黑料社

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

Open All | Close All

• May 08: Full info: Commencement set for Friday, Saturday in Calihan Hall

  Thursday May 08, 2025
  

  Congratulations, Class of 2025!

  The University of Detroit Mercy will confer nearly 1,400 degrees following the 2024-25 academic year, with approximately 1,150 Titans participating in Commencement ceremonies May 9-10 inside of Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus.

  Of note, construction on Livernois Avenue is expected to continue through the weekend, which could cause delays in traffic. Detroit Mercy’s Public Safety is opening a third gate on Fairfield Street, near Florence Street, in addition to the Livernois and McNichols entrances.

  All coming to the McNichols Campus over the weekend should utilize any entrance/exit that is available and should prepare to arrive early for the ceremonies. A live stream will be broadcast for all Commencement ceremonies, beginning with Friday’s 9:30 a.m. School of Dentistry ceremony.

  FRIDAY, MAY 9

  • 9:30 a.m. 鈥� School of Dentistry Ceremony
  • 2 p.m. 鈥� School of Law Ceremony

  Saturday, May 10

  • 9:30 a.m. 鈥� Undergraduate Ceremony
  • 1 p.m. 鈥� Baccalaureate Mass (Student Union Ballroom)
  • 3 p.m. 鈥� Graduate Ceremony

  Full information on Commencement, including maps, programs, live streaming, speakers, FAQ, etc., can be found at .

  Congratulations, Titans!

  The University of Detroit Mercy celebrated their Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Calihan Hall on the McNichols Campus of the University of Detroit Mercy.

• May 08: Senator Gary Peters among Commencement speakers for May 9-10 ceremonies

  Thursday May 08, 2025
  

  Senator Gary Peters, a 1984 graduate from the College of Business Administration at the University, is among the three Commencement speakers during the 2025 ceremonies on the McNichols Campus. Peters will speak at the School of Law ceremony, 2 p.m. Friday, May 9.

  Three-time School of Dentistry graduate Cheri Newman ’89, ’90, ’98 is the featured speaker for the School of Dentistry ceremony, set for 9:30 a.m. Friday and former Detroit Police Department police chief James E. White will give the addresses for both McNichols Campus ceremonies Saturday, May 10.

  Detroit Mercy will confer degrees upon the nearly 1,150 Titans participating in Commencement ceremonies on May 9-10 inside Calihan Hall. The full profiles of each speaker are below:

  School OF Dentistry SPEAKER: Cheri Newman, D.D.S. 鈥�89, 鈥�90, 鈥�98,

  Cheri Newman has worked in private practice and is an adjunct faculty member at Detroit Mercy Dental. Newman鈥檚 work focuses on dental services for special needs patients, and she coordinates a clinic for these unique patients every week at Detroit Mercy Dental. Each year, she runs a weeklong outreach program to provide dental services for disabled adults at Bay Cliff Health Camp, which helps people with disabilities achieve greater independence. Her inclusion of Detroit Mercy Dental students in this community service is both meaningful and educational.

  Newman is a past president of the Pierre Fauchard Academy, an international honorary dental service organization founded in 1936 and is a member or board member of many local and national dental organizations.

  School of Law SPEAKER: Gary Peters 鈥�84

  Gary Peters has dedicated his life to public service, combining a rich educational background with a career that includes positions in business, academics and politics. His four degrees include an MBA from University of Detroit and a J.D. from Wayne State University.

  Peters served in the United States Navy Reserve from 1993 to 2008, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his service, he supported Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf. After the events of September 11, 2001, he again served overseas.

  He served as an assistant vice president at Merrill Lynch and a vice president at Paine Webber and was the third Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government at Central Michigan University from 2007-08. His other academic positions include teaching finance and strategic management and business policy.

  Peters has served as an elected representative since 1993 at the city, state and national levels and is the senior senator from Michigan, serving in the U.S. Senate since 2014. He is currently serving his last term, having announced he will not run again for the Senate.

  MCNICHOLS CAMPUS Speaker: James E. White

  James E. White is a servant leader dedicated to providing exemplary behavioral health services to the citizens of Detroit and Wayne County. As president and CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, White works to drive sustainable growth for the agency by improving access and availability to services, strengthening the provider network and ensuring individuals know there is help available to anyone who is struggling with mental health, substance use or disability concerns.

