Faculty, Staff and Administrators

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• October 06: Detroit Mercy’s 2022 Homecoming brings hundreds back to campus

  Thursday October 06, 2022
  

  

  Whether it was laughing at an improv show, touring the historic neighborhoods on a bike tour, taking in the glow of the Titan Tailgate bonfire, catching up with friends and classmates or enjoying the old-fashioned BBQ, Detroit Mercy’s 2022 Homecoming had something for everyone.

  Hundreds of people — alumni, students, faculty and staff, family and friends — attended nearly two dozen events from Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 on the McNichols Campus to help celebrate Homecoming.

  “This year’s Homecoming activities were a crowd-pleaser!” said Angelina Jaroszewski, assistant director for Alumni Relations at Detroit Mercy. “It was refreshing to see so many current students stay on campus, and so many alumni come back to enjoy some perfect, Michigan fall weather with their families and friends.”

  The annual Spirit Awards kicked off the Homecoming festivities on Thursday, Sept. 29, honoring seven individuals who have been leaders in their field. Friday’s events included a Titan Tailgate and bonfire, which followed a Hoop Night in the D event to help usher in the men’s and women’s basketball seasons.

  Mirroring Friday evening’s perfect fall weather, Saturday’s events began under sunny conditions with the annual Tour de Titan bike ride, led by head women’s basketball coach Kate Achter and alumnus Tom Page ’71, ’76. The bike ride concluded with the unveiling of a new sculpture near the updated Student Union, which was commissioned by Page.

  Events indoors Saturday included a 50th reunion for the Honors College, KBG reunion lunch, a panel discussion in the College of Health Professions as well as a Golden Jubilee reunion for the Class of 1972.

  Alumni and others took part in the annual softball tournament at Buysse Ballpark, a 50-year reunion for the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company, a taping of “Ask the Professor” and Mass in the St. Ignatius Chapel.

  Many in attendance also enjoyed the tasty BBQ food, as well as carnival games and activities, which included a rock wall, craft tent, petting zoo and bubble soccer, at Sacred Heart Square.

  Titan Field was also active during Homecoming on Saturday with the men’s and women’s lacrosse squads hosting alumni reunions, prior to the Titan women’s soccer team defeating visiting Green Bay, 2-0, later that afternoon.

  Alumna Jaime Moyer ’01, along with 313 improv troupe friends Marc Evan Jackson and Nancy Hayden, helped wrap up Homecoming with a free improv show in Life Sciences. The show followed the conclusion of the Titan Slam Monologue competition, that saw many current students and alumni compete for prizes.

  Stay tuned for updates on Detroit Mercy’s Homecoming for 2023.

  Visit the University’s Facebook page to view a full photo gallery of 2022 Homecoming.

  

• October 06: Detroit Mercy’s Employee Suggestion Form

  Thursday October 06, 2022
  

  Detroit Mercy faculty and staff,

  In response to the recommendations provided by you during the Detroit Mercy Employee Satisfaction Survey the university has developed an online Employee Suggestion Form. If you attended the Colleague Development Day session you are aware this tool was coming. We appreciate all of your feedback and are excited to provide employees a way to submit their ideas.

  The suggestion form is located on the HR website, as a button in the center of the page. We intend this space to allow Detroit Mercy employees to share recommendations for improving services, processes, policies and anything affecting university life. This form is designed for employees to present an area of concern and offer suggestions for solutions or improvement.

  You can submit your information anonymously or provide your name and email so that we may respond. Responses will be reviewed monthly by the Executive Steering Committee.

  Additional solutions presented during the Colleague Development Day session are in process. Look out for further communication regarding them!

  Employee Suggestion Form.

• October 06: Students gain filmmaking experience by documenting baseball history

  Thursday October 06, 2022
  

  

  Students in University of Detroit Mercy’s Communications Studies program have honed their filmmaking skills by telling the stories of local baseball history for a new documentary. 

  Victoria Taylor ’21, senior John Weglarz and other College of Liberal Arts & Education students assisted Associate Professor Jason Roche with the production of his latest documentary, which will focus on Hamtramck Stadium, the volunteer grounds crew helping maintain the historic stadium and the city’s Negro League baseball legacy. 

  Once home to the Negro League’s Detroit Stars in the 1930s before Major League Baseball integrated, Hamtramck Stadium has been revitalized thanks to a recently completed $2.6-million renovation. It is only one of five Negro League stadiums still standing. 

  Roche’s 2013 documentary, Stealing Home, focused on the team of volunteers who renovated and maintained the baseball field at the site of Tiger Stadium after its demolition in 2009. Now known as the Hamtramck Stadium Grounds Crew, the group moved to the small Wayne County city in 2017 to continue its revitalization efforts. Roche’s new film is funded by a grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. 

  “Since we moved to Hamtramck, there’s just so much more exciting history to follow,” Roche said. “I’ve learned so much, and we’ve met so many amazing people.” 

  Students who have interned with Roche on the project gained real-world experience filming, photographing and interviewing, while using an array of cameras, drones and other equipment. 

