Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• February 17: Nominate worthy alumni for 2026 Spirit Awards until Feb. 28

  Tuesday February 17, 2026
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s Alumni Relations Office is accepting nominations for the 2026 Alumni Achievement Spirit Awards. This annual event during Homecoming recognizes seven alumni — one from each college and school at the University — for their significant accomplishments in both their professional careers and in their commitment to community. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 28.

  If you know of any alumni who are making or have made extraordinary achievements in their careers, please nominate them for this prestigious recognition.

  Award criteria includes:

  • Nominee should be a respected member of his/her chosen profession (active or recently retired).
  • Nominee has been recognized in their industry for exemplary professional achievements.
  • Nominee should be engaged in the community, either with Detroit Mercy or another civic/community organization.
  • Nominee has demonstrated a willingness to financially support Detroit Mercy at some level either in the past or in the future.
  • Nominee must be available to accept the award in person.
  • Nominee shall not have received any University of School/College award in the last five years.

  The Spirit Awards are held annually during Homecoming weekend. You may view honorees of past awards HERE.

  For more information or any questions, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Peggy Pattison at 313-578-0327 or pattisma@udmercy.edu.

  Submit nominations here.

  

• February 17: UDM features Detroit poets Brittany Rogers and Tommye Blount for reading and conversation, Feb. 24

  Tuesday February 17, 2026
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s Department of English will host a special night of poetry and conversation with poets, Brittany Rogers and Tommye Blount, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m., in Room 114 of the Chemistry Building.

  A reception and book signing will precede the event at 5:30 p.m., where copies of Rogers’ Good Dress and Blount’s Fantasia for the Man in Blue will be available for sale. All are invited to attend this free event.

  Blount, a native of Detroit, is the author of the chapbook What Are We Not For and the full-length collection of poetry Fantasia for the Man in Blue, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Kate Tufts Discovery Award and the Lambda Literary Award in Gay Poetry. A graduate from Warren Wilson College’s MFA Program for Writers, Blount is the recipient of many commendations, fellowships and grants including from the Desert Rat Residency, Cave Canem and Kresge Arts.

  Rogers is a multidisciplinary artist, educator and lifelong Detroiter. Her work has been published widely, including the Academy of American Poets, Lit Hub and Oprah Daily. Her poetry collection Good Dress was a Michigan Notable Book for 2025 and finalist for both the NAACP Image Award and the Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Poetry. Rogers was awarded the Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award and a Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellowship.

  This event is co-sponsored by the African American Studies Program and Student Life.

  Reserve tickets here.

  

• February 17: Poet Ross Gay featured Feb. 19 for virtual Triptych author series

  Tuesday February 17, 2026
  

  

  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.

  Save the dates:

  • 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.

  Register here!

   

  

• February 17: Movie night featuring ‘Sister Act’ to air in Mercy Gathering Place, Feb. 28

  Tuesday February 17, 2026
  

  

  University Ministry and Home Away From Home will host a movie night on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. The classic comedy Sister Act (1992) will be shown in the Mercy Gathering Place, located on the first floor of Shiple Hall.

  Bring a friend and come warm up with free homemade soup, hot chocolate, baked goods and, of course, plenty of popcorn.

  This event is open to all students and faculty.

  

   

• February 17: NAMI ‘In Our Own Voice’ presentation set for Feb. 19

  Tuesday February 17, 2026
  

  

  The College of Health Professions (CHP) will host a special presentation in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Metro Chapter on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 12:45-1:55 p.m., in Room 114 of the Health Professions Facility.

  Emergency medicine physician Aria Darling will share her personal lived experience with a mental health condition through the NAMI “In Our Own Voice” program.

  This session offers an opportunity to learn directly from a healthcare professional who has navigated mental health challenges, helping to deepen understanding and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health conditions and seeking treatment.

  This event is supported by a Mission Micro Grant and hosted by the CHP Wellness Committee.

  

• February 17: Nominate for the Student Leadership and Service Awards by March 26

  Tuesday February 17, 2026
  

  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.

  For more information or with any questions, please contact Assistant Director of Student Life Emily Johnson at johnsoem6@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1593. Submit nominations here.

   

• February 17: Cook live with Savoy Detroit chef, TENN on Feb. 25

  Tuesday February 17, 2026
  

  

  For those looking for healthy, flavorful meals that won’t break the budget, Detroit Mercy alumna Melba Dearing, executive chef and co-owner of SAVOY Detroit, will hold a special live cooking demonstration on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 4:30 p.m., in Room 124 of the Health Professions Facility.

  In partnership with the Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN), Chef Melba will share practical, budget-friendly cooking tips designed especially for college students. Participants will learn how to transform simple, affordable ingredients into a delicious one-pot meal while picking up real-world kitchen skills they can use every day.

  This is a free demonstration, and all are welcome.

  Chef Melba’s work bridges food, business and community impact. From leading Detroit’s celebrated SAVOY Detroit to supporting student-led food access initiatives through TENN, her approach to cooking is rooted in creativity, intention and equity. This demonstration shows how nutritious meals can be accessible and flavorful.

  RSVP here.