Current Students

It’s almost chili time! Calling all faculty, staff, students, and alumni for the annual chili cook-off at the Titan Winter Blast, set for Saturday, Jan. 24 prior to the men’s basketball contest against Oakland on the McNichols Campus. The cook-off is from 12-3 p.m., with the Titans game against rival Golden Grizzlies beginning at 3 p.m. inside of Calihan Hall.

Grab a co-worker, fellow classmate, your student organization or club members, or an alumni to join the the chili-cooking fun!

Registration ends Friday, Dec. 12. For more information please contact Arneshia Austin at austinad1@udmercy.edu.

Detroit Mercy’s annual De-Stress Fest, set for Thursday, Dec. 4, from 4:30-7 p.m., is a chance to connect with friends and recharge before finals week at the Whitty Student Fitness Center with delicious food, exciting games, prizes and fun!

Here are some of the things you can do at De-Stress Fest:

• Ride the mechanical bull
• Play multiplayer inflatable games
• Enjoy free massages
• Get creative with crochet and bracelet making
• Snack on treats at the hot cocoa bar and taco stand
• Decorate Christmas cookies with Chef Jessica
• Build your own snowman with Miss Chris
• Plus raffles, pastry decorating and more

All students are welcome!

Detroit Mercy’s Day of Giving is Tuesday, Dec. 2 — and students are at the heart of it!

This 24-hour fundraising celebration brings together Titans everywhere to support the people, programs and opportunities that make our University special.

Day of Giving isn’t just about making a gift, it’s also a chance for students to connect, have fun and learn how philanthropy shapes your Detroit Mercy experience. Join the University from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Fountain Lounge for student-centered activities, including:

• A hot chocolate bar and snacks
• Fun games and giveaways, that showcase the impact of Titan generosity

Stop by during Dead Hour, enjoy a treat and learn more about programs at the University that are supported by philanthropy. This year, we’re highlighting: The Hive, Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN), Service Immersion Trips and Rx for Reading Detroit.

Learn more about these mission-driven programs and vote for your favorite—or multiple—to receive a portion of a special Day of Giving donation.

Let’s show what Titans can do when they come together. See you there!

Support local businesses and find unique holiday gifts while you enjoy a festive community atmosphere at Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29. In collaboration with the Six Mile Small Business Network, Shop the Smalls is happening along McNichols in three locations:

• Design Studio 6 Artisan Holiday Affair, 8626 W. McNichols Rd., 1-6 p.m.: This festive marketplace features handmade handbags, holiday décor, art, jewelry, home goods, popcorn and more. Perfect for finding one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting local artisans.
• Detroit Sip, 7420 W. McNichols Rd., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Enjoy a cozy atmosphere while browsing small business offerings. For vendor inquiries, email info@detroitsip.com.
• The Raw Space, 8420 W. McNichols Rd., All Day: Support local businesses and explore unique products in a vibrant pop-up experience. Learn more at www.rawspacedet.com.

Mark your calendar and make it a day of shopping at creative small businesses!

The Women’s and Gender Studies Program has announced the 2025-26 Jane Schubert Student Grant with nominations being accepted until Jan. 23, 2026. Grants support community and academic projects and activities related to women’s and gender issues.

Current undergraduate, graduate and professional students, as well as university-recognized students organizations are welcome to apply using an online application.

Past grants have been awarded in support of a wide range of activities, community projects, as well as academic projects, such as:

• Brining an international poet to UDM to recite her work and speak on trauma, journey and the modern stories of Muslim women.
• The publication and performance of a student chapbook of written and visual art that engaged issues of gender.
• A PhD capstone project on vicarious trauma and its effects on sexual assault nurse examiners.
• Travel to an academic conference to present research on mental health interventions for Black women.
• The Chemistry Club’s Women in Science Symposium.

Students should complete the online application form.

Please direct any questions to Lee Eshelman (eshelmlr@udmercy.edu), Women’s and Gender Studies affiliate faculty and chair of the WGS Grants Subcommittee.

Big papers, projects and deadlines coming up? You don’t have to do it alone!

Join The Writing Center for Community Writing Hours with Content and Outreach Coordinator Brittany Hardy from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21 on the first floor of the McNichols Campus Library. The help entails:

• Writing
• Support
• Accountability
• Community

The assistance will power you through your end-of-term assignments.

Start 2026 with a bang at University Recreation’s New Year’s Rec-Solutions! Save the date for this fun even to help usher in the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 5-6:30 p.m. inside of the Whitty Student Fitness Center.

Free food is available to the first 100 participants. Also included will be giveaways, raffles, vendors, interactive demos, sports and fitness challenges, music, inflatable games and a few surprises! Stay tuned for more.

Detroit Mercy’s Emerging Leaders Program will host a Leadership Slam on Tuesday, Dec. 2, with two alumni who will share how their education, resilience and vision have shaped success.

This is a unique opportunity for students to gain valuable insights and be inspired to take bold steps on their own leadership journeys. All are welcome.

Slam 1 will take place from 2:30-3:45 p.m. with Slam 2 to follow at 4:30-5:45 p.m., both in the Health Professions Facility, Room 124.

Both alumni will be speaking in Slam 1 & Slam 2.

Meet our speakers:

• Angelo Vitale, General Counsel, Rocket Companies (Retired): 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.
• Michael Birney, CMO, I Natural Way: Birney drives business growth with advanced marketing tech, leveraging his experience as a former Google Growth Strategist and an ML Champion to apply teamwork and strategy for success.

For more information about this event, please contact Program Director Kathleen Zimmerman-Oster at zimmerka@udmercy.edu or 586-873-1743.

Detroit Mercy students are eligible to access programming abroad at other Jesuit schools as part of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) Shared Partner Programming Abroad. UDM students are welcome to attend a virtual information session on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. to learn how they could spend a summer, fall or winter semester abroad through Loyola’s Rome Center.

Eligible UDM students may qualify for tuition or program discounts through Loyola University Chicago’s (LUC’s) Rome Center, as well as scholarships offered through LUC.

At Loyola’s Rome Center, students don’t just study abroad, they live and learn in the heart of Rome. At the information session, students will learn about the following opportunities:

• Taking classes that may count toward your degree while exploring one of the world’s most historic cities.
• Gaining professional experience through internships. No Italian required.
• Earning credit through hands-on, experiential learning that brings your studies to life.

More details about life in Rome, course offerings and costs will be provided at the information session.

Contact Lara Wasner at wasnerle@udmercy.edu for more information about this session.

UDM students who have worked at the Detroit Mercy Libraries or Varsity News or volunteered with the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN), for at least one year — and plan to continue with these activities — may now apply for the Adia J. Palmer Memorial Scholarship. Students pursuing studies in Performing Arts or Communications are also encouraged to apply.

The scholarship is intended to help cover the costs of textbooks and lab fees at the University. The Detroit Mercy Libraries, Varsity News and TENN launched this scholarship in 2023, to honor Palmer’s legacy of creativity, inspiration and elevation, as well as her desire to spread joy, peace and love to make the world a better place.

The deadline for applications for the 2025-26 scholarship is Dec. 1.

While the number and dollar amount of this year’s scholarships is yet to be determined, awardees will be notified by mid-December 2025, and scholarships may be used as early as the 2026 Winter semester. Last year, six $500 scholarships were awarded to outstanding students who exemplified Palmer’s legacy.

For more information about the scholarship or to apply, please visit: Adia J. Palmer Memorial Scholarship website.