Titan Innovation Fund 2023 Awarded Projects

Project Summaries

Detroit Mercy employees and students with innovative ideas to promote President Taylor’s Institutional Priorities were invited to submit a Titan Innovation Fund proposal. Funded projects were deemed to have an innovative approach of addressing a challenge or opportunity and show promise for a significant return on the initial investment. Moreover, they contribute to the improvement of educational strategies, institutional systems, and the employee and student experience at Detroit Mercy. 

2023

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  • 2024 SciComm Art Exhibit: CNXNS

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Maris Polanco

    Proposal Title

    2024 SciComm Art Exhibit: CNXNS

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Maris Polanco

    Project Summary

    Science Communication Art (SciArtComm) blends nontraditional science communication and attention-grabbing emotive art.  Students, faculty and staff will be invited to submit pieces of art. Mentors will guide applicants. An exhibit will occur in February.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Katy Snyder

    Stakeholder Group

    Staff

    Team Members 

    Maris Polanco, organizer. Interdisciplinary team of faculty and administration: Madeline Byrne, Karla Lewis, Greg Grobis, Rosemary Weatherston, Michelle Andrezejak, Amy Bauer, Jocelyn Boryczka, Norman Bent, Ann Serra, Meghann Murray, Shuvra Das, Katy Snyder, Katherine Lanigan, Nassif Rayess, Steven Huprich

    Institutional Priorities

    Community Outreach or Impact; Academic Programs; Sense of Community; and Marketing
  • Building Capacity in STEM Education Research in Collaboration with CETL听

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Marwa Abdel Latif

    Proposal Title

    Building Capacity in STEM Education Research in Collaboration with CETL 

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Marwa Abdel Latif  

    Project Summary

    Develop and pilot one or two academic courses on educational research for Detroit Mercy faculty inspired by similar courses offered through the American College of Undergraduate Educators. May be offered as badges or micro credentials following the pilot.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Mike Verdusco (Director of CETL) and Katy Snyder (Dean of College of Engineering & Science)

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Mara Livezey (faculty, Co-PI on addressing the course design), and Matt Mio (Faculty, Chair of Department and ACS National Committee/Board member in Education assisting to build connections with experts in the field for the course design)

    Institutional Priorities

    Fundraising; Centers/Institutes; and Academic Programs
  • Center for Augmenting Intelligence in Urban Health (CAIUH) at the University of Detroit Mercy听

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Phillip Olla

    Proposal Title

    Center for Augmenting Intelligence in Urban Health (CAIUH) at the University of Detroit Mercy 

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Phillip Olla

    Project Summary

    Create a center to leverage Artificial Intelligence to create innovative data-driven solutions. Including forecasting health outcomes based on various socioeconomic indicators, enabling targeted  interventions in at risk populations. Develop AI professional training and educational certification. Developing 黑料社 to become a hub for socially responsive AI applications. 

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Janet M. Baiardi

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Health Service Administrative Advisory Committe - Concept, Dr Kati Synder, Matt Hayley - Collaborators 

    Institutional Priorities

    Centers/Institutes and Community Outreach or Impact
  • Detroit Mercy Law School Day

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Courtney Griffin

    Proposal Title

    Detroit Mercy Law School Preview Day 

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Dr. Courtney A. Griffin

    Project Summary

    A Law School Preview Day that will provide transportation for Metro Detroit high school students and support a day long program to assist students to learn about the pathway to law school and be introduced to various law careers.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum

    Stakeholder Group

    Administrator

    Institutional Priorities

    Mission and Community Outreach or Impact
  • Developing a New Health Humanities Minor: An Opportunity for Innovation, Impact, and Increased Enrollments

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Rosemary Weatherston

    Proposal Title

    Developing a New Health Humanities Minor: An Opportunity for Innovation, Impact, and Increased Enrollments

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Rosemary Weatherston

    Project Summary

    Support the development of a Health Humanities minor that is interdisciplinary, intercollegiate and aligned with university wide initiatives and oriented towards existing and future community, corporate and foundation partnerships.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Jocelyn Boryczka, PhD, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Rosemary Weatherston, PhD, CLAE, Lead Developer of the Health Humanities minor; Marty Leever, PhD, CLAE, Health Humanities Minor Steering Committee, and Greg Grobis, MA, CLAE, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education

    Institutional Priorities

    Mission; Enrollment, and Academic Programs
  • Educating Engineers who are Excluded from the Current System

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Shuvra Das

    Proposal Title

    Educating engineers who are excluded from the current system

    Name of Proposal Contacts

    Shuvra Das

    Project Summary

    A team of  faculty from mathematics, engineering and sciences will redesign the curriculum to be interdisciplinary delivering the same educational outcomes but using a different pedagogical approach. The goal is to ensure that an engineering pipeline is created to attract students who otherwise may not be able to participate. Student centered recruitment will  place value on the student's motivation.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Dr. Katy Snyder, Dean of the College of Engineering & Science