  “They get experience of seeing what goes into planning and then shooting a documentary,” Roche said. “They get to understand what it’s like to set up for interviews, prepare questions and think of different angles to cover when you’re putting together a story. It’s a real-world resume builder.” 

  The experience at Hamtramck Stadium was much more than capturing footage and conducting interviews for Taylor, who now works as a web content coordinator for Detroit Mercy’s Office of Marketing & Communications. 

  “I learned so much not only about videography, but about the city of Hamtramck and the history of the Negro Leagues,” she said. “That experience really made me fall in love with that city and its culture — it’s unlike anyplace I’ve ever been to before and it’s literally just down the street from where I live. 

  “The history of the Negro Leagues was so inspiring, and that kept me wanting to learn more and more.” 

  Weglarz was drawn to work on the documentary to see a historic stadium and become more experienced flying a drone. The Communications Studies and Cybersecurity double major filmed aerial shots of Hamtramck Stadium, recorded baseball games on the field and interviewed a number of people. 

  “This was a fabulous opportunity for me as a student,” Weglarz said. “It was very worthwhile to get footage of a historic stadium and see it get renovated.” 

  While working on the documentary helped Taylor sharpen her digital media skills, the people she met during the internship left a lasting impression on her. 

  “Learning on fancy equipment or mastering editing techniques on the newest technology, while great, are just things I picked up along the way. But the intrinsic motivation to tell a story about people who deserve recognition, that’s what makes these opportunities stay with me,” Taylor said. “Having access to different connections to learn in a way that doesn’t feel like school makes this curriculum stand out.” 

  As an educator, Roche relished watching his students apply classroom concepts to help with his latest documentary. 

  “I think for any educator, the greatest reward we have is to watch our students grasp what it is we’re teaching, grasp that material and take ownership of it,” he said. “To be able to have them help me on one of my own projects, and to watch those same light bulbs turn on in their head, I know it’s cliché, but it’s special.” 

  Roche is continuing to film and edit the documentary and hopes to release it next fall. Detroit Mercy students who are interested in assisting Roche on the documentary can contact him by email at rochejj@udmercy.edu.

  — By Ricky Lindsay. Follow Detroit Mercy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Have a story idea? Let us know by submitting your idea.

• October 06: College of Engineering & Science’s 9th Annual Research Symposium, Oct. 21

  Thursday October 06, 2022
  

  

  The College of Engineering & Science’s ninth annual Research Symposium is set for Friday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  Each year, this annual symposium highlights the research conducted by undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, the College of Engineering & Science invites hundreds of high school students and alumni to experience the academic research achievements of our students.

  Students will win prizes based on research excellence in engineering and science categories. Additionally, a participant-voted “People’s Choice” award will be made to the best project.

  This event will take place in the Student Ballroom, Fountain Lounge and Engineering High Bay. Students will display research posters for their projects. Demonstrations may also be on display.

  For more information, please visit eng-sci.udmercy.edu/research/symposium or contact Norman Bent at 313-993-1536.

  

• October 06: Faith, Hope, and Love: Faith Through the LGBTQ+ Lens, Oct. 13

  Thursday October 06, 2022
  

  Join the Detroit Mercy community for an interfaith panel discussion on faith and identity on Thursday, Oct. 13 from 1-2 p.m.

  The discussion, titled “Faith, Hope and Love: Faith Through the LGBTQ+ Lens,” will be held in the Loranger Architecture Exhibition Space. University Ministry, Religious Studies, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Office of Title IX are sponsoring the discussion.

  Those interested are asked to RSVP by emailing Stephanie Zellner, zellnesr@udmercy.edu, with “panel” in the subject line.

• October 06: Social justice workshop on faith, politics set for Oct. 12

  Thursday October 06, 2022
  

  University Ministry is bringing NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, D.C., to the McNichols Campus for a workshop on faith and politics on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 5 p.m. in the Loranger Architecture Exhibition Space.

  The workshop, titled “Equally Sacred Issues: Social Justice Workshop,” will engage students in discussion and reflecting on the importance of being a well-informed and discerning multi-issue voter, or a Pope Francis voter.

  Pope Francis has written that caring for immigrants, dismantling racism, and putting an end to immoral levels of economic inequality are equally sacred to caring for the unborn. The workshop will be grounded in Catholic traditions, but will also incorporate interfaith elements, allowing students from a variety of religious backgrounds to use similar principles for being informed and discerning voters.

  Registration is not required, but highly encouraged. The workshop is expected to last 75 minutes.

  Register online.

• October 05: Flu vaccine clinic at Detroit Mercy set for Nov. 11

  Wednesday October 05, 2022
  

  

  Detroit Mercy community: the Wellness Center on the McNichols Campus is holding a flu vaccine clinic for both students and employees from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.

  The cost is just $30 and can be paid with either cash or if a student, it can be charged to your account.

  The deadline to apply for a flu vaccine is Friday, Oct. 7 at the Wellness Center, which is located in West Quad, Room 104 on the McNichols Campus. The Wellness Center needs a correct account of vaccines prior to the clinic.

  The vaccine process will take roughly 20 minutes. More information on location will follow.

  Please contact the Wellness Center by phone at 313-993-1185 with any questions.