Spirit Awards Past Honorees | University of Detroit Mercy

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

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

Ina 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 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 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 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.

William 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.

Hon. 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 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.
2023

Detroit Mercy is proud to announce its 2023 recipients of the Spirit of Detroit Mercy Alumni Achievement 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
2022

Craig L. Wilkins ’85
Associate Professor
University of Michigan
Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning
School of Architecture & Community Design

Marlena Peleo-Lazar ’72
Former Chief Creative Officer
McDonald’s Corporation
College of Liberal Arts & Education

Linda Walton Little ’97
President & CEO
Neighborhood Service Organization
College of Health Professions

Patricia D. Kennedy-Scott ’78
Regional President (Ret.)
Kaiser Foundation Health of Ohio
School of Law

John C. Donnelly ’78
Consulting Director
Donnelly Penman & Partners
College of Business Administration

Rose A. Ryntz, Ph.D. ’83
President
Ryntz & Associates, LLC
College of Engineering & Science

Cheri S. Newman, D.D.S. ’89, ’90, ’98
Adjunct Professor (Ret.)
University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
School of Dentistry
2021

Clifford C. Cook ’69, ’70, Senior Vice President (Ret.), Marathon Petroleum Company LLC
College of Engineering & Science

Derk Pronger ’94, Chief Operating Officer, Beaumont Farmington
College of Health Professions

Henry G. (Hank) Durkin ’73,Technical Account Manager (Ret.), Microsoft Corp
College of Liberal Arts & Education

Joseph Coriaty, ’78, Managing Partner, Frederick Fisher & Partners
School of Architecture

Vernon R. (Ven) Johnson ’86, Owner/Founding Member, Johnson Law PLC
School of Law

Richard Persiani, D.D.S. M.S.’73, Affiliate Professor, University of Detroit Mercy
School of Dentistry

Eric J. Hespenheide ’75, Partner (Ret.) Deloitte & Touche LLP
College of Business Administration
2019

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
2018

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
2017

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
2016

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
2015

photo:

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
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
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