• December 02: Detroit Mercy creates new scholarship for master’s level psychologists

  Friday December 02, 2022
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s College of Liberal Arts & Education will announce a new scholarship Dec. 8 that provides significant financial support for graduate students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology Master’s Program beginning in the fall of 2023.

  The Detroit Mercy Ignite Scholarship for Clinical Psychology master’s degree students will help address the growing needs for mental health clinicians. Details on this scholarship will be announced at the Detroit Mercy Clinical Psychology Virtual Open House on Thursday, Dec. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. EST.  To register for this session, visit udmercy.edu/ClinicalPsychology.

  The Ignite Scholarship will provide qualified students with significant financial assistance for the three-year program as they work to become master’s-level psychological practitioners or to pursue additional graduate study.

  In addition, this new scholarship comes at a pivotal time in U.S. society. According to the 2021 American Psychological Association’s (APA) COVID-19 Practitioner Survey, demand for anxiety, depression and trauma-related treatment continues to rise due to the prolonged effects of the pandemic.

  “The master’s program in Clinical Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts & Education (CLAE) is proud to provide the Ignite Scholarship to financially support graduate students and help meet this pressing need in today’s society,” said CLAE Dean Jocelyn Boryczka. “Providing this important investment in our graduate students means we have the chance to equip more professions with the academic training and hands-on skills they need to help people,” she added.

  “University of Detroit Mercy’s Master of Arts program for Clinical Psychology combines academic rigor, small cohorts, individualized career planning and advising for a unique experience,” said Kristen Abraham, associate professor and program director.

  For more information about the Master of Arts program for Clinical Psychology, please visit https://liberalarts.udmercy.edu/academics/psy/ma-clinical-psychology.php.

  

• December 02: Two Detroit Mercy fraternities to host a toy drive in collaboration with Toys for Tots

  Friday December 02, 2022
  

  

  The brothers of Lambda Theta Phi – Beta Epsilon Chapter and Phi Beta Sigma – Rho Nu Chapter have announced a collaboration with Toys for Tots with a Holiday Toy Drive.

  The Detroit Mercy fraternities will host two drop-off days and locations:

  • Tuesday, Dec. 6 — Detroit Cristo Rey High School (12-4 p.m.)
  • Thursday, Dec. 8 — Calihan Hall (12-4 p.m.)

  Some of the list of suggested gifts include (for children 12 and under): Art sets, dolls, backpacks, batteries, board and card games, coloring and activity books, craft kits, fleece blankets, gloves, legos, puzzles, school supplies, sport balls, stuffed animals, toy trucks and cars and more!

  All donations will be donated to Toys for Tots as Christmas gifts for children!

  With and questions or for more information, please reach out to Jorge Reyna at reynaja@udmercy.edu.

  

• December 01: Learn about inner-workings of computers at Cybersecurity Club meeting, Dec. 5

  Thursday December 01, 2022
  

  

  Join Detroit Mercy’s Cybersecurity Club on Monday, Dec. 5 for the final meeting of the 2022 year, as the club will learn and talk about the inner-workings of computers. The meetings take place in the Briggs Building, Room 217 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

  The club will be taking apart many Lenovo ThinkCentre PC’s during the meeting.

  Free pizza will be provided for all who attend!