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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025




Faculty — B

Baiardi, Janet M.

Janet M. Baiardi

Dean and Professor, College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing, Interim Dean and Professor, College of Health Professions and McAuley School of Nursing, joined the faculty in 1994. During her career she has taught across graduate and undergraduate programs. In 1997, she implemented the first graduate nursing program, family nurse practitioner and served as program coordinator until 2020. She has served as associate dean for the McAuley School of Nursing (2010-2014) and associate dean, graduate programs, McAuley School of Nursing (2014-2019). Her areas of research include aging, vulnerable populations, bereavement, and qualitative methods. Dr. Baiardi has a long history of publications and has presented both nationally and internationally. In addition, she has been awarded more than $2,000,000 in federal funding to support training and research. She earned her B.S.N. from Mercy College of Detroit and her M.S.N. and Ph.D. in Nursing from Wayne State University. She holds a postmaster’s certificate in gerontology from WSU and postmaster’s certificate in community health/ family nurse practitioner at Boston College. During 2007-2008 she was awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award postdoctoral research fellowship in health promotion/risk reduction at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is a site-evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is a member of the Accreditation Review Committee.

baiardjm@udmercy.edu

Baker, Stokes S.

Stokes S. Baker

Associate Professor of Biology, teaches ecology, metagenomics, and biostatistics. His interdisciplinary research focuses on integrating biotechnologies, such as DNA barcoding and next generation sequencing, with inquiry-based laboratory instruction. His research interests include investigating pollen collection behavior of endemic bees, and microbial interactions of native aquatic plants. Baker’s degrees include a B.S. from Davis and Elkins College, an M.S. from SUNY’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. After postdoctoral research at Michigan State University, he joined the faculty in 1993. In 2016, Dr. Baker received the Samuel Postlethwait Award for teaching excellence by the Botanical Society of America.  In 2024, he was awarded a US State Department Fulbright Scholar Fellowship at the University of Belize.

bakerss@udmercy.edu

Bani Taan, Shadi

Shadi Bani Taan

Associate Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering, received a B.S. in Computer Science and a M.S. in Computer and Information Sciences from Yarmouk University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from North Dakota State University. He worked as an Instructor with the University of Nizwa, from 2004 to 2009. In 2013, he joined the University of Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ, where he is currently an Associate Professor and the Director of Computer Science and Software Engineering. His research interests include machine learning and data mining. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the IEEE Computer Society.

banitash@udmercy.edu

Barnes, Ashlee V.

Ashlee V. Barnes

Ashlee Barnes earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, Master of Science in Nursing Education degree and Post-Master's Certification in Family Nurse Practitioner from Oakland University.  Ashlee has always had a desire to further her education, thus receiving her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Frontier Nursing University. Ashlee has been practicing as a board certified, Family Nurse Practitioner since 2014. Additionally, Ashlee has over a decade of experience as a nursing educator. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at University of Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ, McAuley School of Nursing. Ashlee has extensive experience in psychiatric care, school health, and family practice.

barnesav@udmercy.edu

Barnes, Erick E.

Erick E. Barnes

Director of the Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis Program and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice, is a former second deputy chief of the Detroit Police Department and administrative assistant chief at Inkster Police Department. Barnes is a geographical profiler of crime, a recognized expert in security, threat assessment, terrorism and organized crime. He joined the University in 1998.

barnese@udmercy.edu

Barry, Michael G.

Michael G. Barry

Professor of English, teaches American literature, modernism and naturalism, the history of English and writing. He has additional research interests in the relationship of translation and memory to autobiographical narrative. He has published articles on Robert Penn Warren, Ann Petry, Abraham Cahan, Bobbie Ann Mason and Ernest J. Gaines. He has taught at universities in Turkey and the People’s Republic of China. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University Chicago, and a doctorate from State University of New York at Buffalo. He joined the University in 1994.

