The Academic Advising Committee enhances faculty and staff effectiveness in their roles as academic advisors at Detroit Mercy by identifying critical advising issues, promoting professional development, updating/sharing essential tools, and offering feedback and suggestions on potential advising model changes. Each academic year, the committee hosts at least two Advising Workshops and publishes nine Advising Newsletters.
Mary-Catherine Harrison
Felicia Hartinger
Mary Beth Langan
Taessa Malone-Carter
Matthew Mio
Carolyn Rimle - Chair
Kiantee Rupert-Jones
Amy Wisniewski
The Commencement Committee oversees the planning and execution of the university’s commencement ceremonies, ensuring a smooth, meaningful, and celebratory experience for graduates and their guests.
Crystal Becker
Ed Black
Adam Bouton
Matthew DePrey
Gary Erwin
Alysa Jackson
Lisa MacDonnell
Victoria Mantzopoulos
Matthew Mio
Peggy Pattison
Mike Sadler
Diana Swider
Jack Sydorchuk
Ed Tracy
Dave Vandelinder
Monica Williams
Amy Wisniewski - Chair
The Faculty Recognition Award Committee reviews nominations and selects recipients for Detroit Mercy’s Faculty Recognition Award and Faculty Achievement Award.
Alexa Rihana-Abdallah
Claudia Bernasconi
Nancy Calleja
Andrea Kwasky
Mary White, Chair
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) safeguards the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research. The Chair and committee members collaborate to review research proposals, ensuring that studies are conducted ethically and without imposing undue risk on participants.
Kelli Anderson
Harold Greene,
Elizabeth Hill, (Alternate)
Martin Leever (Alternate)
Linda Slowik, (Chair)
Curtis Smith, MURP
Cristine Smoczer, MD, PhD
Julia Stocker Schneider
James Tubbs, Jr.
The Scheduling Policy Working Group is an ad hoc committee comprised of representatives from the McNichols, Riverfront, and Corktown campuses. Representatives are from each of the Registrar’s Offices, each School/College Dean’s Office, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, the HLC Accreditation Liaison Officer, the McNichols Faculty Assembly, and the Office of Academic Affairs. The working group ensures that Detroit Mercy’s Scheduling Policy is consistent with Higher Learning Commission Accrediting and Federal Compliance policies. The working group utilizes institutional data from all faculty assemblies and applicable shared governance committees to create processes for implementation of all aspects of the Scheduling Policy.
Erin Archerd
Jennifer Bowen
Shamaila Khan
Len Kloft
Karin La Rose-Neil
Karen Lee, Chair
Adrianna Moreno
Jeff Nardecchia
Noah Resnick
Carolyn Rimle
Liz Roberts-Kirchhoff
Kiantee Rupert-Jones
Marion Tate
Mike Verdusco
Shelley Wagnon
Amy Wisniewski
The Academic Operations and Student Services Committee is a cross-functional committee comprised of institutional leaders and operational experts from across both undergraduate and graduate programs. The committee is responsible for reviewing, developing, and recommending institutional policies, practices, and procedures that directly impact the student experience from admission through graduation.
Matthew DuPrey
Ashraf Elazzazi
Amy Gasahl
Greg Grobis
Felicia Hartinger
Grace Jacek
Amber Johnson
Len Kloft
Tracey Knowles
Karin La Rose-Neil
Noah Resnick
Carolyn Rimle
Liz Roberts-Kirchhoff
Tyra Rounds
Jessica Rouser
Kiantee Rupert-Jones
Lily Swan
Diana Swider
Stephanie Wheeler
Monica Williams
Amy Wisniewski - Chair
The Community Engaged Learning Steering Committee provides faculty and administrative perspectives to advise the Director of CEL in the development of policies and programming for CEL. It also helps to connect the Director with important resources.
Marwa Abdel Latif
Claudia Bernasconi
Jocelyn Boryczka
Mike Martin
Sigrid Streit
Elaine Webber
The Federal Compliance Committee at University of Detroit Mercy helps ensure the University remains attentive to federal regulatory requirements and policy changes. The committee supports campus offices in meeting compliance expectations and encourages timely updates to resources such as the Consumer Information website. By fostering awareness and coordination, the committee promotes a culture of compliance and transparency across the institution.
