Current Students

University of Detroit Mercy will host its annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Saturday, Feb. 14, in Calihan Hall.

This free event is open to all girls ages 5-12 and includes admission to the Titans women’s basketball game against Purdue Fort Wayne.

The day features skills instruction in various sports, a halftime performance, a post-game autograph session and a T-shirt and swag bag.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by the sports clinic, which runs from 10 a.m. to noon. The Titans women’s basketball game tips off at 1 p.m.

The sports clinic will include soccer, lacrosse, softball, track and field, golf, cheer and more.

For more information, contact Assistant Director of Marketing and Promotions Samantha Cyrus at cyrusse@udmercy.edu or 313-583-8735.

Detroit Mercy’s English Department welcomes poet Ross Gay, who will read his work for the 2026 Triptych series on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Triptych is a virtual reading series featuring award-winning authors in conversation with Detroit Mercy’s Poet-in-Residence Stacy Gnall. Triptych events are free and open to the community.

Gay is the author of four books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; Be Holding, winner of the PEN American Literary Jean Stein Award; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. In addition to his poetry, Gay has released three collections of essays — The Book of Delights (a New York Times bestseller), Inciting Joy and The Book of (More) Delights.

Triptych events are held via Zoom on third Thursdays in January, February and March, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Check out this Between the Pages profile of our January Triptych event with poet Cate Marvin.

• Next Triptych 2026 series (via Zoom) featuring Ilya Kaminsky and Katie Farris, Thursday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m.
• Triptych+1: Student Reading: Live and in-person at Book Suey Bookstore Cooperative in Hamtramck, Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m.

Tommy Titan’s birthday is almost here!

All are invited to stop by the Whitty Student Fitness Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 5-6 p.m., to enjoy cake and take a picture with the UDM’s fearless mascot.

Cake will be available while supplies last.

Applications are now open for UDM student leadership positions. We are currently recruiting for the following roles:

• International Orientation Leader (International Services Office), Summer 2026
• Orientation Leader (Student Life Office), Summer 2026
• Peer Wellness Educator (Wellness Center), Fall 2026-Winter 2027
• Resident Advisor (Residence Life), Fall 2026-Winter 2027

All students are welcome to apply.

If interested, please complete the General Application Form below, and information on the next steps will be emailed to you upon submission of this form.

Please note the following mandatory components to the process:

• Step 1: Complete General Application Form
• Step 2: Attend group process
• Step 3: Individual interview

Detroit Mercy will host the 2026 EPIIC (Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity) Industry-Academia Summit, connecting entrepreneurs with faculty experts and resources from four emerging research universities in Michigan.

The summit will take place on Friday, Feb. 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus. Admission is free for all entrepreneurs.

The summit will feature panel discussions with technology leaders in AI, cybersecurity, biomedical innovation, robotics, electrification and mobility, along with information on grants and partnership support from the universities as well as other economic development organizations.

Detroit Mercy will be joined by the following universities:

• Andrews University
• Kettering University
• Lawrence Technological University

These universities offer expertise in cutting-edge technical fields and want to connect with small businesses and start‑ups to spark collaboration and accelerate research and development.

For more information, please contact Emily Fleury at fleuryej@udmercy.edu.

Detroit Mercy Theatre Company (DMTC) continues celebrating the inaugural season of the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre with Poor Clare by Chiara Atik, a hilarious and anachronistic retelling of the true story of St. Clare of Assisi.

Six performances will run in back-to-back weekends, Friday through Sunday, Feb. 13-22.

Set in Italy in 1211, the play follows Clare, a wealthy medieval “It” girl whose privileged life is upended when she meets Francis, a man who has renounced his wealth and social status in service to the poor. Inspired by his radical devotion, Clare begins to reexamine her own life, questioning what it means to live with purpose and integrity.

“There is so much to mine in this play, and the sacrifices that both Clare and Francis made for the greater good really gives one pause to take stock in our own lives. They both listened to the call of God and took great strides to answer and take action and personal accountability,” said director Kez Settle. “It is a story that is topical and timeless in its relevance. And—if you are a history buff—this will provide you with lots of questions for the google search and history book deep dives!”

This production is the second in the Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre, which opened in fall of 2025 and returned theatre back to UDM’s McNichols Campus.

“This story deeply reflects the University’s mission to educate competent, compassionate leaders who are prepared to serve the world,” said Sarah Rusk, managing director of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company. “It offers a meaningful way to celebrate the shared charisms of the Society of Jesus and the Religious Sisters of Mercy that guide our work, and it felt especially fitting to incorporate those values into our first season back on campus.”

The DMTC Ticket Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., with tickets being available for purchase anytime online. Individual tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni, and $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.

• Feb. 13: Opening Night Celebration. Join the cast and crew following the performance for a reception in the lower level of the Student Union.
• Feb. 14: Community Night. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with $10 ticket for all patrons.
• Feb. 15: Detroit Theatre Discussion Project. Join in the discussion following the first Sunday’s matinee performance as we welcome Heather Hill from the English Department and Fr. Greg Banazak from the Department of Religious Studies at Detroit Mercy to expand upon themes and ideas from the performance in a talkback.
• Feb. 20: Pre-show Mass and Reception. In the spirit of St. Clare and the Franciscan tradition, the Office of Mission Integration invites you to join us for a Mass and reception before the performance. Mass, presided over by Capuchin Franciscan Fr. Johan Paul, will begin at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. A reception with food will follow in the Zalke Lounge of the Student Union, just outside the theatre, prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance. The Mass and reception are free and open to all; tickets are required for the performance.
• Feb. 20: College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) at the Theatre. Join CHASS in celebrating the arts on campus with $5 tickets for CHASS students and alumni with coupon code CHASS_5. Free tickets to faculty/staff of CHASS by calling 313-993-3270 or email theatre@udmercy.edu.
• Feb. 21: High School Night. Free tickets and talkback with student cast and crew following the performance for high school students and their families. Call 313-993-3270 or email theatre@udmercy.edu for details and reservations.
• Feb. 22: Closing Night

Detroit Mercy students are invited to make a meaningful impact in the Detroit community through the Titan Scholars Literacy Program, a service‑learning opportunity led by the Office of Mission Integration.

