Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• November 06: DMTC presents ‘Twelfth Night’ in new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre, Nov. 7-16

  Thursday November 06, 2025
  

  

  A fresh adaptation of a Shakespearean classic, Twelfth Night, opens Detroit Mercy Theatre Company’s 55th season and celebrates the company’s return to University of Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus with the opening of the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre.

  Six performances will run in back-to-back weekends, Friday through Sunday, Nov. 7-16.

  Twelfth Night, by William Shakespeare and adapted by Marc Palmieri, follows twins Viola and Sebastian, separated by a shipwreck and stranded on the peculiar land of Illyria. Disguising herself as a young man, Viola finds employment in the service of the noble Duke Orsino, only to fall hopelessly in love with him. But Orsino has his sights set on the enigmatic Countess Olivia and enlists Viola—unaware of her identity—to carry his amorous pleas. In an unexpected twist, Olivia finds herself smitten with the disguised Viola instead.

  “Shakespeare is always relevant to today’s world, which is why his plays have remained with us for so long,” said Andrew Papa, chair of the Department of Performing Arts. “Not only that, Twelfth Night is one of his best comedies, and it’s in times like these that comedies are just the reprieve the world needs.”

  This production marks the debut of the new Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre on UDM’s McNichols Campus. This modern performance space will give students the opportunity to develop their craft and share their work with audiences, while also providing a welcoming place for cultural and artistic events that will benefit both the campus and the wider community.

  “After more than a decade away, Detroit Mercy Theatre Company is thrilled to be returning home to McNichols Campus,” said Sarah Hawkins Rusk, managing director of DMTC and director of Twelfth Night. “Our new theatre will be a dynamic hub for creativity on campus, offering students a professional-caliber space to learn and grow.”

  Joining the students on stage for this celebratory production are chair Andrew Papa and UDM alumni Peter Prouty ’00 and Kaelyn Johnson ’22. “As an actor in the show, it’s refreshing to perform alongside our eager students and our stellar alumni,” Papa said. “Getting the opportunity to perform with our students and some of our top alumni has been an incomparable experience, and I look forward to bringing this text to life in our brand-new, permanent home for the arts at University of Detroit Mercy.”

  The DMTC Ticket Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., with tickets being available for purchase anytime online. Individual tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for seniors and Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and alumni, and $10 for veterans and students (ages 4-college). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. To schedule your group, contact Sarah Rusk at 313-993-3273.

  SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS

  • Nov. 7: Friends and Family Night. Sponsored by Thomas E. Page ’71, ’76. This performance is invitation only.
  • Nov. 8: Celebration of the Grand Opening of the Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre. This performance is invitation only.
  • Nov. 9: College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) & University of Detroit Mercy at the Theatre. Free tickets for students, faculty and staff of University of Detroit Mercy with valid I.D. A talkback following the performance led by a CHASS faculty member is presented as a part of the Detroit Theatre Discussion Project.
  • Nov. 14: High School Night. Free tickets and talkback with student cast and crew following the performance for high school students and their families. Call 313-993-3270 or email theatre@udmercy.edu for details and reservations.
  • Nov. 15: Community Night. $10 ticket for all patrons.
  • Nov. 16: Closing Night

  Get tickets here.

  

• November 06: McNichols Campus Library to celebrate 75th birthday on Nov. 14

  Thursday November 06, 2025
  

  

  In 1950, a gallon of gas cost just $0.27, and the world had yet to experience color television. Here on the McNichols Campus, our Library first opened its doors — a new home for knowledge, reflection and community.

  Seventy-five years later, while the world has gone digital, our Library remains rooted in the same values: curiosity, discernment and the pursuit of truth.

  All are welcome to join us on Friday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. in the lobby of the McNichols Campus Library as we celebrate its 75th birthday and mark this special moment with a re-blessing of the building led by Fr. Charles Oduke.

  Cake and punch will be served.

• November 06: Rosary devotion for suicide prevention in Holy Spirit Chapel, Nov. 20

  Thursday November 06, 2025
  

  

  University Ministry will host a special time of prayer on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 1:30 p.m. in the Holy Spirit Chapel, located in the Student Union, Lower Level.

  Together, we will pray the Rosary, a traditional Catholic devotion, in support of Pope Leo XIV’s monthly intention for November: the prevention of suicide. This is a topic close to the hearts of many, and all members of the UDM community are welcome to share this moment of reflection and hope with Jesus and one another.

  Rosary beads and “how-to” guides will be provided, so whether you’re familiar with the Rosary prayers or joining for the first time, you’ll be able to follow along and participate.

• November 06: Research on display at 12th annual Engineering & Science Research Symposium, Nov. 13

  Thursday November 06, 2025
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s College of Engineering & Science is set to host the 12th annual Research Symposium on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. All are welcome.

  This annual event showcases the work of both graduate and undergraduate students, with more than 100 research posters representing a wide range of disciplines taught at the University.

