Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• May 18: Photos: Class of ’26 shines at UDM Commencement

  Monday May 18, 2026
  

  Detroit Mercy held four Commencement ceremonies over two days, May 8-9, inside of Calihan Hall, with more than 1,700 Titans graduating from the University.

  Featured speakers at the ceremonies included Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian K. Zahra ’87, Detroit Mercy Dental adjunct professor Judith Jones and Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, former president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.

  Overall, more than 1,100 Titans participated in this year’s Commencement ceremonies. Congratulations to Detroit Mercy’s Class of 2026!

  Commencement Photography

  The University’s Marketing & Communications department had several professional photographers capturing Commencement ceremonies and Mass. Thousands of photos can be accessed and downloaded by the University community and graduates to enjoy.

  • Photography folder

  Replays of Commencement Ceremonies

  Watch live stream replays of our four Commencement ceremonies on YouTube.

  • School of Dentistry Ceremony
  • School of Law Ceremony
  • Undergraduate Ceremony
  • Graduate Ceremony

  Commencement Profiles

  Each year, the Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating class. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University. Read their profiles at the links below.

  • Victoria King, College of Business Administration
  • Finley Booth, School of Architecture & Community Development
  • Jenna Saker, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
  • Sara Shannan, College of Engineering & Science
  • Shreen Marini, College of Health Professions
  • Andre Williams, School of Law

• May 18: Industrial/Organizational Psychology to host chat with alumni, May 21

  Monday May 18, 2026
  

  

  Those interested in Detroit Mercy’s Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology M.A. Program are invited to an engaging evening of insight, networking and real‑world career exploration at the upcoming unscripted I/O U chat with UDM alumni Alex Mendonca ’16, ’18 and Mary LeAnnais ’16, ’18.

  This conversation will take place on Thursday, May 21, from 5:30-6:45 p.m., in Room 138 of the Commerce & Finance Building. The chat will be delivered via Zoom, and is free to everyone who wishes to attend.

  

  As a manager at Mazda, LeAnnais leads talent strategies across performance management, leadership development, succession planning and coaching. She partners with senior leaders to align talent priorities with business goals and leverages data to identify, develop and recognize talent that drives business outcomes.

  In his role at Nissan, Mendonca leads initiatives focused on executive and high-potential leadership development. He oversees a team of talent planners who collaborate with organizational functions on succession planning, high-potential talent development and retention, scenario planning, executive transitions and career coaching. The goal of his work is to design and manage a comprehensive system that identifies and develops talent across Nissan, both regionally and globally.

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

• May 18: Special community prayer service for healing and wellness set for May 21

  Monday May 18, 2026
  

  

  The Detroit Mercy community is invited to a special prayer service focused on the health and well‑being of local neighborhoods. This gathering offers an opportunity to come together to pause, share space and lift one another up through prayer and reflection.

  The prayer service will take place on Thursday, May 21, at 6 p.m., at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit.

  Following the service, attendees are invited to remain for conversation and a shared meal. This is an opportunity to connect, meet new neighbors and build community in a welcoming, relaxed setting. Dinner will be provided through the generosity of the Catholic Foundation of Michigan.

  All are welcome, whether familiar with prayer services or attending for the first time. The evening is sponsored by Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and University Ministry.

  The community is encouraged to come together in prayer for healing, hope and abundant life in local neighborhoods.

  

• May 18: McNichols Campus to host NAMI Walk Michigan, Sept. 19

  Monday May 18, 2026
  

  

  

  The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 2026 walk in Michigan is set for Saturday, Sept. 19 on University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus. All are welcome to join.

  No matter how you want to get involved, NAMI needs you.

  Get involved and make a difference in the lives of Americans living with mental health concerns. If you shake a hand, give a fist bump or cheer with your team, this NAMI Walk is one of the most powerful days of the year, and you can make a real difference.

  Please save the date and consider signing up for the walk or donating to mental health programs. Further details will be provided soon.

  For more information, please contact the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@udmercy.edu.

• May 13: Faculty and staff needed for reimagined PTV, Aug. 26-27

  Wednesday May 13, 2026
  

  Interested in being part of an exciting new approach to the engagement portion of Prologues, Transitions and Viewpoint  (PTV) — the orientation program for incoming first-year students on the McNichols Campus?

