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• May 28: UDM鈥檚 Marketing & Communications Department pilots new communications fellowship

  Wednesday May 28, 2025
  

  Detroit Mercy鈥檚 Marketing & Communications Department recently rolled out a new communications fellowship.

  The charter fellows, Aliz茅 Tripp and Jenny Raptoplous, were selected in late April and will focus their work on capturing and sharing stories of community engagement in Detroit and abroad. Tripp majored in Communication Studies and graduated this year. Raptoplous graduated in 2024 and is currently a freelance journalist.

  鈥淐ommunity engagement animates this exciting new communications fellowship which focuses on making visible the less visible stories that truly reflect UDM鈥檚 mission,” said Jocelyn Boryczka, dean, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS).

  “Jenny and Aliz茅 graduated from the Communication Studies Department in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. As fellows, they will carry their outstanding academic learning out into the world to make an impactful difference.鈥�

  Raptoplous traveled to India with a UDM group in May during a service immersion trip and engages in community service work.

  Gary J. Erwin, associate vice president of MarCom, expressed enthusiasm about this new pilot.

  “The fellowship affords Jenny and Aliz茅 an opportunity to work closely with Brian Rolling, founder of Let’s Roll, learning the finer points of human-interest storytelling,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to engage our students in telling this aspect of the UDM story and critical to the future of the evolving University brand.鈥�

  Erwin said that as part of their work, Tripp and Raptoplous will develop a story budget, conduct and shoot interviews throughout Detroit and elsewhere, and edit long and short pieces for social media, including TikTok and YouTube.

  鈥淭he media fellowship is an exciting opportunity,鈥� Raptoplous said. 鈥淚 get to highlight what makes UDM special – the sincere care for one another; from students, to professors, faculty, staff and individuals within the broader Detroit Mercy community.鈥�

  Tripp, who played guard for UDM鈥檚 women鈥檚 basketball team, applied for the fellowship program because she wanted to gain more experience in the field of film and storytelling.

  鈥淚 get to work closely with team members on assignments, while also having a little bit of creative freedom鈥攚hich I think is super important in the marketing realm,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ore importantly, I hope to increase my interpersonal skills with others and create great relationships.鈥�

  For more info about the comms fellowship, contact MarCom at听marcom@udmercy.edu.

• May 28: UDM to welcome first cohort for accelerated 7-year Doctor of Optometry program

  Wednesday May 28, 2025
  

  糖心logo入口鈥檚 new School of Optometry welcomes its first class in August, while at the same time accepting applications for its accelerated program that allows a first-year student to graduate with a Doctor of Optometry in seven years.

  鈥淥ur program stands out because students will earn their bachelor鈥檚 degree after three years of undergraduate work in Biology or Chemistry at the University鈥檚 McNichols Campus and then transition to the Novi Campus for four years of focused study in the School of Optometry,鈥� said Sulman Hans, executive associate dean for Detroit Mercy Optometry.

  According to Hans, this seven-year route saves students valuable time, thousands in tuition and guarantees qualified students a seat in the School of Optometry in their fourth year at Detroit Mercy. It joins other popular accelerated UDM programs like the seven-year program in the School of Dentistry, the five-year Physician Assistant program and the five-year MBA.

  With its first student cohort entering the program this fall, Detroit Mercy is stepping up to meet this pressing demand for optometrists, one driven by an aging population requiring more vision care, rising awareness of eye health and a growing number of retiring professionals.

  Over the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% growth in optometry jobs, or about 2,200 job openings each year, which is better than average for all other occupations. The new Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree from UDM opens the door for students to a prosperous career in vision care with a median annual income of $132,000 for optometrists in 2023.

  鈥淲hat sets UDM鈥檚 program apart is the way we combine clinical excellence with a mission-driven approach rooted in the values of compassion, service and academic rigor,鈥� said Pablo De Gracia, the director of Research and an associate professor in the School of Optometry.

  De Gracia noted that a distinct advantage of UDM鈥檚 program is the requirement of an introductory Optometry course consisting of 10 hours of clinical shadowing during the undergraduate part of the program. This is designed to help students understand the profession while fulfilling their clinical requirements.

  This early clinical exposure will take place at the Detroit Mercy Eye Institute, housed on the Novi Campus. Optometry students will then participate in direct patient care during the last four years of the program, gaining valuable hands-on experience at this state-of-the-art facility designed to meet the diverse needs of metro Detroit.

  De Gracia also said a small cohort of 44 students allows instructors to provide highly personalized attention and mentoring in a curriculum that combines foundational sciences with early and continuous clinical exposure. This means students will benefit from advanced digital learning tools and practical experience with conventional equipment.