Jessica Rouser
Shelley Wagnon, Chair
Amy Wisniewski
The Research Development Advisory Council serves as a strategic advisory group that supports the advancement of research, engagement and scholarly activity across the university. ReDAC promotes interdisciplinary collaboration to increase the university’s competitiveness in seeking external funding. The council also provides thought leadership on research development initiatives, training, and policies, serving as a liaison to respective areas.
Shuvra Das
Pablo De Gracia
Michele Favoretto
Greg Grobis
Jessica Gustke
Felicia Hartinger
Richard Hill
Sarah James
Arthur Ko
Eric Krukonis
Aman McLeod
Patrick Meyer
Noah Resnick
Ann Serra, Chair
Linda Slowik
Stacey Stevens
Sandra Wilson
The TENN Advisory Board provides important guidance to the TENN Manager and the Director of Community-Engaged Learning regarding fundraising, mission, and administration. TENN is a student-run, community-driven program focused on food justice and sustainability.
Bridget Brown (’12 Alumna of College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences)
Theresa Tejeda
Joan Walton
Jim Vella (’89 Alumnus of College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences)
Joe Zalke (’60 Alumnus of College of Business Administration)
This diverse group of faculty, staff, and administrators will examine the impact of generative AI on academic integrity and research ethics. The group will provide guidance and recommendations to support institutional strategies that promote fairness, transparency, and rigorous scholarship. Its work will focus on three key areas: academic integrity, teaching and learning, and university processes.
Kelli Anderson
Michael Armstrong
Erin Bell
Mike Bird
Jennifer Bowen
Oliverio Covarrubias
Mohamed Dabaja
Russ Davidson
Patrick Dorsey, SJ
Dawna Edwards-Rodgers
Gary Erwin
Tolulope Falokun
Nina Favor
Raine Friday
Harold Greene
Sulman Hans
Felicia Hartinger
Grace Jacek
Anne-Marie Kosi-Kupe
Mike Verdusco - Chair
The Data Standards Committee at University of Detroit Mercy ensures the integrity, accuracy, and consistency of data across all institutional systems. By establishing and maintaining data standards, the committee supports reliable decision-making, compliance, and operational efficiency. The team convenes as needed to review issues, align practices, and safeguard the quality of the University’s information resources.
Netina Anding-Moore
Mike Armstrong
Alex Gulck
Renee Kettering
Jessica Rouser
Edward Tracy
Shelley Wagnon, Chair
Amy Wisniewski
The Digital Accessibility Task Force is focused on training, education, and supporting compliance with new requirements to make web-based content accessible to persons with disabilities.
Nathan Blume
Ranard Bynum
Michele Favoretto
Jeanne Morgan (co-chair)
Megan Novell (co-chair)
Mary Reilly
Ann Serra
The HLC Reaffirmation Committee will lead the university’s self-study and evidence-gathering for the upcoming 10-year reaffirmation review. It will ensure the university meets the HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation, with dedicated teams addressing key areas such as planning, resources, and institutional effectiveness. The committee will also coordinate institutional readiness, ensuring consistent messaging and alignment with HLC standards throughout the process.
Jocelyn Boryczka
Dennis Carlesso
Joseph Eisenhauer
Kate Harger
Karen Lee
Tom Manceor
Rev. Charles Oduke
Ahmed Radwan
Noah Resnick
Shelley Wagnon, Chair
Pamela Zarkowski
The University Wellbeing and Wellness Committee is charged with assisting University leadership in making decisions concerning policy, protocols and practices to create a safe and healthy learning and working environment.
Sandra Alef Wilcox
Netina Anding-Moore
Jennifer Ahlquist
Ron Bernas
Jennifer Bowen
David Fischer
Sydney Gordinier
Felicia Hartinger
Michael Miller
Mary Serowoky
Monica Williams
Pamela Zarkowski