  White spent the majority of his career as a public servant, starting in the Detroit Police Department in 1996, working his way up to police chief, a position he held for four years.听He was also executive director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, bridging his work in law enforcement with protecting the rights of Michigan residents, working to bring awareness and inclusion in everything from housing and education to public services in underrepresented communities.

  Full information on Commencement, including maps, programs, live streaming, speakers, FAQ, etc., can be found at .

• May 08: Class of 鈥�25: For SACD grad, uplifting communities is key to design

  Thursday May 08, 2025
  

  Each year, University of Detroit Mercy鈥檚 Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating classes. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises.听

  Years ago, Zaynab Alhisnawi鈥檚 move with her family from Minnesota to the metro Detroit area sparked her passion for community-engaged learning.

  鈥淕rowing up among many different communities influenced my approach to design,鈥� she said. 鈥淎rchitecture is more than just designing structures. It shapes the built environment, and designers must create with the community and environment in mind.鈥�

  Alhisnawi鈥檚 passion was later ignited at University of Detroit Mercy. On Saturday, she will graduate with a degree in Architecture from 黑料社鈥檚 School of Architecture & Community Development (SACD).

  She was drawn to 黑料社 because of its values of compassion, respect for all voices and meaningful engagement. These aspects aligned with Alhisnawi鈥檚 approach to design, one that encompasses the concept of working with and for community members and integrating their perspectives and spirit into her designs.

  鈥淪tudents are taught to balance conceptual thinking with technical skill, to be just as confident drawing structures as discussing social impact,鈥� she said.

  Her work as an intern at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC) demonstrated the many layers involved in a design project and fueled her call to work in partnership with the community.

  Alhisnawi said that collaborating with community partners and classmates has been essential to her growth as a designer and person.

  鈥淐ommunity members are the true experts of their own lived experiences in a society,鈥� she said. 鈥淚nstead of making assumptions about their needs, designers must give them a voice in the decisions that impact their neighborhood and spaces.鈥�

  As a senior, Alhisnawi participated in a pair of capstone projects that left an impact on her.

  Her team鈥檚 first-semester Integrated Design project was recently presented at Detroit Mercy’s Celebration of Scholarly Achievement & Community Engagement, an annual University-wide event that recognizes academic and creative achievement.

  鈥淥ur challenge was to design a net-zero business incubator that is flexible for future tenants and open to the community on the main level,鈥� said Alhisnawi. 鈥淥ur group successfully achieved zero greenhouse gas emissions, and the project is one I’m super proud of.鈥�

  Her second-semester Public Interest Design capstone project focused on community-engaged design. She and her teammates sought to translate the lived experiences of community members into a building. The group experimented with sustainable design and proposed a space that connected the neighborhood and the University.

  The SACD holds an annual competition where students, faculty and deans vote on the best capstone projects. This year, Alhisnawi鈥檚 team won bronze in the Student Choice category for their work on the Public Interest Design project.

  鈥淚’ve learned a lot about the technical side of the design process and the importance of early design thinking and teamwork, trusting your instincts and understanding the bigger picture 鈥� uplifting both people and place,鈥� she said.

  SACD students gain real-world experience through the mandatory cooperative education program at the DCDC. There, Alhisnawi worked with Senior Designer and Project Director Julia Kowalski-Perkins, alongside community partners, to design healthy spaces in Detroit.

  鈥淚鈥檝e been lucky to learn from incredible mentors,鈥� Alhisnawi said. 鈥淏y working with Julia on several community projects, I鈥檝e realized what it means to engage with the people we design for. She鈥檚 advising me on a research project focused on bringing sustainable design strategies onto our campus 鈥� something I鈥檓 passionate about.鈥�

  She also credits Assistant Professor of Architecture and Community Development Tom Provost with helping her understand that the skills developed at 黑料社 can be taken anywhere.

  鈥淪tudying Architecture has given me many creative outlets and taught me how inclusive design can be,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about structures, but rather the people and stories inside the walls.鈥�

  Being part of the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), a club that seeks to minimize the effects of racism in the profession, has been a transformative experience for Alhisnawi.

  鈥淣OMAS has shown me the importance of leadership and how activism in design can uplift minority voices to help build a more sustainable world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t has opened many doors for me and helped me grow in ways I never expected.鈥�

  Alhisnawi will stay connected with NOMAS next year as a graduate advisor when she returns to 黑料社 to complete her Master of Architecture.

  鈥� By Julie Erwin.听Follow Detroit Mercy on听,听,听听and听. Have a story idea? Let us know by听submitting your idea.