barrymg@udmercy.edu

Bauer, Amy

Amy Bauer

Assistant Professor of Biology, teaches courses in the areas of comparative vertebrate anatomy and evolution. Dr. Bauer’s research focuses on zoonotic diseases (infectious diseases that transmit between non-human animals and humans). She received her B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University, her DVM from Michigan University, her PhD with a focus in Comparative Epidemiology and Public Health from Purdue University, and completed her post-doctoral research as part of the Croney Lab in the Purdue University Center for Animal Welfare Science. Dr. Bauer has presented at the Indiana Academy of Science Annual Meeting, the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Disease, and the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo. She has published in PLOS One, Research in Veterinary Science, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, and BMC Veterinary Research. Dr. Bauer joined Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ as an instructor in the fall of 2021. 

bauerae@udmercy.edu

Bauer, Cindy

Cindy Bauer

Clinical Associate Professor and Director, Axium Integration, provides leadership for the continuous implementation, modification, improvement, and maintenance of the axiUm clinical management software. She also manages a program of axiUm training for both new and established faculty, staff and students. Additional responsibilities include serving on several SOD committees. Prof. Bauer earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Michigan and completed a one year Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at the University of Michigan. She earned both her M. A. degree in Curriculum and Instruction and her Graduate Certificate in Ethical Leadership and Change Management from the University of Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ. She joined the university in 1993.

bauercg@udmercy.edu

Beer, Arthur

Arthur Beer

Professor of Theatre Emeritus, taught directing, history of theatre, voice and diction, introduction to theatre and fine arts. He has acted in more than 200 plays and directed a like number, including several world premieres. He is a member of SAG/AFTRA and Actors Equity Association and is regularly seen in professional productions in the metropolitan Detroit area. Beer has received Best Actor and Best Director awards from all of Detroit’s major periodicals. He has written 20 original plays and adapted 16 classic plays, all of which have been produced. He won the Hopwood and Gesu awards in playwriting, as well as the directing text "Classic Plays for Contemporary Audiences" and the humanities workbook, "Meeting Art." He holds a doctorate from Wayne State University, a Master of Arts from University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts from DePauw University. He joined Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ in 1975 and retired in 2019.

beeraj@udmercy.edu

Belanger, Rachelle

Rachelle Belanger

Professor of Biology, teaches animal behavior, neurophysiology, histology and histotechnology lab, and physiology lab to Science majors as well as anatomy and physiology to Nursing majors. Her research focuses on the toxicological effects of herbicides on behavior, chemoreception, and morphology. Belanger received an Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology from St. Lawrence College (Kingston, Ontario, Canada), an honors undergraduate B.Sc. and M.Sc. from the University of Windsor (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) and a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University. Her postdoctoral work was at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). She joined the University in 2010.

belangra@udmercy.edu

Belian, Julia

Julia Belian

Associate Professor of Law, finds deep satisfaction in learning and teaching the ancient roots and contemporary twists of property law and estates & trusts, which are also her primary areas of scholarship. Belian earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy cum laude from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, a Master of Divinity degree at Yale University, and her J.D., with distinction, at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. At Emory, Belian served as editor-in-chief of the Emory International Law Review, received the Clark Boardman Callaghan Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Law School, and was elected to the Order of the Coif. She practiced law as an associate at Faegre & Benson in Minneapolis and at Morrison & Foerster in San Francisco. She joined the University in 2008.

belianju@udmercy.edu

Benvenuto, Mark A.

Mark A. Benvenuto

Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches general and inorganic chemistry, as well as industrial chemistry and alternative energy sources. He is actively writing pedagogical materials for industrial chemistry. He is currently performing research in the area of coordination chemistry of highly multi-dentate ligands for water remediation, and analysis of ancient and medieval artifacts, as well as analysis of personal care products and food supplements. He is a seven-time recipient of the Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ Science Teacher of the Year Award and has been named an American Chemical Society Fellow in the 2015 Class of Fellows. Benvenuto holds a B.S. from the Virginia Military Institute and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where he was awarded a graduate student duPont Fellowship. He performed post-doctoral research at the Pennsylvania State University and joined the University in 1993.

benvenma@udmercy.edu

Bernasconi, Claudia

Claudia Bernasconi

Professor and Director of the Master of Architecture Program, received her B.Arch and M.Arch at the University of Roma Tre in Rome, Italy and her Post-professional Master in Design from the La Sapienza University in Rome, Italy. She has worked as exhibit designer, graphic designer, and scenic designer and is a registered architect in the European Union. Her research interests encompass urban landscape perception, environmental aesthetics, and transportation aesthetics. She also conducts research in connection with her teaching in the areas of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary education, and service learning in the design field.  She is currently teaching the Master of Architecture Thesis studio and graduate level seminar classes on service learning, video-installation design, and graphic design. Bernasconi joined the University in 2009.