  鈥淒etroit Mercy isn鈥檛 just preparing students to enter the profession; it鈥檚 preparing them to lead it, through innovation and groundbreaking research,听as early as their freshman year,鈥� De Gracia said. 鈥淪tudents are involved in research in virtual reality, visual performance, contact lens design and the growing field of myopia control.鈥�

  鈥淭hrough collaboration with industry partners, students are exposed to cutting-edge technologies and real-world innovation that will help them make a difference in the future of eye care,鈥� he explained.

  Above all, a Detroit Mercy Optometry education transcends academics. Students learn the value of service in a program where听dedication to community wellness is embedded into the curriculum and where service is more than just volunteering. Meeting real needs and building relationships through ethical and inclusive community connections, like providing affordable care to the uninsured and those with limited access to eye care, is central to UDM鈥檚 Jesuit and Mercy mission.

  鈥淥ur community is one where students are seen, supported and challenged to become the best version of themselves鈥攑rofessionally and personally,鈥� said De Gracia. 鈥淲e are not only training future clinicians, we are forming leaders who will advocate for patient care, equity and advancements in vision science.鈥�

  To learn more about the new 7-year Doctor of Optometry program, please visit . For more about the School of Optometry, visit .

• May 27: University Ministry launches blog highlighting student reflections on service immersion

  Tuesday May 27, 2025
  

  University Ministry is excited to launch a highlighting stories from student experiences of service immersion with UDM.

  Titled “Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly,” after the biblical passage Micah 6:8, this blog serves as a record of students’ experiences, a way of sharing their thoughts with the larger UDM community and a place for students to learn from one another as people seeking justice.

  Service immersions are key experiences of a transformative Mercy and Jesuit education, rooted in service and social justice. These experiences include serving in shelters, soup kitchens, after school projects, urban farms and many other important community-based projects. They integrate cultural learning, relationship building, presentations from local community leaders, prayer and reflection. They offer a life-long path for our students to become 鈥渕en and women with and for others,” and we believe that these experiences form student leaders who have critical minds and compassionate hearts.

  The first blog post comes from senior Tevon Conrad, reflecting on his spring break trip to Montgomery, Ala.鈥攁 historic hub for both slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.

• May 27: Student Success Center open for summer hours

  Tuesday May 27, 2025
  

  Do you need a tutor or a place to study this summer? Come visit the Student Success Center (SSC), located on the third floor of the McNichols Campus Library!

  The SSC is open for students and faculty during the summer terms, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tutoring appointments can be made on TutorTrac by logging into your MyPortal account.

  If you cannot find a tutor for your summer course, email or call the SSC at ssc@udmercy.edu or 313-993-1143.

  Other services, including the Testing Center, College Life Coaching and Academic Advising, are also available.

  For a full list of services, please visit the SSC website.

• May 21: Class of 鈥�25: UDM had everything for Engineering grad from Nigeria

  Wednesday May 21, 2025
  

  

  Each year, 糖心logo入口鈥檚 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.

  When Oriekaose Agholor 鈥�25 was searching for his college destination in the United States, he wanted an Engineering education that encompassed everything.

  Mechatronics 鈥� a multidisciplinary field that combines mechanics, electronics and computing 鈥� was at the top of his list; robotics was another targeted pathway. He also wanted an Engineering program that valued co-op internships.

  糖心logo入口 had it all.

  鈥淚鈥檓 interested in the whole thing with Engineering,鈥� said Agholor, a native of Delta State, Nigeria. 鈥淗ow can I have the necessary skills to make a product or technology to solve problems or help people? The Mechatronics program expands my knowledge and allows me to tap into these different Engineering fields.鈥�

  In fact, Detroit Mercy was one of just two schools in the country that allows students to combine Mechatronics and Robotics into a degree when Agholor was looking at colleges.

  鈥淪ome schools have one or the other,鈥� Agholor said. 鈥淥ur school puts both of them together.鈥�

  Agholor had two internship co-ops while at the University, working locally as a controls engineering intern with Yanfeng in Highland Park, and with the electric vehicle company, Rivian, in summer 2024 in California.

  鈥淢y experience here at Detroit Mercy was crucial in my success in both of those roles,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 feel absolutely prepared for the workforce. I鈥檓 really grateful for that.鈥�

  Agholor stepped off the plane from Nigeria before the start of the UDM鈥檚 winter 2022 semester, having never stepped foot in the United States.

  For Agholor, it was completely new surroundings 鈥� country, city, school and the community of people at the University. And he began school a semester after most of his Class of 2025 classmates started.

  First-year residence Shiple Hall quickly made him feel at home.

  鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� Agholor said. 鈥淚t really helped smooth my journey from Nigeria to the United States. Most of the freshmen had started in the fall, so people already knew each other. People would just come up to you and start a conversation. Everyone was really nice and sweet, and after you see people over and over, you just kind of connect.