  Attendees, including high school students and alumni, will have the chance to connect with student researchers, learn about their projects and discover the importance of hypothesis-driven research.

  Lunch will be served, and prizes will be awarded to students for research excellence in both Engineering and Science categories, as well as a participant-voted People’s Choice award.

• November 06: SACD to host lecture on transitioning from academia to architectural practice, Nov. 7

  Thursday November 06, 2025
  

  

  Detroit Mercy’s School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD) invites the campus community, architecture professionals and anyone interested in international work and entrepreneurship to attend an upcoming lecture featuring Marisol González, principal of M-G Estudio and faculty member at Tec de Monterrey, Mexico.

  The lecture, titled “Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming an Architect: Reflections and Practice,” will take place on Friday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. in the Warren Loranger Architecture Building Exhibition Space. This lecture is free and open to the public.

  González will share insights from her journey as both educator and practitioner, offering valuable perspectives on navigating the transition from academic study to professional practice. Her talk will explore the intersection of architecture, entrepreneurship and international collaboration.

  This visit is part of an ongoing teaching collaboration between Detroit Mercy and Tec de Monterrey’s architecture program. González will be accompanied by architecture students from Tec de Monterrey, furthering the institutions’ commitment to cross-cultural educational exchange.

  For more information, contact Associate Professor of Architecture & Community Development Tadd Heidgerken at heidgetw@udmercy.edu.

• November 06: UDM adopts renewed core values

  Thursday November 06, 2025
  

  

  University of Detroit Mercy recently announced a set of refreshed core values created through a collaborative effort involving students, faculty, staff and alumni. Using language that is easy to understand, the newly articulated values will guide the University’s mission and future.

  The launch and dissemination of these core values come during an exciting time of growth for the University, highlighted by strong national rankings and new academic programs. The new core values are:

  • Educating the Whole Person: Fostering academic excellence, transformative learning and holistic well-being for every member of the community by integrating intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development.
  • Cultivating a Diverse Community: Nurturing an inclusive environment where every individual belongs and thrives
  • Embodying Mercy & Compassion: Upholding a commitment to radical hospitality, respect for the dignity of each person and the care of all creation.
  • Fostering Faith & Justice: Promoting academic inquiry and spiritual practices that inspire the pursuit of a more just world.
  • Serving & Leading in Detroit: Working with surrounding communities and diverse partners to pursue the common good and optimal well-being for all.

  “Our renewed core values are the result of a profound, University-wide reflection on our shared identity,” said President Donald B. Taylor. “They speak to who we are as an institution, honoring our deep history while pointing toward a hopeful future.”

  The collaborative group of faculty, staff, students and alumni that worked to develop the refreshed core values met for several months gathering input from stakeholders. In June, Fr. Charles Oduke, vice president for Mission Integration at the University, formally presented the values to the Board of Trustees, which approved them during the summer meeting. In mid-August, Taylor and Oduke formally announced the values to faculty and staff during the annual President’s Convocation.

  The announcement of UDM’s new Core Values is timely. In the recent 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings, the University rose to No. 36 in the nation, making it the No. 1 private university in Michigan and the No. 3 Catholic university in the U.S. This ranking reflects Detroit Mercy’s exceptional outcomes in graduate salary impact and social mobility. UDM also received recognition in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report ‘Best Colleges’ edition, ranking No. 22 nationally in the Best Value Schools category.

  This momentum is supported by the development of several new programs designed to increase accessibility and meet the evolving needs of students and the workforce. These include:

  • The launch of Michigan’s first fully online J.D. program at the School of Law, with the first cohort starting in fall 2026.
  • The creation of the School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences and new undergraduate degrees in Health Sciences and Sports & Exercise Sciences within the College of Health Professions.
  • A new School of Optometry and Detroit Mercy Eye Institute.

  “These values reaffirm UDM’s commitment to our Jesuit, Mercy, Catholic educational mission emphasizing academic excellence, service and a deep sense of purpose,” explained Oduke. “Combined with our climbing national rankings and new, innovative programs, we are confident these principles will strengthen our community partnerships and enhance the experience of our students for years to come.”

• November 05: TENNsgiving food drive, all November

  Wednesday November 05, 2025
  

  

  The Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and the Physician Assistant Program are hosting a month-long food drive this November to support our local community, especially as changes to SNAP benefits increase the need for support.

  We are collecting non-perishable and dry food items all month long.

  Drop-off locations are as follows:

  • College of Health Professions
  • Student Union Lower Level Lobby
  • Fitness Center Lobby
  • Library (drop-off begins after Nov. 17)
  • SACD Main Office

  No items to bring? You can still help. Monetary donations are being accepted via Venmo @William-Beaumont-1 and will be used to purchase food items for families in need. For any questions or want to get involved, email mannincp@udmercy.edu.