  We are reimagining the engagement portion using the “Immersion Day” model developed by University Ministry. While service remains an important component of PTV, the new approach will include community engagement elements to introduce students to Detroit and the amazing organizations and creative ideas used to address particular challenges.

  We are seeking faculty and staff willing to assist on one or both mornings of PTV, August 26 and/or 27.

  Faculty and staff who participate may use Mission Leave to get paid for their involvement. Learn more about Mission Leave. 

  A planning meeting will be held between May 5 and May 15 to explain the new approach and begin developing plans. If you are interested in attending, please share your availability during that time frame.

  If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Fr. Tim Hipskind at hipskijt@udmercy.edu or 313-993-2003.

• May 13: Explore UDM summer camps and pre-college programs

  Wednesday May 13, 2026
  

  

  

  UDM is set to deliver a lineup of summer camps and pre-college programs that offer students from elementary school through college a ticket to academic discovery, career exploration and athletic development this summer.

  • Beginners Investment Camp, June 22-26
  • Youth Exploration Camp, July 20-24 and July 24-31
  • Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), July 13-24
  • NOMA’s Project Pipeline, July 27-31
  • Dentistry Summer Enrichment Program, May 27-June 26
  • Nike Soccer Camp, June 29-July 3 and July 13-18
  • Summer Reading programs throughout summer
  • Special Needs Basketball camp, dates TBD
  • Tennis Program, dates TBD

  Hosted across UDM’s campuses and online, the University’s summer programming reflects its longstanding commitment to community engagement in conjunction with academic excellence, with camp opportunities in health sciences, business, architecture, engineering, literacy and athletics.

  Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors can explore basic investment and financial concepts at the free Beginners Investment Camp, scheduled for June 22–26 on the McNichols Campus. Participants will also hear from industry professionals about career opportunities in the field.

  Building on its 60-year legacy of educating high-quality health professionals to meet growing workforce demands, the University’s immersive Youth Exploration Camp aims to inspire the next generation of nurses and healthcare professionals. The camp offers two free, hands-on sessions, July 20-24 and July 24-31. Middle and high school students will be introduced to essential clinical and healthcare skills, including CPR training and emergency response procedures, and will take part in simulation-based escape room challenges at the University’s Simulation, Technology and Research (STAR) Center.

  The College of Engineering & Science (CES) has once again partnered with the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP) to offer a series of interactive STEM camps for students in grades two through eight, along with a digital advertising camp, at the McNichols Campus from July 13-24. CES and DAPCEP have partnered for more than 30 years to inspire and prepare hundreds of underrepresented minority students for careers in engineering and science.

  Aspiring young architects can attend Project Pipeline Camp, hosted by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), July 27-31 on the McNichols Campus. Designed for students in grades 6-12, the program connects underrepresented youth with design professionals and uses the city as a classroom to empower them to be advocates of change through design.

  The Dental Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is a fully funded, four-week residential early admissions program May 27-June 26 on the Corktown Campus for college juniors, seniors and recent college graduates. Through academic enrichment, mentorship, professional development and hands-on dental experiences, the program prepares students for the transition to dental school. SEP expands access, supports students facing systemic barriers and helps build a diverse, community-focused dental workforce.

  Led by Steve Shelton, head women’s soccer coach at UDM, and the Titan coaching staff, the Nike youth soccer camp offers high quality training for ages 6–16 in a fun, challenging and supportive environment. Two sessions run on the McNichols Campus, June 29-July 3 and July 13-17, where players build strong fundamentals, elevate their game and learn to compete at their best.

  Among other athletic camp offerings are a tennis camp and special needs basketball camp, with camp dates to be determined.

  The University will also continue its partnership with the Institute of Reading Development, offering online summer reading programs for students from pre-K through 12th grade. The program focuses on building reading skills and cultivating a lifelong love of books.

  Camp dates, age requirements and registration details vary by program. Learn more about Detroit Mercy summer camps or sign up for a session.

   

• May 12: TENN’s Spring Fling welcomes the season with community, May 13

  Tuesday May 12, 2026
  

  

  The Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) will welcome spring and celebrate our community at the Spring Fling, an evening of crafts, food and fun. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 13 at 5 p.m., on the Fountain Terrace of the Student Union.

  All are welcome to this FREE event. To RSVP or for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.