About Us
Office:
University of Detroit Mercy
Reno Hall - 247
4001 West McNichols Rd.
Detroit, MI 48221
Phone: 313-578-0401
FAX: 313-578-0507
Faculty
Don
DiPaolo
dipaoldo@udmercy.edu
313- 578-0472
Assistant Professor, teaches the Introduction to Education courses as well as courses in the Educational Administration and Leadership program. His publications and professional presentations have been in the area of leadership and leadership education. Dr. DiPaolo earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan and joined the faculty in 2003 after serving for three years as the Cohort Director of the University of Michigan Masters and Certification (MAC) Program. Dr. DiPaolo served as Chair of the Education Department from 2003-2006. He was recently selected to serve on the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Leadership Education.
Josephine Gambinigambinjm@udmercy.edu
313-993-1063
Professor of Special Education and Director of Italy Study Abroad Program, teaches courses in Special Education, Educational Psychology and Italian. Gambini's interests include integrating arts in the curriculum, collaboration in education and global studies. She presented nationally on the collaborative process and currently researches collaboration models and their use in education and mental health related services, and global educational experiences. Gambini received the College of Education and Human Services President's Award for Faculty Excellence in 1996. She holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from San Francisco State University and a Ph.D. from Wayne State University. Gambini joined the University in 1974.
Nancy Gibney
gibneynl@udmercy.edu
313-578-0490
Assistant Professor of Education, teaches reading and language arts methods at the elementary and secondary levels. Gibney's publications and professional presentations deal with urban university and school partnerships. She presented at the 1996 Association and Curriculum Development's National Conference regarding reconstructing teaching and learning practices through an urban school and university partnership. Gibney holds a B.A. from Western Michigan University, M.A. from Eastern Michigan University, and Ph.D. from Walden University. She joined the University in 1988.
Joslen Letscher
letschjl@udmercy.edu
313-578-0483
Associate Professor of Education, teaches curriculum inquiry, educational philosophy, policy, supervision, research and field experience. She currently researches and makes professional presentations regarding university/school collaborations for educational change. Creating spaces for dialogue, imagination, and ethical decision-making is her major research emphasis. Letscher engages in dialectical inquiry with students, teachers, administrators, and colleagues to redefine professional development, curriculum, renewal policymaking, and research. She holds a B.S. and M.A. from Siena Heights College, a M.A. from Western Michigan University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Letscher joined the University in 1991.
Lorri
MacDonald
macdonlj@udmercy.edu
313-578-0545
Assistant Professor, teaches Science Methods courses,
Methods of Educational Research and two courses in the Nurse Educator Masters
program through McAuley School of Nursing. Before joining the UDM faculty, Dr.
MacDonald spent over twenty years in public education as a teacher and a
building administrator and taught science methods and action research at
Isaiah
McKinnon
mckinnoi@udmercy.edu
313-578-0451
Associate Professor of Education, teaches the course Society and Education. He is a former City of Detroit Chief of Police and NBC News, WDIV-TV Detroit's Safety Consultant, for which he wond an Emmy Award. He has authored or co-authored three books and numerous articles on crime victims and has been interviewed on "The Today Show," "Oprah," "Good Morning America," "Rivera Live," and "The History Channel." McKinnon is a national motivation/inspirational speaker to Fortune 500 companies and schools. His has recently completed two books through Sleeping Bear Press in Ann Arbor/Chelsea, Michigan. He earned his B.A. from Mercy College, M.A. from the University of Detroit and Ph.D. from Michigan State University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and United States Secret Service School. McKinnon joined the University in 1998.
Karen
Selby
selbykl@udmercy.edu
313-578-0431
Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Education, Selby came to the University in 2007. She received her B.A. from Kalamazoo College and M.A. at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her Ph.D., from the University of Michigan, focused on literacy strategies in the social studies curriculum of full time Islamic schools. Her research continues to focus on multicultural literature, families, literacy, and the use of technology. Dr. Selby's most recent research looks to concretize the reality of urban parents in the minds of pre-service student teachers. Teaching interests, which reflect her lifelong commitment to the liberal arts and sciences, include children's literature, reading, language arts, social studies, research methods, and student teaching. Her favorite authors include Maxine Greene (Releasing the Imagination) and Christopher Paul Curtis (The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1968).
Staff
Margaret Dooley
Coordinator of Student Teaching
dooleymm@udmercy.edu
313-578-0477
Kim Dale
Administrative Assistant
dalekm@udmercy.edu
313-578-0401
Patricia Gajewsk
Director of Experience Plus
gajewspa@udmercy.ed
313-578-0479
Deborah Gibson
Director of Student Teaching, Accreditation and Certification
gibsonda@udmercy.edu
313-578-0365
Beth Grzelak
Consultant, Education Department
grzelabe@udmercy.edu
313-578-0545
Diane Manica
Coordinator of Acceditation and Program
Review
manicadi@udmercy.edu
313-578-0425