What made you decide to run? There is a woefully ironic dearth of Republicans in the Republican primary. Each candidate is searching for a niche to fill: Conservative, libertarian or even liberal. I am a Republican, party of Lincoln and Reagan. I decided to run because none of these niche […]

Yasmine Jaffri is not new to theatre – or to UDM, for that matter. Jaffri is, however, directing her first play at UDM as a theatre professional. "It is a true homecoming for me," Jaffri said. "Eleemosynary" opens on Friday, Sept. 30, and Jaffri said that she has high hopes […]

At age 9, David Byrne separated himself from other kids. While most his age only worried about having fun, Byrne was helping provide for his single-parent household by working multiple jobs. The extra work helped him develop determination, he said. Byrne applied that determination to every aspect of his life, […]

William J. Giovan, who recently retired as chief judge of the Wayne County Circuit Court, advised UDM students to develop their critical skills and to stretch themselves.Giovan, who graduated with a bachelor's degree from U of D in 1958, visited the campus recently as part of Alumni Week activities. After […]

When UDM graduate Raphael Johnson gives lectures to at-risk youth across the city of Detroit, they tend to sit up and listen because they recognize he knows what he's talking about.As a young man, Johnson committed a senseless crime, for which he was incarcerated for 11 years: He killed an […]

Rick Sylvain says he has gone "to infinity and beyond" since graduating from the university in the 1960s and ascending to his current position as media director of Walt Disney World.Sylvain worked his way up in the communications field; starting as a lowly media intern to become the head "flack […]

Homecoming Week always gets student mentor Kathleen Walker thinking about her days as an undegraduate.Twenty-two years ago this month, in 1988, Walker – then known as Kathy Smith – made campus history when she became the university's first African-American homecoming queen. Walker never dreamed it would happen. "I wasn't even […]

When Medi, a three-year-old from the Ugandan village of Bluenga, met Caitie Goddard, he didn't know what to think.Medi didn't speak any English, and was confused and frightened by the strange "mzungu" (white foreigner) who came to visit him every day. As a result, he kept to himself and was […]

UDM students, faculty and officials welcomed famed novelist and former Titan Elmore Leonard to the McNichols campus Nov. 26. Leonard, 83, made the rounds following a one-hour talk about his books, career and future projects. Speaking to a crowd of about fifty students in the Commerce and Finance Building, Leonard […]

Visiting author Elmore Leonard isn't the university's only famous graduate. Here are a dozen other notables who attended UDM (or its predecessors, the University of Detroit and Mercy College): * Keegan-Michael Key is best known for his portrayal of Barack Obama on "MADtv." He has also appeared in "Chocolate News," […]