University of Detroit Mercy: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
The University of Detroit Mercy, a private Catholic university sponsored by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy, has a rich history dating back to 1877. From its origins as Detroit College to its current form as a consolidated institution, Detroit Mercy has fostered a tradition of academic excellence and service. This article highlights some of the university's most notable alumni, showcasing their diverse achievements and contributions to various fields.
Arts and Entertainment
The University of Detroit Mercy has produced a number of successful figures in the arts and entertainment industry.
Keegan-Michael Key is an American comedian, actor, producer, and writer. He co-created and co-starred in the sketch series Key & Peele (2012-2015), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award. He also acted in Mad TV (2004-2009), Playing House (2014-2017), Friends from College (2017-2019), and Reboot (2022).
Amy Yasbeck is an American actress best known for her role as Casey Chappel Davenport on the sitcom Wings (1994-1997) and for playing the mermaid Madison in the television film Splash, Too (1988). She has also appeared in films such as Pretty Woman, Problem Child, The Mask, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.
David Patrick Kelly is an American actor, musician, and lyricist known for his role as Luther in the cult film The Warriors (1979). He has collaborated with Spike Lee in films like Malcolm X and David Lynch in Wild at Heart.
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Ted Raimi is an American character actor, director, and writer known for his roles in the works of his brother Sam Raimi, including the Evil Dead franchise and the Spider-Man trilogy. He also played Lieutenant JG Tim O'Neill in seaQuest DSV and Joxer the Mighty in Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
Literature and Journalism
The university has also nurtured talented writers and journalists who have made significant contributions to literature and media.
Joyce Carol Oates is an American writer who has published numerous novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and nonfiction works. Her novels Black Water, What I Lived For, and Blonde, as well as her short story collections The Wheel of Love and Lovely, Dark, Deep: Stories, were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. She is the recipient of the National Book Award, two O. Henry Awards, the National Humanities Medal, and the Jerusalem Prize.
Elmore Leonard was an American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter known for his crime fiction and suspense thrillers. Many of his works, including Hombre, Get Shorty, and Out of Sight, have been adapted into motion pictures.
John Champlin Gardner Jr. was an American novelist, essayist, literary critic, and university professor. He is best known for his 1971 novel Grendel, a retelling of the Beowulf myth from the monster's point of view.
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George Noory is an American radio talk show host. Since January 2003, Noory has been the weekday host of the late-night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM.
Sports
Detroit Mercy has a strong athletic tradition, and many of its athletes have gone on to achieve success in professional sports.
Spencer Haywood is an American former professional basketball player and Olympic gold medalist. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Dave DeBusschere was an American professional baseball player, professional basketball player, and coach. He played for the Chicago White Sox of MLB and in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks. He was also the head coach for the Pistons.
Willie Green is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
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Dick Vitale, also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well known for his 41-year tenure as a college basketball broadcaster for ESPN.
Ray Michael McCallum Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Taipei Taishin Mars of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL).
Jermaine Maurice Jackson Sr. is an American former professional basketball player.
Ted Marchibroda was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL).
Politics and Law
The University of Detroit Mercy has produced numerous leaders in politics and law, who have served at the local, state, and national levels.
Frank Murphy was an American politician, lawyer, and jurist from Michigan. He served as United States Attorney General, 35th governor of Michigan, and Mayor of Detroit. He also served as the last Governor-General of the Philippines and the first High Commissioner to the Philippines.
Gary Peters is an American lawyer, politician, and former military officer serving as the senior United States senator from Michigan.
Brenda Lawrence served as a U.S. representative from Michigan's 14th congressional district from 2015 to 2023. Previously, she served as mayor of Southfield, Michigan, from 2001 to 2015.
Greg Mathis, also known as Judge Mathis, is an American former court judge for Michigan's 36th District, who is now a television court show arbitrator, author, television producer, and motivational speaker.
Aramis Ayala is an American politician and prosecutor who was the state attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.
Victoria Ann Toensing is an American attorney, Republican Party operative and with her husband, Joseph diGenova, a partner in the Washington law firm diGenova & Toensing.
Barbara Lynn McQuade is an American lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan from 2010 to 2017.
Vern Buchanan is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 16th congressional district since 2013.
Other Notable Alumni
In addition to those mentioned above, the University of Detroit Mercy has produced notable alumni in various other fields.
Janet Rosenberg Jagan was an American-born Guyanese politician who served as the President of Guyana. She was the first female president of Guyana.
Glynn Stephen Lunney was an American NASA engineer. An employee of NASA since its creation in 1958, Lunney was a flight director during the Gemini and Apollo programs.
Dario David Hunter, also known as Yisroel Hunter, is an American rabbi, lawyer and politician. He is the first Muslim-born man to be ordained as a rabbi.
Andrew W. Marshall was an American foreign policy strategist who served as director of the United States Department of Defense's Office of Net Assessment from 1973 to 2015.
Thaddeus McCotter served as a U.S. Representative for Michigan's 11th congressional district from 2003 to 2012.
Faculty and Deans
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law has been led by a number of distinguished deans and faculty members.
William J. Hosmer was the first dean of University of Detroit School of Law from 1912-1921.
John S. Dean McKenna was the first full-time dean at the law school, serving in that capacity 1932-1955.
John P. Scallen served as Assistant Dean and Acting Dean from 1921-1926.
John S. Dean Monaghan practiced law from 1902 to 1942, including while serving as dean from 1926-1932.
Father Wirtenberger was a Professor of Economics and Dean of Commerce Night and Law from 1939-1956.
John S. Dean Brake was a University of Chicago law graduate and a professor of law at University of Detroit from 1925-1957.
Dean Crocker was the first women to serve as Dean at Detroit Mercy Law. She became Dean in July 2014 and retired from the position in July 2021.
Dean Jefferson Exum became Dean in July 2021.
Justice Murphy also taught as an Adjunct at University of Detroit School of Law.
Professor Joyce taught Latin and Greek at University of Detroit High School from 1921-1930, and taught at the law school from 1931-1965.
Mr. McElroy taught physics at University of Detroit from 1925-1941.
Legal Professionals
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law has produced accomplished legal professionals who have made significant contributions to the legal field.
Judge Langford Morris the first African American elected to the bench in Oakland County, has served as a judge on the Oakland County Circuit Court since 1992.
Judge Foley served on the Wayne County Circuit Court from 1965-1990.
Henry H. Tarrant was the first African American graduate of the law school in 1922.
Philanthropy and Community Engagement
Many alumni have also made significant contributions through philanthropy and community engagement.
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