Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• February 26: Your voice matters: Take the Healthy Minds Survey, open until March 2

  Thursday February 26, 2026
  

  

  Titans, check your email for an invitation to participate in the 2026 Healthy Minds Survey. This important survey will help the University better understand student and faculty well-being and guide positive changes across campus.

  We want to learn more about what helps you thrive at UDM — and the challenges you may face along the way.

  Bonus: By participating, you’ll be entered for a chance to win great prizes, including gift cards and awesome UDM swag!

  The survey is confidential and will remain open until Monday, March 2.

  Please contact deanofstudents@udmercy.edu with any questions.

• February 26: Stacy Gnall, Michael Lauchlan to lead final CWC of term, March 3

  Thursday February 26, 2026
  

  

  Detroit Mercy students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends are invited to join the final installment of UDM’s Creative Writing Collective (CWC) on Tuesday, March 3, from 5:15-6:30 p.m.

  Poet-in-Residence Stacy Gnall and Senior Adjunct Instructor Michael Lauchlan will lead the conversation for this final meeting of the winter semester. The gathering will take place in the Seibert Center for Innovation and Collaboration, Engineering Building first floor.

  No writing experience is necessary to join the CWC. You are welcome if you have an interest in exploring or developing your creative inclinations.

  Please contact english@udmercy.edu with questions or to join the CWC mailing list. Keep up with the Detroit Mercy English Department on Instagram and Facebook @detroitmercyenglish.

• February 26: CLASA to hold annual UCA Jesuit Martyrs fundraiser dinner, March 30

  Thursday February 26, 2026
  

  

  All are invited to enjoy an evening of Salvadoran pupusas, cultural expression and fellowship at the 15th annual Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) Jesuit Martyrs fundraiser dinner on Monday, March 30, at 6:45 p.m., in the Student Union Ballroom on the McNichols Campus.

  Learn about contemporary Central America and help raise funds for an important scholarship. This scholarship, named after the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter, who were killed at UCA in November 1989, funds university scholarships for students from underprivileged families in El Salvador.

  This year, the event will feature two keynote speakers:

  • Fr. Steve Privett on “Dean Brackley, S.J., Being awakened by the poor of Jayaque and Las Palmas”
  • Fr. Rick Cassidy on “St. Paul, Dean, Jesus and Downward Mobility”

  Both speakers will share memories of Dean Brackley, S.J., and discuss the relevance of his message for today.

  A traditional Salvadoran dinner featuring pupusas will be served. Music will be provided by classically trained pianist and vocalist Hans Barbe, who will perform Spanish justice movement songs by Victor Jara and Mercedes Sosa, along with other CLASA-themed selections and classical pieces during the meal.

  Fr. Privett (who will join virtually) teaches theology at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He is the previous president of Verbum Dei Christo Rey High School and served as president of University of San Francisco from 2000-14. His doctorate in Catechetics is from Catholic University of America and focused on the Hispanic Community of the Catholic Church.

  Fr. Cassidy is professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Seminary. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and holds degrees from the Gregorian, University of Michigan and the Graduate Theological Union.

  The event is free for Detroit Mercy students. For all others, a donation of $10 or more is requested. All funds raised will benefit the UCA Jesuit Martyrs Scholarship, which was founded by Dean Brackley, S.J.

  The event is sponsored by The Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive (CLASA) and co-sponsored by the UDM Jesuit Community, the Office of Mission Integration, the Latinx Student Union and the Language and Cultural Training Program.

  Advance registration and 6:30 p.m. arrival time is encouraged.

  For more information or any questions, please contact Gail Presbey at presbegm@udmercy.edu.

  Register for CLASA dinner here.

• February 26: SACD Dichotomy lecture series explores ‘Who is the decolonial urban designer?’ on March 2

  Thursday February 26, 2026
  

  Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD) 2026 Dichotomy Lecture Series will host Shreya Vadrevu, who was featured in Dichotomy 28:RED, for a lecture titled “Who is the decolonial urban designer?”

  The lecture will take place on Monday March 2, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Warren Loranger Architecture Building Exhibition Space. All are welcome to attend this free event.

  This presentation explores the complexities of post-colonial perspectives within urban design. Focusing on mixed methods of photography, counter-mapping and participatory documentation of public markets, the presentation asks an important question: What is the evolution of a decolonial urban designer?

  Vadrevu is an urbanist and architectural designer, who holds a Master of Urban Design from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Architecture from PES University, Bengaluru. She currently works as an architectural designer in the K-12 education space and continues to work with Dystopia, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about speciesism.

  Dichotomy, a student-published journal of SACD, strives to be the critical link to the discourse on design, architecture, urbanism and community development.

• February 26: Celebrate National Reading Month with Rx for Reading Detroit at Batch Brewing Co.

  Thursday February 26, 2026
  

  

  National Reading Month brings a community book drive and series of events to Batch Brewing Co. throughout March in support of Rx for Reading Detroit.

  Since 2014, Detroit Mercy’s Rx for Reading Detroit has distributed more than 275,000 books to low-income children and families in metro Detroit. That’s more than two books for every young child in the city of Detroit!

  Batch Brewing Co. will accept donations of new or gently used books all month long. Those who donate will be entered into drawings to win an Rx for Reading Swag Bag or a Little Free Library for a Detroit-based school or organization.

  Thursday Events in March

  March 5 — Teacher and Staff Appreciation Night
  4-6:30 p.m.: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Hour
  School employees can enjoy specials with a valid school ID.

  March 12 — Teacher and Staff Appreciation Night
  4-6:30 p.m.: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Hour
  School employees can enjoy specials with a valid school ID.

  March 19 — Family Read-Along Event
  4-6:30 p.m.: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Hour: School employees can enjoy specials with a valid school ID.
  6:30-7:30 p.m.: Story Reading Time with Rx for Reading

  March 26 — Reading Month Celebration Finale
  4-6:30 p.m.: Teacher and Staff Appreciation Hour: School employees can enjoy specials with a valid school ID.
  6:30-7 p.m.: Reading with Brynne Barnes, local award-winning author and NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work for Children
  7-7:30 p.m.: Little Free Library and Swag Bag drawings and donation totals announced

  It is also easy to give a gift to Rx for Reading Detroit through the Detroit Mercy Giving Page.

  Take a moment to celebrate literacy and help raise the next generation of readers this month by ensuring every child has access to books.

   

  

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

  Thursday February 26, 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 26: EPIIC Industry-Academic Summit coming to McNichols Campus, Feb. 27

  Thursday February 26, 2026
  

  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.

  Register for EPIIC Industry-Academia Summit here.