海角大神

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

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• January 12: Men鈥檚 basketball hosts rival Oakland for red out, Jan. 18

  Sunday January 12, 2025
  

  Join the University and all Detroit Mercy fans in Calihan Hall on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. as the Titans men’s basketball team takes on rival Oakland University! The contest will be a RED OUT so be sure to wear red!

  Free T-shirts will be given out to the first 300 fans, so be sure to get there early! Students get in FREE with their Student ID.

  

• January 10: Sorority recruitment begins at orientation/open house on Jan. 21

  Friday January 10, 2025
  

  Detroit Mercy’s College Panhellenic Council (CPC) sororities want to recruit you!

  Sign up and join Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Beta Gamma and Sigma Sigma Sigma in a week of connection, conversation and fun starting Tuesday, Jan. 21.

  Not sure if sorority life is for you? Potential new members can get a preview and ask any questions at orientation on Jan. 21 during dead hour or at 7 p.m. Check out the open house at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom to preview all three amazing groups and kick off the week!

  

• January 10: Six students receive Adia J. Palmer Memorial Scholarship

  Friday January 10, 2025
  

  The , along with Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) and , are happy to announce the recipients of the second annual Adia J. Palmer Memorial Scholarship: Hisham Almadani, Taspiya Begum, Isabelle Francis, Cecilia Grimes, Desseray Martin and Kateri Sollars.

  The scholarship was made possible through donations from 海角大神 students, faculty and staff, as well as the friends and family of Adia J. Palmer. Palmer was a senior majoring in Communication Studies, who also worked as a library student assistant, TENN volunteer and as a Varsity News writer and photographer. She passed away unexpectedly in March 2022.

  The scholarship honors Palmer鈥檚 legacy of creativity, inspiration and elevation, and her desire to make the world a better place through joy, peace and love. All six of the scholarship recipients exemplify this spirit.

  Hisham Almadani, a Communication Studies major who plans to graduate next academic year, is all about 鈥渢he story.鈥� Whether it鈥檚 writing for The Varsity News, covering the esports industry or writing poetry in his Arabic mother tongue, which began when he picked up a pen in the fifth grade (before properly learning English), he has loved nothing more than telling stories.

  But, Almadani said, 鈥淎s much as I live by the ink of my pen, my life is not just about words 鈥� it is about the people who fill the spaces around me and in my pages,鈥� which is one of the reasons he is also pursuing a Leadership minor and serves as co-president of Detroit Mercy鈥檚 Muslim Student Association. He creates educational videos for the club that have garnered tens of thousands of views online and serves as a social media intern for the University鈥檚 Marketing & Communications Department. 鈥淲hether on or off campus, I find purpose by being of service to others.鈥�

  Since 2021, Taspiya Begum, a Biology major, has contributed to many 海角大神 communities, including the Chemistry Club, the Malta Volunteer Dental and Medical Clinic, TENN, Undergraduate Student National Dental Association (USNDA) and the First Gen Network. Outside of 海角大神, Begum is involved at her local mosque, babysitting and using her language skills 鈥� activities that have strengthened her patience, empathy and collaboration skills, all of which will be helpful on her path to dental school and as a future dentist.

  鈥淰olunteering and serving my community remind me of the importance of giving back and the fulfillment that comes from helping others,鈥� said Begum.

  A second-year Political Science and Cybersecurity major, Isabelle Francis has made the theme of radical hospitality and reaching the magis central to her learning and experience at Detroit Mercy. 听Francis serves as secretary 鈥� and previously served as sustainability senator 鈥� of the Student Government Association, and is also involved with the Political Science Student Association and Ethics Bowl. However, the experience she has had raising awareness of food injustice and sustainability through her volunteer work at TENN has influenced how she envisions her work and life after graduation.

  鈥淢y plans are to go to law school and practice cyberlaw and intellectual property law. I also plan to go to graduate school for cybersecurity,鈥� said Francis. 鈥淚 hope to make sustainable and environmental change outside of TENN when I graduate using the knowledge of food injustice I have learned to create a more environmentally friendly community.鈥�

  Cecilia Grimes, a Psychology major, has been a friendly and familiar face at the McNichols Campus Library since her first year at the University. In her role as a library assistant, Grimes is a calm and collaborative presence helping at the circulation desk and with interlibrary loan (ILL). When not volunteering at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen or working as a restaurant host, she attends Black Student Union meetings and regularly takes part in campus fundraisers.

