Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• August 20: African American Studies Program reception & lecture set for Oct. 8

  Wednesday August 20, 2025
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s African American Studies Program will honor alumni, share important news about the future and enjoy a keynote lecture over food and refreshments on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The reception will begin at 6 p.m. in the Exhibition Space in the Warren Loranger Architecture Building on the McNichols Campus.

  Amy Brandt ’01 is this year’s distinguished alumna honoree. Brandt works with teams of staff members across the Midwest within the Campus Ministry of Cru, focusing on cross-cultural growth, as they strive to share the gospel with students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

  The Karen and Thomas Waters Keynote Lecture entitled Memory as Freedom Practice: The Work of Arturo Schomburg will be delivered by Vanessa K. Valdés.

  Valdés is an independent scholar whose work focuses on literature, visual arts, performances and histories of Black peoples throughout the western hemisphere. An engaging speaker, she served as a professor at the City University of New York for 17 years. The author and editor of seven books, Valdés has written on literature by Black women in the United States, Cuba and Brazil as well as the field-defining biography of Arturo Schomburg, namesake of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. She is the editor of the Afro-Latinx Futures series at the State University of New York Press and is the co-editor of the Global Black Writers in Translation series at Vanderbilt University Press.

  Get tickets here.

• August 19: Titan women’s soccer Deck Out Your Dorm game set for Aug. 28

  Tuesday August 19, 2025
  

  

  Titan Athletics and the women’s soccer team will assist students with their dorm decorating at the “Deck Out Your Dorm” game on Thursday, Aug. 28. The first 100 fans in attendance will receive a Titan Territory pennant to hang in their dorm rooms. Team schedule flyers are also available.

  Come cheer on the Titans as they take on Bowling Green in a 7 p.m. kickoff from Titan Field on the McNichols Campus.

  

• August 19: University Recreation fall program registration now open

  Tuesday August 19, 2025
  

  

  University Recreation has something for everyone this school year with its intramural sports and fitness programming.

  Sports leagues, tournaments and fitness programs are open to all UDM students, faculty and staff, offering opportunities for friendly competition throughout the academic year and intramural championship prizes.

  URec provides a diverse range of programs for both students and employees. Fall 2025 intramural programming includes sand volleyball, soccer, indoor volleyball, flag football, ping pong and basketball. The leagues are FREE for all. Fitness Programs include Titan Training, Yoga, Kickboxing and Student Go Move Challenge.

  Please contact URec Assistant Director of Recreational Sports Allen Seales at sealesv@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1781 or Assistant Director of Fitness Chris Richardson at crichar4@udmercy.edu with any questions, comments or concerns.

  Register now!

  

• August 19: Men’s soccer to host home opener Sunday afternoon

  Tuesday August 19, 2025
  

  

  Titan Athletics is welcoming back students during move-in weekend with free food at the men’s soccer home opener this Sunday, Aug. 24.

  The Titans will host Mercyhurst University for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Titan Field on the McNichols Campus.

  The first 100 students in attendance can visit the Titan tent for a free hot dog and pop or water.

  

• August 19: Five to be honored with Business Leadership Awards, Oct. 19

  Tuesday August 19, 2025
  

  

  Five College of Business Administration alumni will be celebrated on Sunday, Oct. 19, during the annual Business Leadership Awards.

  The event will begin with Mass at 10 a.m. in the St. Ignatius Chapel, followed by brunch and the awards ceremony at 11:15 a.m. at the Detroit Golf Club. Tickets are $60 each.

  The CBA recognizes exemplary leaders who demonstrate professional success, outstanding contributions to society and the embodiment of Jesuit and Mercy values. This year, three Lifetime Achievement recipients will be inducted into the College’s Hall of Honor with one alumna to be recognized as a Rising Star. The celebration will also debut the Brad Simmons Community Impact Award, named in honor of the late Brad Simmons ’79, ’84, longtime chair of the College’s Board of Advisors.

  Lifetime Achievement Award:

  • Teresa Thiele ’96, ’98, senior vice president for global purchasing, Stellantis
  • Crystal Windham ’02, executive director of global industrial design, General Motors
  • Greg Hamel ’86, director of global business strategy (retired), Ford Motor Company.

  Rising Star Award:

  • Ellyn Riebau ’16, ’17, finance director, StockX.

  Inaugural Brad Simmons Community Impact Award:

  • Norman L. Schmitt, Jr. ’70, ’75, trustee of Schmitt Investment Company, LLC.

  Purchase tickets here.

  

• August 18: New leadership academy launching at UDM; Sign-up now

  Monday August 18, 2025
  

  

  The Office of the Provost announced the inaugural UDM Leadership Academy, a new professional development series for staff, administrators and department chairs at the University.

  Led by Professor and Coordinator of the Leadership Minor Don DiPaolo, the program will offer monthly Friday afternoon sessions (October-April) focused on building skills, enhancing competencies and fostering a culture of excellence at Detroit Mercy.

  The Academy’s objective is to:

  • Provide leadership skills training and enhancement.
  • Build leadership competencies and capacities for both seasoned leaders and those new to leadership roles.
  • Foster a culture of leadership excellence and distinction at UDM.

  The inaugural class is limited to 35 spots, and interested participants must apply by Friday, Aug. 29. Supervisor approval is required for permission.

  Participants will meet monthly on Friday from 12-5 p.m. in the College of Health Professions Building, Room 124, on the McNichols Campus, beginning with lunch each session. The dates are: Oct. 17, Nov. 14, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3.

  Apply here.

  

• August 17: UDM Street Fest set for Saturday, Sept. 6

  Sunday August 17, 2025
  

  

  University of Detroit Mercy, in partnership with the Detroit Month of Design Festival, and in collaboration with Gesu and Live6 Alliance, is hosting UDM Street Fest on Saturday, Sept. 6.

  The free event is set to run from 12-8 p.m. and is part of the Six Mile Street Fest. All are welcome.

  UDM’s part in the event will be located on the lawn at the entrance of the McNichols Campus. It will feature sustainability exercises, crafts, workshops, children’s activities, food, vendors and much more.

  The UDM Street Fest is being co-sponsored by University Ministry, Office of Mission Integration, Titan Equity Nourish Network, Student Life, University Recreation, Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) and Titan Athletics.