• May 08: 黑料社 one of 33 institutions to earn dual 2025 Carnegie Classification

  Thursday May 08, 2025
  

  Detroit Mercy has recently earned designation as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications. This designation highlights 黑料社 as a model institution for fostering student success and advancing research on effective campus practices.

  This new designation means that 黑料社 is one of just 33 remarkable institutions nationwide that earned both Research College & University (RCU) and Opportunity College & University (OCU) designations in the new

  The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published in April by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification evaluates how effectively institutions foster student success by assessing whether they enroll students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of their graduates compare to peers in the region.

  In 2025, 479 institutions were designated as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is approximately 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities included in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.

  鈥淭his new designation once again affirms Detroit Mercy鈥檚 commitment to student success and our dedication to encourage faculty and student research opportunities each year,鈥� said Donald B. Taylor, president of Detroit Mercy.

  The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities.

  Updates to the Carnegie Classifications also include a redesigned Institutional Classification, formerly called the Basic Classification. Previously, this system grouped U.S. colleges and universities primarily by the highest degree awarded. The new Institutional Classification now organizes institutions using a broader set of criteria, including the range of degrees awarded, the fields of study offered and overall size of the institution.

  Under this redesigned Institutional Classification, Detroit Mercy has been designated as an institution with an award-level focus of Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate, recognizing its strong presence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels with a sufficient focus on doctoral programs. The University鈥檚 academic program mix is Professions-focused. This means that most degrees are awarded in fields that are classified as pre-professional or career-aligned fields. Detroit Mercy is also categorized as a medium-sized institution, enrolling between 4,000 and 20,000 students. In addition, 黑料社 earned the Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) designation, an additional recognition separate from the Institutional Classifications that identifies institutions with significant research activity, including those with at least $2.5 million in research and development expenditures (as reported through the NSF HERD).

  This reclassification has significantly shifted the perception of Detroit Mercy, elevating it from regional recognition to inclusion in national rankings alongside other prestigious institutions.

• May 07: Join Detroit Mercy鈥檚 fifth cohort for search advocate training, May 27-28

  Wednesday May 07, 2025
  

  Do you want to advocate for diversity and inclusive excellence in the search process? Become an ally for search advocacy and create a culturally rich, more diverse University setting by getting trained to be a search advocate on Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28听on the McNichols Campus.

  Over two days following the end of the 2025 winter semester you will:

  • Learn strategies to mitigate implicit bias.
  • Be the person on the search committee who ensures all voices are heard and encourages communication between the committee, candidates and other stakeholders.
  • Learn tips to be better prepared to actively participate in all phases of the search process at Detroit Mercy.

  The full schedule is as follows:

  • Tuesday, May 27, at 9 a.m. to noon AND 1-4 p.m. (Modules 1 & 2)
  • Wednesday, May 28, at 9 a.m. to noon AND 1-4 p.m. (Modules 3 & 4)

  Please note, to complete the training, attendance is required at all four modules. There are also two pre-assignments for the workshop.

  The search advocate trainers for Detroit Mercy are Jahzara Mayes, Mara Livezey and Yvonne King.

  Please register by Thursday, May 22. For questions or more information, please contact Jahzara Mayes by email at听mayesjm@udmercy.edu.

• May 07: Free Kaplan test prep now available for graduate-level admissions and licensing exams

  Wednesday May 07, 2025
  

  Take advantage of 黑料社’s benefits and unlock up to 12 months of FREE access to Kaplan’s comprehensive test prep through the All Access program! Prepare for graduate school admissions exams, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and DAT, and free test prep for professional licensing exams including the bar exam, INBDE, NCLEX-RN exam and Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. Additionally, students can prepare for a number of business and financial-focused products鈥攁ll at no cost to you.

  Kaplan has prepared students for standardized tests for more than 85 years.听Invest in your future this summer!

  Available to faculty, staff and students! For more information, visit our website!

• May 05: Class of 鈥�25: Grad immerses self in Law experience

  Monday May 05, 2025
  

  Each year, University of Detroit Mercy鈥檚 Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating classes. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises.

  When Steven Meerschaert was leaving his longtime career in mental healthcare to go to law school, he never envisioned his experience going beyond the classroom setting.

  鈥淕et in there, get the degree and get out,鈥� he thought.

