Students celebrate their ancestors, culture and faith.

Dominican University’s celebration of Día de los Muertos, which included a procession through campus, a mariachi band, and the blessings of five ornately adorned ofrendas, was covered by ABC 7 News this week.

The Nov. 2 segment featured interviews with Associate Director of University Ministry Andrew Mercado and students Gloria Goray and Grettel Gomez Reyes. It also included footage of the long procession of students and staff, as well as the colorful ofrendas, or altars, which honored deceased loved ones and lives lost to war, violence, mental health challenges, and migration.

Efforts by a Dominican University nutrition student and professor to address healthy eating and the food desert problem in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood were highlighted in an article published by Austin Weekly News.

Michelle Scott and Dr. Sarah Jones, assistant professor of nutrition sciences, attended the Austin City Town Hall Market in October to raise awareness about healthy eating, which Scott promotes through her online food company Thank God 4 Raw Vegan Treats.

Alena Rivers MLIS ‘17 was recently named executive director of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association.

Rivers joined the American Library Association in 2017 as deputy director and began serving as interim executive director of ALSC in September 2021.