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Alumni Achievement Spirit Awards Past Honorees

The University of Detroit Mercy Alumni Achievement Spirit Awards recognize the University’s distinguished graduates, from each of its colleges and schools, who have excelled in their chosen profession, demonstrated outstanding leadership in their work, and benefited the wider community through their support. Award recipients reflect the University’s mission of excellence and service and bring pride to their alma mater.

Previous years' honorees are listed below.

For the latest honorees and information on the award ceremony, see the main Spirit Awards page.

Previous Winners

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    2024

    2024 alumni spirit awards winners group

    Each year, one distinguished alumnus is honored from each Detroit Mercy college and school. This year's honorees are:

    ina headshotIna G. Fernandez, '74

    College of Business Administration

    President and CEO of Fern Capital, Inc., since 2015, Fernandez was named a Crain’s Detroit Business American Dreamer for her commitment to giving back. She is a board member of many Detroit organizations including the Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) and is on the finance committee of the Motown Museum.

    larry headshotLarry Washington, '68, '69

    College of Engineering & Science

    As the corporate vice president for sustainability, environment, health and safety for Dow Chemical, Washington was on the forefront of corporate environmental stewardship. In his 37 years with the company, he spearheaded many improvements toward increasing transparency both internally and externally.

    renay headshotRenay L. Gagleard, ’88, ’90, ’09, ’10, ’15

    College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing

    A highly respected hospital administrator, Gagleard is a doctor of Nursing Practice and directs Women and Children’s Services, Pain and Palliative Care, Nursing Education and Advanced Practice Providers Service at St. Joseph Oakland Hospital. She is the recipient of the region’s highest nursing honor, the Nightingale Award.

    pamela headshotPamela Carter, '71

    College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

    Carter served the state of Indiana as deputy chief of staff and executive assistant for health policy and human services. She was the first Black woman to be elected state attorney general in the United States.

    bill headshotWilliam R. Chase, '72

    School of Dentistry

    Chase has treated more than 10,000 underserved patients overseas in more than 50 years as a practicing dentist. He also volunteers around the world to teach dentists the latest techniques and practices to better serve their patients.

    terrance headshotHon. Terrance A. Keith, '84

    School of Law

    Keith was appointed to the Wayne County Probate Court by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2010 and has since won re-election. He founded the Straker Bar Association in 1990 to promote legal practice opportunities for lawyers of color in Oakland County and has received several honors for his contributions to the legal profession.

    stephen headshotStephen Vogel, '70, '75

    School of Architecture & Community Development

    Vogel was the dean of the School of Architecture at Detroit Mercy for 18 years, and is largely responsible for the School’s mission of engagement in service to urban neighborhoods and building sustainable communities. He co-founded the internationally-known Detroit Collaborative Design Center, which works with nonprofit civic and community organizations.

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    2023

    Detroit Mercy is proud to announce its .

    all the award winners listed below hold their awards

    Agnes Bongero '63
    College of Health Professions

    William Bousquette '58, '62
    College of Business Administration

    The Hon. Maura Corrigan '73
    Detroit Mercy Law

    Faye Nelson '75, '80
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    Richard Nykiel D.D.S. '78
    Detroit Mercy Dental

    Michael Okoroafor '82
    College of Engineering & Science

    Suchitra Reddy '91
    School of Architecture & Community Development

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    2022

    2022 spirit award winners


    Associate Professor
    University of Michigan
    Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
    School of Architecture & Community Design


    Former Chief Creative Officer
    McDonald’s Corporation
    College of Liberal Arts & Education


    President & CEO
    Neighborhood Service Organization
    College of Health Professions


    Regional President (Ret.)
    Kaiser Foundation Health of Ohio
    School of Law


    Consulting Director
    Donnelly Penman & Partners
    College of Business Administration


    President
    Ryntz & Associates, LLC
    College of Engineering & Science


    Adjunct Professor (Ret.)
    University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
    School of Dentistry

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    2021

     

    , Senior Vice President (Ret.), Marathon Petroleum Company LLC 
    College of Engineering & Science

    , Chief Operating Officer, Beaumont Farmington
    College of Health Professions

    ,Technical Account Manager (Ret.), Microsoft Corp
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    , Managing Partner, Frederick Fisher & Partners
    School of Architecture

    , Owner/Founding Member, Johnson Law PLC
    School of Law

    , Affiliate Professor, University of Detroit Mercy
    School of Dentistry

    , Partner (Ret.) Deloitte & Touche LLP
    College of Business Administration

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    2019

    2019 winners listed below

    Richard Kunnath ’71 —  College of Engineering & Science

    Allan Warnick, D.D.S. ’64  — School of Dentistry

    Kathleen Reehil ’67 — School of Architecture

    Janet Robinson ’69 — College of Health Professions

    Arlyce Seibert ’71  — College of Liberal Arts & Education

    John Lewis, ’74 — College of Business Administration

    Ralph McDowell ’86  — School of Law

     