  鈥淭he social community on campus definitely was one of the best things here.鈥�

  Agholor dove headfirst into the social aspect of the University, becoming involved in clubs and societies, and growing into a campus leader. He became an orientation leader for incoming Titans and also worked at the Student Success Center on the McNichols Campus.

  He even started two clubs at UDM: the music club and badminton club. The music club was a fixture on campus and combined students across all majors; they even played at UDM President Donald Taylor鈥檚 inauguration dinner.听

  The International Night that showcases the diverse population at Detroit Mercy was a favorite event of Agholor鈥檚 during his tenure as a student.

  鈥淚 really liked that Detroit Mercy gave you the opportunity to kick-start your own endeavors,鈥� he said.

  In his Engineering studies, Agholor also gave his all, from projects with other students to immersing himself in his degree programs.

  Among his opportunities, Agholor, along with other students, shared his designs with national leaders, such as U.S. Sen. Gary Peters 鈥�84 and former National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr., when the pair visited the McNichols Campus and UDM鈥檚 Vehicle Cyber Engineering program in April 2024.

  All of the projects, classes, internships and opportunities has given him a complete 听education and was everything Agholor envisioned and more.

  鈥淚t鈥檚 been awesome,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e taken different mechanical classes, different electrical classes and I鈥檝e taken a Mechatronics modeling and simulation class, which is really cool because you need the knowledge of mechanical and electrical classes to really understand what鈥檚 going on in this class and we鈥檙e learning really cool techniques on how to bridge those worlds together.鈥�

  Having attended a Jesuit secondary school in Nigeria, Agholor was versed in the traditions of St. Ignatius. Those Jesuit and Mercy values impacted him further as he grew at the University.

  鈥淭hat was prevalent when I was a campus leader, that we are here to serve, we aren鈥檛 doing this for ourselves or the money,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are here to model the life of our founders.鈥�

  His faith drives him every day.

  鈥淢y drive to work hard and the belief in myself, my capabilities and other people, it all comes from Jesus,鈥� Agholor said. 鈥淚t is the Holy Spirit that gives me constant guidance and the values guide me, lead my path. It keeps me on the right track.鈥�

  Agholor earned a Robotics and Mechatronic Systems Engineering Honors degree in just three-and-a-half years from the University and now hopes to be able to create technologies that will help others.

  His first gig post-graduation takes him to a start-up space for SynaFox AI, located inside of the remodeled and updated Michigan Central Station in downtown Detroit. A networking event hosted by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan put him in position for the post-graduate internship.

  鈥淚 hope that in the near future I鈥檓 within the start-up space, because I want to develop relevant but powerful technology that can help positively transform the lives of other people in my immediate community in the United States and hopefully even the world,鈥� he said.

  鈥淎 lot of technology is being created today solely for profit, without having a true impact on the lives of people. I鈥檇 like to be in the start-up space to work with like-minded people, hopefully people who have the same drive as me to come up with user-centric products.鈥�

  Agholor can鈥檛 say enough about his UDM experience.

  鈥淢y favorite part was getting to work on cool, interdisciplinary projects and working with the students,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e gotten to work with so many different teams, so many faculty, organizations and clubs, so many different students.

  鈥淏eing able to interact with people no matter their race, their color, their religion, has been really beautiful. Being able to learn from each and every one of these groups of people and communities has been really awesome.鈥�

  鈥斕鼴测听Adam Bouton. Follow Detroit Mercy on听,听,听听补苍诲听. Have a story idea? Let us know by听submitting your idea.

• May 21: UDM summer reading program returns for 2025

  Wednesday May 21, 2025
  

  The ‘s Summer Reading Program is back for summer 2025.

  Since 1996, Detroit Mercy has partnered with the Institute of Reading Development, a nationwide leader in reading instruction, to help students in every grade鈥攆rom pre-K through high school鈥攂uild the reading skills they need to succeed.

  Did you know students can lose two to three months of reading progress over summer break? These summer reading programs turn potential setbacks into real gains and send students back to school confident and ready to excel!

  Unlock your child’s potential with fun programs that have already helped more than 3 million students gain confidence and skills.

  Enrollment is now open! Limited spots are available.听UDM employees receive a $99 DISCOUNT for enrolling their children.

   

• May 20: Input needed on future development of Livernois & McNichols corridors

  Tuesday May 20, 2025
  

  Live6 needs your input via a 10-minute online survey about the Livernois and McNichols corridors.

  Please take some time to complete this survey.听The results will inform planning for future development, improvements and retail interventions in our district.

  Your perspective will help build our community’s five-year retail and market strategy in partnership with Main Street America.

  We appreciate your input as longtime stakeholders and supporters of the growth of the commercial corridors and the businesses that anchor Livernois and West McNichols.