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Shuvra Das and Darrell Kleinke

    Institutional Priorities

    Academic Programs; Mission; and Enrollment
  • Elevating the University Honors Program: Gardella Remodel

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Stephen Pasqualina

    Proposal Title

    Elevating the University Honors Program: Gardella Remodel

    Name of Proposal Contacts

    Stephen Pasqualina and Thomas Provost

    Project Summary

    Faculty will collaboratively lead students through the visioning, design build and delivery of a new renovated Gardella Honors House.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Dan Pitera, Dean of the SOACD

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Stephen Pasqualina, University Honors Program Co-Director, Assistant Professor of English and Project Co-Director; Thomas Provost, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Community Development and Project Co-Director; and Nicholas Rombes, University Honors Program Co-Director, Professor of English and Project Support

    Institutional Priorities

    Sense of Community and Marketing
  • Enhancing Student Success Through a Hybrid Advising Model

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Mary-Catherine Harrison

    Proposal Title

    Enhancing Student Success Through a Hybrid Advising Model

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Mary-Catherine Harrison

    Project Summary

    Support for the research and development phase of a new blended advising model at 黑料社. 

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Pamela Zarkowski

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    The Academic Advising Subcommittee and Undergraduate Coordinators will serve as key consultants as the initiative is developed and implemented.

    Institutional Priorities

    Mission and Enrollment
  • Entrepreneurship Association

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Noah Mulligan

    Proposal Title

    Entrepreneurship Association

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Noah Mulligan

    Project Summary

    CBA Student lead project to support a mobile coffee cart on the McNichols campus, providing a hub for social interactions.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Derrin Leppek (Faculty)

    Stakeholder Group

    Student

    Team Members 

    Entrepreneurship Association, President Bianca Candela, Vice President Noah Mulligan, Secretary Holly Misiakowski, Faculty Advisor Derrin Leppek

    Institutional Priorities

    Sense of Community; Mission; Marketing; Fundraising; Community Outreach or Impact; and Academic Programs

     

    A student orders a beverage from the EA Cafe, as students work behind the coffee cart to operate the business.A story on the Entrepreneurship Association’s EA Café is featured in the Spring 2024 Spiritus magazine. Read the story online.

     

  • First Year Experience Program

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Stephanie Wheeler

    Proposal Title

    First Year Experience Program

    Name of Proposal Contacts

    Stephanie Wheeler

    Project Summary

    Support five committee members to attend the First Year Experience annual conference in February 2024 to support the Titan Success Network's goal of creating a first year experience for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Monica Williams and Debbie Stieffel

    Stakeholder Group

    Administrator

    Team Members 

    To be decided from both academic and student affair areas.

    Institutional Priorities

    Sense of Community; Mission; and Enrollment
  • Partnership for Energy Progress

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Ann Serra

    Proposal Title

    Partnership for Energy Progress 

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Christina Heximer

    Project Summary

    Help support a Department of Energy Renew America Grant received by the University. 

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Dan Pitera and Ann Serra

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Dan Pitera, Dean SACD; Dr. Katy Snyder, Dean E&S; Christina Heximer, Faculty and Director of DCDC; Dr. Alan Hoback, Project Director & Professor and Chair of Civil, Architectural & Environmental Engineering; Dr. Nassif Rayess, Professor and Chair of Mechanical Engineering; Josh Budiongan, Curriculum Development in Green Energy, Architect and Project Drector; and Neteya Tavernier, Outreach and Nonprofit Selection & Designer DCDC

    Institutional Priorities

    Sense of Community; Mission; Marketing; Fundraising; Community Outreach or Impact; Academic Programs; and Centers/Institutes
  • Supporting Innovative Practices in Supervision

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Erin Henze

    Proposal Title

    Supporting Innovative Practices in Supervision 

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Erin Henze

    Project Summary

    Financial support(honorarium) for school psychology supervisors for three academic years. Additional support for undergraduate students to be  paired with graduate school psychology students and their supervisor in a field experience.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Dean Jocelyn Boryczka

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Erin Henze, Associate Professor of Psychology and School Psychology Program Director- project lead; Sarah Rowe, Assistant Professor of Psychology- project associate; Rachel Lee, Assistant Professor of Psychology- project associate

    Institutional Priorities

    Mission; Community Outreach or Impact; and Academic Programs
  • Titan Bucks Incentive

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Ann Serra

    Proposal Title

    Titan Bucks Incentive

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Felicia Hartinger, Director of Student Success Center

    Project Summary

    Support gift cards for KCP students that meet criteria for a Titan Bucks incentive by fulfilling specific requirements that support academic success.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Ann Serra, Director of OSPRA