bernascl@udmercy.edu

Bhattacharya, Mithu

Mithu Bhattacharya

Professor of Decision Sciences, holds a B.S. in Computer Science and an M.S. in Information Technology from the Birla Institute of Technology in India, and a Ph.D. in Information Sciences and Technology from Pennsylvania State University. She teaches statistical analysis and quantitative methods, and has conducted extensive research on radio frequency identification (RFID) applications in business. She joined the University in 2011.

bhattami@udmercy.edu

Bishai, Robert

Robert Bishai

Clinical Assistant, Division of Integrated Clinical and Simulation.

bishairn@udmercy.edu

Blume, Libby B.

Libby B. Blume

Professor of Psychology Emerita, taught courses in child development, family relations, environmental psychology, creativity and giftedness, architecture and community development and women's and gender studies. She directed the undergraduate programs in Developmental Psychology and Certified Family Life Education. She co-directed the Community Development graduate program. Blume is a Fellow of the National Council on Family Relations and past recipient of the Award of Excellence from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her research interests included adolescents' social constructions of gender, the psychosocial identity of dancers and feminist theory in family studies. Her current research focuses on peer and family co-constructions of identity, ethnicity and gender in Middle Eastern transnational families. Blume co-authored two textbooks on middle childhood and adolescence, served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Family Theory & Review and was founding editor of the Michigan Family Review and the Groves Monographs on Marriage & Family. Founder of the Women's and Gender Studies Biennial Art Exhibitions, Blume also has a strong background in fine arts and creative arts education. She has extensive experience as an art educator, preschool teacher, child development center director and consultant to Head Start programs and to schools for gifted children from elementary to high school. Blume holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Davis, a Master of Arts from San Francisco State University and a doctorate from Texas Tech University. She joined the University in 1987 and retired in 2019.

blumelb@udmercy.edu

Boats, Jeffery J.

Jeffery J. Boats

Professor of Mathematics, teaches courses in mathematics and math education, and conducts research in numerous areas of science, most notably in graph theory. His work has applications to communications networks, circuit design, cryptography, and intelligence. He was conferred with the title Doctor of Arts in Mathematics by Carnegie Mellon for his dissertation, “Linear Algebra Textbook Implementing Instructional Technology” (1999). He also has a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon (1993), and two bachelor’s degrees from St. Bonaventure University, in Mathematics and Physics.

boatsjj@udmercy.edu

Boryczka, Jocelyn M.

Jocelyn M. Boryczka

Dean, College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, joined the University in fall 2022. She leads the College through a commitment to building an inclusive community of belonging centered on its students that embraces diversity and anti-racism. Boryczka creates meaningful change by engaging faculty, students, staff and alumni in deliberative democratic processes focused on developing and implementing transformative student learning experiences grounded in understanding the rich differences of human relationships. She led the College’s Strategic Vision Taskforce that created a new vision and mission and identified a new name for the College. Boryczka restructured the Dean’s Office to enable the College to better support its students as they reach for the magis, the more, and to establish practices of radical hospitality premised on the belief that diversity is the strength of the College. Before coming to the University, she most recently served as vice provost for Scholarly and Inclusive Excellence at Fairfield University, a Jesuit Catholic institution in Fairfield, Connecticut. Boryczka holds a doctorate in Political Science and a certificate in Women’s Studies from The Graduate Center, The City University of New York (CUNY), a Master of Arts in Political Science from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from The College of William and Mary. Boryczka has served as editor and co-editor of New Political Science: A Journal of Politics & Culture and has written two books focused on advancing women’s full citizenship through politics and education. She has received the Martin Luther King Jr. Visions Award, the Connecticut ACE Women’s Network Award for Distinguished Academic Woman in Higher Education Leadership and the Alpha Sigma Nu Best Teacher of the Year Award. She engages in long-standing partnership with Loyola High School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

boryczjm@udmercy.edu

Bowen, Jennifer

Jennifer Bowen

Associate Librarian, School of Dentistry Library provides reference and research skills instruction in finance, computer and electrical engineering, computer information systems, health information management, and theatre. She holds a B.A. in Speech Communication from Wayne State University and a Master's in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University. Bowen joined the University in 2015.