  鈥淚n the future I want to get my master鈥檚 in Clinical Psychology. Psychology is something that I have always loved,鈥� said Grimes. 鈥淚 love helping people by giving them an outlet to talk about anything and everything. Being a listener is one of my best qualities.鈥�

  A Communication Studies major, Desseray Martin has a passion for meeting new people and creating memorable moments. A Varsity News staffer, she is also an in-arena host for live athletic games, a role that requires her to engage with fans and bring energy to the crowd and events. She also serves as president of Section 313, a vibrant organization that drives fan activities, builds camaraderie and enlivens team spirit.

  While her professional goal is to work in sports media as a broadcaster, Martin said that writing will always be one of her top interests. 鈥淔rom self-expression to advocacy and empowerment, all are encompassed in writing. I am deeply committed to creating spaces for myself and others where language inspires sharing our unique stories. I am writing either to motivate, inform or encourage.鈥�

  Over the past few years, Kateri Sollars, a Psychology major with minors in Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies and Creative Writing, realized she has a passion for journalism, interviewing people and listening to their stories. She started writing for The Varsity News 鈥渇or fun,鈥� and was later convinced by Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Varsity News Advisor David Cassilo to take it as a class, despite her packed schedule. Since then, she has gone on to enhance her interviewing 鈥� and social 鈥� skills as co-host, alongside University Minister for Faith Formation Anna Bryson, of the What鈥檚 the Tea with Ministry? podcast.

  These skills come in handy in Sollars鈥� extracurricular life as well. As president of the Black Student Union, she hosts events like the Pajama Mixer, works in the Admissions Office and serves as a sacristan in the Chapel. About this last experience, she said, 鈥淏eing able to serve my campus church brings me a lot of peace and strengthens my connection to my religion. I have also formed a lot of valuable relationships as a sacristan at 海角大神.鈥� Sollars hopes to secure an internship at the Detroit Free Press upon graduation and will begin graduate school in fall 2025.

  Whether these recipients plan to use their scholarships for books, course materials or to otherwise ease financial constraints on their educational journeys, we can鈥檛 wait to see the difference they make in our communities and the world! Congratulations to these inspirational Titans!

  From left: Cecilia Grimes, Taspiya Begum, Isabelle Francis, Dessert Martin, and Kateri Sollars.

• January 10: Register to present at scholarly celebration event

  Friday January 10, 2025
  

  Registration is open for students, staff and faculty to present at the 19th annual University鈥檚 Celebration of Scholarly Achievement & Community Engagement (CSACE).

  CSACE, to be held from noon to 8:30 p.m. April 3 at the Student Fitness Center, is an opportunity for students, staff and faculty to be recognized for their work throughout the academic year. It will feature research posters, artistic displays, performances, lightning talks and more.

  Presenter registration and abstract submissions are due by 5 p.m. March 3. To register, visit . For more information contact Michele Favoretto at favoremi@udmercy.edu.

• January 09: Detroit lands on The New York Times鈥� 52 places to go in 2025

  Thursday January 09, 2025
  

  Our hometown of Detroit made list of places to go in 2025.

  The annual list features 52 locations around the globe to travel to each year. Detroit is the 39th location on the list this year and was applauded for its “remarkable signs of renewal,” in an entry written by Lauren Matison.

  

• January 09: Women鈥檚 basketball hosts rival Oakland for red out, Jan. 11

  Thursday January 09, 2025
  

  Join the University and all Detroit Mercy fans in Calihan Hall on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. as the Titans women’s basketball team takes on rival Oakland University! The contest will be a RED OUT so be sure to wear red!

  Free T-shirts will be given out to the first 200 fans, so be sure to get there early! Admission is FREE to all students with their Student ID.

  

• January 09: Mass schedule with the Jesuit community

  Thursday January 09, 2025
  

  ALL students, as well as faculty and staff, are invited to attend Mass with the Detroit Jesuit Community and participate in prayer and worship for their own spiritual growth. Masses are held every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 5:15 p.m. in the Lansing-Reilly Chapel (Jesuit residence).

  Please enter through the glass doors just inside the McNichols Campus front gate.

  The Detroit Jesuit Community resides on two campuses: in Lansing-Reilly Hall on the McNichols Campus of Detroit Mercy and also in the Jesuit Residence at U-D Jesuit High School. That’s where the Jesuits live as friends in the Lord at the service of mission.