When Iyleah Hernandez learned from Dominican University President Dr. Glena Temple that she was the recipient of the school’s highest student honor, the news came with momentary skepticism.

“I didn’t believe her at first,” Hernandez said, laughing. “I said, ‘You can’t tell me this on April Fool’s Day, come on!’ But she said it was legit.”

Dr. Ngozi Ezike spoke of her ties to Dominican University and celebrated graduates, calling them their “ancestors’ wildest dreams,” during the 2022 Black Achievements Ceremony on April 25.

Ezike, the ceremony’s keynote speaker, shared that she brought her four children to the campus every Saturday for Igbo language classes.

“Routinely and religiously we came here, and they shared not just the language, but the culture of the Igbo people so we would know the culture, pass it on to our children and make sure it persisted,” Ezike said of the instructors.

Prayer Childress had largely given up writing poetry as a pastime when she registered for a creative writing course during her sophomore year.

But here, Childress found her creative voice again — which, in turn, led to a rare opportunity.

Childress, a senior who is preparing to receive a bachelor’s degree in psychology, was invited to write a poem for the April 7 inauguration of Dominican University’s 11th president, Dr. Glena Temple.

It was Childress’ former Introduction to Creative Writing professor, Dr. Maggie Andersen, who put her name forward for the honor.

Mohamed Askar believes the world as we knew it is gone forever.

But the longtime Dominican University professor isn’t interested in authoring a postmortem on the world’s economy before the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s instead working alongside his colleagues to identify the road to economic recovery.

During a presentation to the university community earlier this semester, Dominican professors Askar, Anne Drougas and Khalid Razaki analyzed the impact of the pandemic on supply chain management while also detailing several research paths they plan to pursue.

Exploring beyond the stone walls of El Castillo is a project involving

Dominican University physics students. 

It’s not every day that Pope Francis is the inspiration behind women’s formalwear.

But for Dominican University senior Rosalinda Ramos, faith and fashion mix on her sketch pad just as seamlessly as they do in life.

Majoring in both theology and fashion, Ramos designed a dress and cape ensemble influenced by the white religious vestments worn by the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The ensemble, complete with intricate gold appliqués, was featured in Dominican’s student fashion show in early April. It was modeled by Mayra Anaya.

The inauguration of Dr. Glena Temple is featured in an article published this week by Pioneer Press and the Chicago Tribune.

The story highlights the April 7 ceremony, with its procession of faculty and the symbolic exchange of candle and rose between Temple and retired Dominican University President Donna Carroll. It also includes interviews with Temple, Board of Trustees Chair Anne Kohler, and student Kiara Valenzuela, a business and marketing major who watched the inauguration.

A new scholarship aims to provide more than just financial help to Dominican University students in STEM majors.

Thanks to a recently awarded grant from the National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, 16 future Dominican students from low-income families majoring in biology, biology-chemistry or chemistry will be selected to each receive $31,250 in scholarships over a four-year period.

Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa, professor of social work at Dominican University, was featured in a recent WBEZ Chicago report of mental health professionals urging Mayor Lori Lightfoot to reconsider the use of police officers in a pilot program focused on mental health crisis response.

Award-winning actor, playwright and producer Sandra Delgado is bringing her unique mix of storytelling and live performance to Dominican University this fall.