Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• June 22: UDM student Grace Hanke crowned Miss Michigan 2026 winner

  Monday June 22, 2026
  

  

  

  University of Detroit Mercy student Grace Hanke was crowned the winner of Miss Michigan 2026 on Saturday, June 20 at the 87th annual statewide competition in Muskegon.

  A Mechanical Engineering student at UDM, Hanke won more than $10,000 in scholarships during the competition and will represent Michigan in the Miss America pageant in September. Hanke, who is from Hazel Park, Michigan, competed as Miss Oakland County during the Miss Michigan competition.

  Hanke’s platform during that pageant was “Engineer Her Future,” which focuses on empowering young women and encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.

  This past school year, Hanke was selected to participate in U.S. congressional outreach in Washington, D.C., through the Society of Women Engineers. She had the opportunity to engage with Michigan representatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters to advocate for the future of engineering and STEM education through research, innovation and legislation.

  Hanke is the second Miss Michigan pageant winner from the University, following Mercy College’s Pamela Anne Eldred (1969), who would go on to win the Miss America competition in 1970. Kristen Danyal ’12 also was crowned Miss Michigan USA in 2011 while a College of Business Administration student.

  MEDIA LINKS

  CBS Detroit — Metro Detroit resident crowned as Miss Michigan: “I was just trying to soak it all in”

  MLive.com — Miss Michigan 2026 is Miss Oakland County Grace Hanke

• June 16: TENN to host community garden party, June 18

  Tuesday June 16, 2026
  

  

  All are welcome to help Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) celebrate our community and bustling garden with an afternoon of food and harvesting on Thursday, June 18.

  The garden party is set to begin at 4 p.m. at the TENN Community Garden at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 16100 Lawton Street in Detroit.

  This free event is co-hosted by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the New Martin Park District Association.

  To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.

  

• June 16: Explore UDM summer camps and pre-college programs

  Tuesday June 16, 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.

   

• June 12: Celebrate Detroit Mercy’s 150th anniversary with a journey through Spain, Nov. 2026

  Friday June 12, 2026
  

  

  In honor of Detroit Mercy’s 150th anniversary, the University will host The Best of Spain: In the Footsteps of St. Ignatius, a 10-day travel experience from Nov. 2-11, 2026.

  Join fellow members of the Detroit Mercy community to explore Spain’s rich cultural heritage and Ignatian history, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastian and many other inspiring locations.

  For more information, contact Peggy Pattison at pattisma@udmercy.edu.

• June 11: UDM to transition to ADP Lyric HR and payroll system, starting June 13

  Thursday June 11, 2026
  

  Detroit Mercy will soon transition from Paylocity to ADP Lyric as the new Human Resources and payroll system. This change will take effect for students on Saturday, June 13 and for faculty, staff and administrators on Monday, June 22.

  ADP will provide a modernized platform for managing timekeeping, payroll and employee information. The goal is to make processes more streamlined and user-friendly for employees and managers across the University.

  The Human Resources and Payroll team will be sharing additional information in the coming weeks, including:

  • Training guides and resources
  • Key dates and reminders to help ensure a smooth transition

  Cooperation and flexibility during this transition are appreciated, and updates will be provided as additional details become available.

• June 10: URec to host faculty and staff open summer pickleball on Thursdays, begins June 4

  Wednesday June 10, 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 

  

• June 10: Detroit Mercy Day with Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, Aug. 16

  Wednesday June 10, 2026
  

  

  Alumni Relations is hosting an outing prior to a Detroit Tigers game at Comerica Park on Sunday, August 16.

  Enjoy tailgate festivities with Detroit Mercy alumni and their families in a private patio inside Comerica Park. Then, cheer on the Tigers to a victory over the Chicago White Sox in seats in one of the 300 sections in the ballpark.

  Event schedule:

  • Tailgate begins at noon
  • First pitch thrown at 1:40 p.m. 

  Tickets are just $25 per person and include ballgame ticket, UDM tailgate and a Detroit Mercy 150th anniversary commemorative item.

  With any questions, please contact Alumni Relations at 313-993-1540 or alumni@udmercy.edu.

  For stadium information/policies, visit the Comerica Park website.

  Purchase tickets here.