News

University of Dayton Campus Ministry encourages all to be present spiritually with Christ "in the wilderness" during Lent, which begins Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. During Lent, Christians prepare for Easter with prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday is reminiscent of the ancient tradition of sprinkling ashes over the heads of penitents.

Local news covered the announcement that the computer science building will be named after UD's first black, female graduate. National news outlet The Conversation featured articles written by faculty in human rights, history and psychology.

Dayton media covered the University's commemoration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and The Conversation highlighted the expertise of two faculty members. Several faculty experts lent their expertise to local and regional news outlets to explain political and legal issues.

Faculty and staff finished 2020 and rang in 2021 continuing to offer their expertise and thoughts on the issues of the day.

A pair of faculty contributed pieces for The Conversation while others shared their expertise with the Huffington Post and the Sinclair Broadcasting Group in a story picked up nationwide. Ohio cable news outlet Spectrum News 1 and Dayton TV station ABC22/Fox45 featured the W.S. McIntosh Memorial Leadership Award & Scholarship winner. The Dayton Business Journal also profiled the success of the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation in 2020.

Several prominent regional and national news outlets highlighted the University's culture, values and mission, including President Eric F. Spina talking to The Chronicle of Higher Education about how "campus values really can influence behavior." Catholic News Service, TV stations in Dayton and Columbus, the magazine of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the website, Diverse Military, are among the others that wrote about our Marianist student communities, Christmas on Campus, Marian Library nativities, and an advisory committee for military personnel and veterans.

In a Q&A with the Dayton Business Journal, UD President Eric F. Spina said 'flexibility is key' to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Prominent Catholic news outlets Commonweal and America interviewed religious studies faculty Neomi De Anda and Jana Bennett about Catholicism in America today and Election 2020, respectively.

DIVERSE: Issues in Higher Education wrote about and The Chronicle of Higher Education noted the University's release of a historic letter demonstrating systemic racism. All three Dayton TV stations, the Dayton Business Journal and Dayton Daily News did stories about a reusable self-disinfecting N95 mask concept developed by a University of Dayton Research Institute scientist.

The University of Dayton has published a recently uncovered 1930 letter from UD’s Office of the President to civil rights leader, scholar and author W.E.B. Du Bois that demonstrates systemic racism at the institution through past discriminatory admissions policies and practices.

Vince Miller in religious studies is among the theologians who offered their thoughts on the papal encyclical 'Fratelli Tutti' to America magazine. Marketing expert Randy Sparks and political scientist Christopher Devine commented on presidential brands and the VP debate for USA Today and Reuters, respectively.