The program connects UDM students with local elementary schools to strengthen literacy skills, promote health literacy and support the holistic student development through service and education. Participants will also build mentoring, communication and leadership skills.

The program’s first partner school is George Washington Carver Academy in Highland Park, where student tutors will support elementary students in grades K-5, based on school needs.

Tutoring opportunities are available Monday through Thursday, with preferred scheduling on Wednesdays and flexibility to accommodate student availability. Available tutoring times are as follows:

• 8:30-10:15 a.m.: Grades K-2
• 9-11 a.m.: Grades 3-5
• 3-4 p.m.: Mixed grade levels

In addition to weekly tutoring, students may participate in special one‑time events, including Black History Health Literacy Night on Feb. 26 and STEM Night on April 30.

An ICHAT background check is required.

With any questions, please contact Ashlee Barnes, Office of Mission Integration faculty fellow, at barnesav@udmercy.edu.

Do you know a student who went above and beyond this year? Nominations are now open for the 2025-26 Student Leadership and Service Awards and will be accepted until Thursday, March 26!

An unbiased committee will review all nominations, so please be detailed in your submissions!

The Student Leadership and Service Awards reception will be held on Thursday, April 16, at 5 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. More details will be provided to nominees/winners. In conjunction with the awards ceremony, our National Society of Leadership & Success inductees will be honored.

Awards categories for Student Leadership and Service Awards include:

• Rising Star Student Leader (First-Year Student or Sophomore): This award is given to a first-year student or sophomore-level student who demonstrates leadership qualities in multiple areas of campus. They consider their community in their everyday decisions and are working for positive change around them. This person may not have a title, but their actions and commitment to the process of leadership are noticeable to their peers and constituents.
• Student Leader of the Year (Junior or Senior): This award is given to a junior or senior-level student who demonstrates leadership qualities in multiple areas of campus. They consider their community in their everyday decisions and are working for positive change around them. This person may not have a title, but their actions and commitment to the process of leadership are noticeable to their peers and constituents.
• Titan Spirit Award: This award is given to a student who demonstrates Titan Spirit every day. They love their school, and they are not afraid to show it. Their pride for their school is demonstrated in their involvement, decisions, actions and even the color scheme of their clothes. This person never waivers when choosing to root for the home team!
• Student Employee of the Year: This award is given to a diligent student who is employed somewhere on campus. This student adds value to the office or department they work in and is dedicated to their role. Without dedicated student employees this campus would not be able to run efficiently. This student is a true model of what it looks like to help keep a workplace moving in a positive direction.
• Student Organization of the Year: This award is given to the registered student organization that has contributed positively to campus all year. They achieve their organization mission while contributing to the University’s overall mission. They are committed to their members and provide opportunities, initiatives and/or events for campus to see their efforts clearly. This group is driven, excited and displays their positive values.
• Program/Event of the Year: This award is given to a student or group of students who has hosted a phenomenal program on campus. This program has given students at Detroit Mercy an opportunity to enjoy each other, learn something new or come together for a common purpose. This event adds value to campus and is a positive addition to the campus culture.

Awards categories for Fraternity and Sorority Leadership and Service Awards include:

• Fraternity Member of the Year: This award is for a member of a fraternity who has demonstrated continued contribution to his chapter, the Greek community and the Detroit Mercy campus. This person understands and models their values daily and is a positive force. This person stands out from the community for how they demonstrate leadership, loyalty and commitment to making the world around them better for all.
• Sorority Member of the Year: This award is for a member of a sorority who has demonstrated continued contribution to her chapter, the Greek community and the Detroit Mercy campus. This person understands and models their values daily and is a positive force. This person stands out from the community for how they demonstrate leadership, loyalty and commitment to making the world around them better for all.
• Chapter President of the Year: This award is given to a person who upheld the values of their own organization and the University. They communicate throughout the community, promote a positive Greek Life experience and uplift their members. This person supports their executive board (if applicable) and completes all duties in a timely and accurate manner. They exemplify what it means to lead by example!
• Outstanding Philanthropic Event or Community Service Project: This award is given to the Greek chapter that conducted an outstanding philanthropic event and/or an outstanding community service project that served to benefit the local/national community. The program should have been in the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Chapter of Excellence Award: This award is given to the Greek Letter organization that has demonstrated excellence in multiple categories, including but not limited to academics, campus programming and highlighting their values. This chapter contributes positively to the Greek Life community, campus community and each other. Even if this group is not wearing their letters, they are consistently demonstrating their values.

All Titans are invited to Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday, March 25, for Detroit Mercy Night, where the Detroit Pistons will host the Atlanta Hawks. The game starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets start at just $35. All-you-can-eat seats in the North End Club are also available.

When purchased through the link below, tickets also include a co-branded Pistons and UDM sweater.

It’s time to nominate a phenomenal woman who makes a difference here at Detroit Mercy.

The selected faculty, staff or administrator will be honored at the Phenomenal Women’s Reception on Friday, March 20.

The 21st Phenomenal Women’s Reception is an evening dedicated to celebrating the lives of women at Detroit Mercy who make an impact on our community and empower one another. The Ashley Grey Legacy Award will be presented to a faculty or staff representative at Detroit Mercy.

Nominations will close on Friday, Feb. 20, to allow for the selection committee to review all nominations carefully.