  But after Meerschaert arrived at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, he found it to be the exact opposite. He immersed himself in the Riverfront Campus, becoming president of two student organizations and executive director of another, among other opportunities.

  “I don鈥檛 know where the line is between involved and overinvolved 鈥� I probably was on the overinvolved side,鈥� Meerschaert said.

  On Friday, May 9, Meerschaert will graduate from Detroit Mercy School of Law, grateful for how his experience turned out.

  “I found that one of the most rewarding things I did here was finding communities where I believed in what they were advocating, and I wanted to advocate on their behalf,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd when I started thinking about it and doing it, I realized, 鈥榃ell, that鈥檚 the whole reason I鈥檓 going to law school.鈥� ”

  Meerschaert spent more than a decade working as a mental health counselor in areas of addiction and substance abuse. But he began reflecting on his career and life during the COVID pandemic. There was a sense of purpose, passion and accomplishment that Meerschaert felt from his career, but a feeling of repetition was setting in. He was working on the administrative side of mental health then and challenges started to feel the same.

  鈥淢y father had passed away early in the pandemic, and I was looking at really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,鈥� he said.

  The law held a fascination for Meerschaert during his career, as he worked primarily with people battling addictions and who had sought treatment through legal means.

  鈥淚 had these experiences that kindled an interest in law, and this seemed like the perfect time for me to make that transition,鈥� Meerschaert said. 鈥淢y daughter was at a point where she was very stable and busy and wasn鈥檛 needing quite as much of me at home.鈥�

  Meerschaert sought a law education that was going to be practical and local, so he could be present with his family. 黑料社 checked those boxes. He began law school in the fall of 2022.

  鈥淚 wanted to find something that was going to give me the best value and education for my dollar,鈥� he said.

  He jumped in with both feet.

  Meerschaert started out with Moot Court, which provides students with hands-on lawyering experience through appellate court simulations. He competed in internal and national competitions through Moot Court, eventually becoming its executive director of external competitions. In that role, Meerschaert selected and developed 黑料社鈥檚 teams that compete nationally.

  Meerschaert also led a pair of student organizations as president: the American Constitution Society and the Mental Health Association, the latter of which holds a special place in his heart.

  “We are really advocating for the mental health needs of legal professionals and law students, with a special eye on advocating for the needs of the law students at Detroit Mercy,鈥� Meerschaert said.

  A 2023 study published in the journal Healthcare reported that attorneys are twice as likely as other working U.S. adults to have suicidal thoughts. Other studies show that the occupation faces significant risk for suicide.

  Meerschaert鈥檚 work with the Mental Health Association earned him a spot on the Michigan Supreme Court鈥檚 Commission on Well-Being in the Law, along with Associate Dean Ieisha Humphrey. The appointment allowed Meerschaert to collaborate with judges and lawyers to help combat mental health issues in the legal profession. He also sought ways to make a difference in mental health at Detroit Mercy Law.

  In 2023, Meerschaert worked with Humphrey on a Titan Innovation Fund proposal to establish mental health counseling services at the Riverfront Campus.

  Meerschaert鈥檚 proposal was one of 18 to receive funding during the first year of University President Donald B. Taylor鈥� initiative for change.

  He believed that it was important to start combatting mental health issues while students are in law school 鈥� where struggles can start to build 鈥� rather than waiting until they have graduated and are practicing attorneys. As a former counselor himself, Meerschaert said having access to mental health counseling services at Detroit Mercy Law would also help to reduce barriers that students may face in seeking help, such as lack of privacy or the high cost of care.

  鈥淚 talked to a number of administrators and faculty here and all of them agreed wholeheartedly that the need is significant,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey have all come across students who are experiencing different levels of crisis, either coming from home, their past or something directly linked to their law school experience.鈥�

  Once Meerschaert walks across the Calihan Hall stage during Commencement, it will be time to study for the bar exam. He鈥檚 accepted a position at Secrest Wardle, a defense firm based in Troy, Mich., where he’s worked as a law clerk for more than a year.

  As Meerschaert reflects on the past three years at Detroit Mercy Law, he is grateful for a well-rounded educational experience.

  鈥淚t鈥檚 the writing, the advocating, the doctrine of learning, getting all of that wrapped into one,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the real beauty of it and what I鈥檝e enjoyed the most about my experience.鈥�

  鈥� By Ricky Lindsay. Follow Detroit Mercy on听,听,听听and听. Have a story idea? Let us know by听submitting your idea.