    Stakeholder Group

    Administrator

    Team Members 

    Ann Serra-Director of OSPRA, Crystal Reedus-KCP College Life Coach, Erica Graze, Asst. Director of Student Success Center

    Institutional Priorities

    Academic Programs; Scholarships for students; and Marketing;Sense of Community
  • Titan Mentor Program

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Sandra Alef

    Proposal Title

    Titan Mentor Program

    Name of Proposal Contacts

    Sandra Alef and Monica Williams

    Project Summary

    Support for personnel (student mentors and mentor leads) involved in the coordination of a mentor program for at-risk first year students at the McNichols campus.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    VP Debbie Stieffel

    Stakeholder Group

    Administrator

    Team Members 

    Debbie Steiffel, supporter, and overseer of the project.; Sandra Alef, mentor Lead,; Monica Williams, mentor lead

    Institutional Priorities

    Sense of Community and Enrollment
  • Ultrasound Integration in Nurse Anesthesia Curriculum

    crna-ultrasound.jpegUniversity of Detroit Mercy’s Nurse Anesthesia program has acquired two handheld ultrasound machines, marking a major step forward in integrating advanced technology into healthcare education. The purchase was made possible by a grant from the University’s Titan Innovation Fund. In recent years, ultrasound technology has become a cornerstone in clinical practice, particularly in anesthesia. Recognizing this, University of Detroit Mercy’s Nurse Anesthesia program has embraced an opportunity to enhance its educational offerings.

    "This technology is not just about equipment; it's about preparing our students for the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape and ensuring they remain leaders in their field," said Joshua Olson, assistant professor of Nurse Anesthesia in 黑料社's College of Health Professions. The integration of portable ultrasound devices into the curriculum, specifically in the Advanced Health Assessment (NUR 5160) and Principles of Regional Anesthesia (ANE 7701) courses, will allow students to understand the practical and theoretical aspects of ultrasound technology. This integration signifies 黑料社's commitment to excellence and its priority to equip students with essential skills for modern healthcare. 黑料社's faculty will lead this initiative. The introduction of handheld ultrasound devices enables decentralized learning, allowing students to practice both in classroom settings and in real-world clinical environments. This development is expected to elevate 黑料社's prestige in the healthcare education sector, attract more students, enhance research capabilities and open doors to external grants.

    "We are setting a new standard for healthcare education,” Olson said. “Our students will now have hands-on experience with tools that are reshaping healthcare diagnostics and treatment.”

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Joshua Olson

    Proposal Title

    Ultrasound Integration in Nurse Anesthesia Curriculum

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Joshua Olson

    Project Summary

    Purchase of two portable, handheld ultrasound devices for the Nurse Anesthesia Program.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Greg Bozimowski

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Greg Bozimowski, Andrea Teitel 

    Institutional Priorities

    Mission; Marketing; Fundraising; Enrollment; and Academic Programs
  • University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Student Counseling Center

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Steven Meerschaert

    Proposal Title

    University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Student Counseling Center

    Name of Proposal Contacts

    Steven Meerschaert

    Project Summary

    Support for mental health counseling services for School of Law students

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Dean Ieisha Humphrey

    Stakeholder Group

    Student

    Team Members 

    黑料社 School of Law Mental Health Association - would provide collective input on the breadth, goals and logistics of the project, along with completing necessary tasks for completion.

    Institutional Priorities

    Sense of Community and Academic Programs
  • URICA (Undergraduate Research Inspired Community Art)

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Nicole Najor

    Proposal Title

    URICA (Undergraduate Research Inspired Community Art)

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Nicole Najor

    Project Summary

    Provide experiential learning experiences with Detroit Mercy students teaching cell biology to high school art students. The high school art students interpret their experience into an art piece. The art will be part of an exhibit in the fall.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Katy Snyder

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Team Members 

    Nicole Najor- 黑料社 Undergraduate Research Team, Director. BIO4750 Students- 黑料社 Undergraduate Research Team, Participants & Research Experts. High School Artists- Detroit School of Arts (TBD), Participants & Artist Experts. Katy Snyder- Proposal Champion

    Institutional Priorities

    Mission; Marketing; Sense of Community; Academic Programs; and Community Outreach or Impact
  • Youth Health Exploration Camp

    Project Description

    Proposal Section

    Proposal Information

    Name of Proposal Submitter

    Nutrena Tate

    Proposal Title

    Youth Health Exploration Camp

    Name of Proposal Contact Person

    Nutrena Tate

    Project Summary

    A summer one day camp that brings youth from Metro Detroit middle and high school students to  黑料社 to participate in a health explorations program based on simulated experiential learning led by health students, faculty and alumni.

    Name of Proposal Champion

    Dr. Saran Hollier, Interim Associate Dean - MSON

    Stakeholder Group

    Faculty

    Institutional Priorities

    Sense of Community; Mission; Enrollment; Community Outreach or Impact; and Academic Programs