bowenji@udmercy.edu

Bozimowski, Greg

Greg Bozimowski

Professor of Nurse Anesthesia, is the coordinator of the Nurse Anesthesia department. He teaches pharmacology, DNP Project Proposal and Practicum courses, Pathophysiology Review, and Quality, Safety and Professional Aspects of Nurse Anesthesia courses. He holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from University of Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ, a Master of Science in Anesthesia from Mercy College of Detroit and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wayne State University. His areas of research, presentations and publications have focused on pharmacology, pain management and student wellness.  He has served his professional association in many roles including editorial reviewer for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesia Journal and the International Student Journal of Nurse Anesthesia, chaired numerous committees and served as president of the Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

bozimogm@udmercy.edu

Broughton, J. Richard

J. Richard Broughton

Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development and Professor of Law, teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, and federal criminal law. He previously served as a lawyer in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and as Assistant Attorney General of Texas in Austin. He also clerked for the presiding judge on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Broughton’s scholarship focuses on the intersection of American politics, constitutionalism, and criminal justice. His writing has appeared in law reviews and journals throughout the country, and has been cited in opinions from the United States Supreme Court and state appellate courts. Broughton holds a B.A. cum laude from Hampden-Sydney College, a J.D. cum laude from Delaware Law School (Widener University), and an LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown University. He joined the University in 2009.

broughjr@udmercy.edu

Budiongan, Joshua

Joshua Budiongan

Assistant Professor of Practice, is a designer and project manager at the Detroit Collaborative Design Center (DCDC). He joined the DCDC in mid-2012 as a consultant where he worked extensively on the release of the Detroit Future City: Strategic Framework and it’s robust civic engagement efforts.

In January 2015, Budiongan became an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow at Jefferson East, Inc. (JEI) where he helped kickstart their neighborhood based economic development activity and various planning efforts across the East Jefferson Avenue corridor. At the conclusion of the Rose Fellowship, Budiongan rejoined the DCDC to support their growing neighborhood revitalization and community planning and design projects across the city.

Budiongan sits on the board of directors for Bleeding Heart Design, a Detroit based non-profit dedicated to promoting altruism through design. Budiongan has spoken about design as a social justice issue at AIA and NOMA events and is dedicated to work towards the solutions for achieving investment without displacement in our communities.

Previously, Budiongan has worked with private practice architecture firms including Laavu and Christian Hurttienne Architects, both within the City of Detroit. He earned his Masters degree in Architecture from the Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ School of Architecture. Budiongan is also a passionate musician involved in multiple bands. Ask him about upcoming shows and record releases.

budionjr@udmercy.edu

Buehner, Marguerite J.

Marguerite J. Buehner

Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Dental Hygiene, Special Needs Patient Coordinator, teaches Special Patient Care curriculum to both dental and dental hygiene students and teaches Concepts in Professionalism and Dental Materials to dental hygiene students. She supervises dental hygiene students both at UHC and Corktown clinics as well as off-site rotations in the nursing home field. She has received a number of outstanding faculty awards presented by the hygiene students. Ms. Buehner holds a B. S. degree and a Masters in Health Services Administration degree from the University of Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ. She joined the University in 2001.

buehnemj@udmercy.edu

Byrappagari, Divesh

Divesh Byrappagari

Assistant Professor, Division of Practice Essentials and Interprofessional Education, Director of Community Outreach, teaches dental public health courses to dental students. Additional responsibilities include managing the dental school’s community outreach programs and Community Based Dental Education programs. His interests focus on reducing oral health disparities, health services and health policy research. Byrappagari holds a B.D.S. from Bangalore University, India, M.S.D. from Boston University School of Dental Medicine and Post-Doctoral Residency in Dental Public Health from New York State Department of Health and SUNY Albany. He joined the University in 2010.

byrappdi@udmercy.edu