Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• May 27: URec to host faculty and staff open summer pickleball on Thursdays, begins June 4

  Wednesday May 27, 2026
  

  

  Faculty and staff open pickleball returns this summer as part of University Recreation’s ongoing efforts to promote health and wellness within the UDM community. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just learning the game, these sessions are for all skill levels.

  Meet at the courts inside the Whitty Student Fitness Center every Thursday from 4:30-5:30 p.m., beginning June 4, for fun and engaging open pickleball games. Paddles and balls are provided for FREE.

  Learn more about the game here.

  Here’s what you can expect:

  • Beginner-friendly environment with opportunities for skill development. Watch for further details on a clinic to be hosted with an expert instructor.
  • A supportive and inclusive community of fellow faculty and staff members.
  • Friendly matches weekly.

  Participation is completely voluntary, and there’s no pressure to attend every session. Simply come as you are, ready to enjoy some friendly competition and Titan camaraderie

  Bring along any colleagues or invite one outside guest for a $5 guest fee.

  For more information, please contact Allen Seales at sealesav@udmercy.edu.

  Join our Microsoft Teams group for more info: Faculty and Staff Pickleball Teams 

  

• May 27: School of Dentistry serves more than 400 patients during Jamaica mission trip

  Wednesday May 27, 2026
  

  

  During spring break in March, students and faculty from the Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry participated in a one-week, spiritually enriching mission trip to Jamaica. The region was still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, and many residents lacked access to essential dental care.

  The team included 22 second- through fourth-year dental students and 11 faculty members, representing a range of specialties, including oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, general dentistry, restorative dentistry and periodontics. They were also joined by Dr. Anant Grewal, former president of the Oakland County Dental Society.

  During four days of service, the group treated 402 patients. Clinical care included 195 extractions, 109 fillings, 103 prophylaxis and gross debridement procedures, 27 root canals and two pulpotomies. Notably, a third-year dental student successfully saved the front teeth of a 16-year-old patient by performing a root canal and composite restoration.

• May 27: Daily open hour coming to McNichols Campus, fall 2026

  Wednesday May 27, 2026
  

  

  Beginning fall 2026, no classes will be held on the McNichols Campus Monday through Friday from 12:50-1:50 p.m., creating a campus-wide midday break.

  Following the 2025–2026 shared governance review of standard time keys, and in response to feedback from the campus community, the Office of the Registrar is expanding the current Tuesday/Thursday open hour to all five weekdays.

  This expanded open hour gives students time to eat while the Titan Dining Room is open, creates more opportunities for student organization meetings and allows for additional campus programming and community-building activities.

  Look for the new schedule to take effect in fall 2026.

• May 20: Photos: Titan commitment honored at 2026 Spotlight on Excellence celebration

  Wednesday May 20, 2026
  

  Employees from across UDM campuses joined together on May 12 for the Spotlight on Excellence celebration in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus.

  The University honored retirees, emeriti faculty, years of service achievements, promotions and tenure, Leadership Academy participants, Go Move Challenge winners, summer stipend awardees and Commitment to Excellence and Mission Leadership awardees.

  The winners of the 2026 Faculty Achievement Awards were also announced, and the following award recipients will be celebrated at a dinner in November:

  • Faculty Excellence Award: Professor of Biology Rachelle Belanger
  • Faculty Achievement Award: Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Marwa Abdel Latif

  Congratulations to all!

  View full photo gallery

• May 20: Photos: Class of ’26 shines at UDM Commencement

  Wednesday May 20, 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 20: Explore UDM summer camps and pre-college programs

  Wednesday May 20, 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 20: Detroit Mercy partners with the PGA for the Rocket Classic, tickets now available

  Wednesday May 20, 2026
  

  

  Detroit Mercy has once again partnered with the PGA as the exclusive university sponsor for the annual Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club this summer.

  As part of the sponsorship, UDM has a limited number of general admission tickets available for each day of play. Proceeds from the purchase of these tickets will benefit the Detroit Mercy Alumni Scholarship Fund.

  Each ticket purchase includes one entry for a chance to win a VIP Experience inside the ropes on a tournament day. Two experiences are available, each accommodating two people.

  The winners’ names will be drawn the week before play begins.

  PGA general admission tickets available here.