     

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    2018

     2018 winners group listed in below

    John M. Everly, ’65, ’67 — College of Business Administration
    Randal T. Murphy, ’59 — College of Engineering & Science
    David F. Claeys, ’99, ’03— College of Health Professions
    Thomas E. Page, ’71, ’76 — College of Liberal Arts & Education
    Louis 'Gino' Rossetti, ’59 — School of Architecture
    Mary Sue Stonisch-Monahan, D.D.S., ’87 — School of Dentistry
    The Honorable Gregory E. Mathis, ’88 — School of Law

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    2017

    2017 winners group listed in below

    Michael J. Brenner '67 — College of Business Administration
    Charles E. Lucas, M.D., '59 — College of Engineering & Science
    Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, '49 — College of Health Professions
    John P. Hayes '71 — College of Liberal Arts & Education
    Rainy Hamilton, Jr. '78, '79 — School of Architecture
    Carl E. Misch, D.D.S. '73 — School of Dentistry
    Charles R. Rutherford '53, '57 — School of Law

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    2016

    2016 winners group listed in below

    James H. Timberlake ‘74
    Partner, KieranTimberlake Associates
    Philadelphia, PA
    School of Architecture

    Phyllis E. Peters Look ‘51
    Retired Director of Professional Standards
    Deloitte & Touche
    College of Business Administration

    Meredith R. Phillips ’94, ’97
    Chief Information Privacy & Security Officer
    Henry Ford Health System
    College of Health Professions

    Michael A. Carter Sr. ’72, '78
    Managing Partner
    Pinnacle Construction Partners, LLC
    Nashville, TN
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    Henry A. Nickol ’55
    Retired Vice President & General Manager for
    Vehicle Operations,North American Operations
    Ford Motor Company
    College of Engineering & Science

    Eugene A. Gargaro, Jr. ‘67
    Legal Counsel and Officer
    Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation
    School of Law

    Richard M. Golden, D.D.S. ‘71
    President & Chief Executive Officer
    Dr. Golden Laser Dental
    School of Dentistry

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    2015

    2015 winners group listed in belowphoto:

    Brian D. Cloyd ’73, ’76
    Vice President, Global Corporate Relations, Steelcase Inc. 
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    The Honorable Anthony J. Fiorella, Jr. ’61, ’66
    Retired Housing Court Judge, Civil Court, City of New York
    School of Law

    John C. ’79 and Nancy G. ’83 Kennedy
    President and CEO, Autocam Medical
    Quality Analyst, Autocam Corporation
    College of Business Administration

    Jeanette Wrona Klemczak ’65
    Retired Chief Nurse Executive, State of Michigan
    College of Health Professions

    Walter Knysz, Jr., D.D.S. ’75
    Chairman of the Board, UnifiedSmiles
    School of Dentistry

    Dr. Derrick M. Kuzak ’73, ’74, ’76
    Retired Group VP, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company
    College of Engineering & Science

    Steven M. Pagnotta '74, ’76
    President & CEO, Bradford Companies
    School of Architecture

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    2014

    Emil Brolick ’69, ‘72
    President & CEO
    The Wendy’s Company
    College of Business Administration
    (See related Detroit Free Press article)

    John DiBiaggio, DDS, ‘58
    Former President Tufts University, Michigan State University, University of Connecticut
    School of Dentistry

    Philip Kinsella, ‘58
    Partner, KRJDA, LLC Architects
    School of Architecture

    Frederick M. Seibert, ’69, ‘73
    Owner & President
    Preece, Inc.
    College of Liberal Arts & Education

    Nancy Susick, MSN, RN, ‘86
    Senior Vice President, Beaumont Health System
    President, Beaumont Hospital, Troy
    College of Health Professions

    William C. Young, ‘64
    President, Absopure Water Co.
    Chairman/CEO, Plastipak Holdings,
    Chairman, Clean Tech, Inc.
    College of Engineering & Science

    Brian Zahra, ‘87
    Justice, Michigan Supreme Court
    Michigan Hall of Justice
    School of Law

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    2005-2010

    Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award

    2005 Jim Padilla, '69, '70
    2006 John '79 and Nancy '83 Kennedy
    2007 Elmore Leonard '50
    2008 Emil Brolick '69, '72
    2009 Charlie Rutherford '53, '57
    2010 Maureen A. Fay, OP, Ph.D. '6

    The Founders Award​

    2005 Tom Angott '49
    2006 Bill Young '64
    2007 Tom Denomme '61
    2008 Dick Kughn
    2009 John Lobbia '64
    2010 Warren Loranger