Madonna University is a private Catholic university located in Livonia, Michigan, United States. It was started in 1937 as the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Junior College by the Felician Sisters. In 1947, it became known as Madonna College, and in 1991, it was renamed Madonna University.
Madonna University is one of the largest Franciscan universities in the country. It is located on an 80-acre wooded campus. The university also has other campuses in southwest Detroit, Orchard Lake, and Clinton Township at the Macomb University Center. Additionally, Madonna University has a campus at the University Center in Gaylord, which is about 225 miles (362 km) north of Livonia.
Academics
Founded in 1937 by two sisters as Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary College, the university provides over 100 undergraduate programs leading to associate and bachelor's degrees, as well as 35 master's programs in clinical psychology, business, criminal justice, education, history, and health professions. In May 2009, Madonna University began offering its first doctorate, the Doctor of Nursing Practice. By 2021, the most popular undergraduate programs among graduates included:
Madonna University's focus on creating a green and environmentally friendly campus was recognized when the U.S. Green Building Council awarded Gold level LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification to the university's 60,000 square feet (5,600 m²) Franciscan Center.
The university is organized into the following colleges and schools:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Education & Human Development
- College of Nursing and Health
- Graduate School
- School of Business
Campus media
The Madonna Now is the university's magazine for alumni and friends. The Madonna Herald is the university's newspaper, created by the Journalism Department, which is led by Professor Neal Haldane. The Madonna Muse is a yearly literary journal published once a year.
In the university's Franciscan Center studios, students run an online radio station called Live 365. The station offers a variety of music and programming, and sometimes includes live shows from students in the program.
Students majoring in Broadcast and Cinema Arts create a television show named Celebrate Michigan. The show is broadcast on MyTV20 in the Detroit area.
Athletics
The athletic teams at Madonna University are called the Crusaders. The university is part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and plays most of its sports in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) since the 1997–98 academic year. The football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA).
Madonna University offers 21 college-level sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cheerleading, competitive dance, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field, and volleyball.
The campus has a renewed basketball and volleyball gymnasium, the Alliance Catholic Credit Union Arena at the Performing Arts, Academics, and Athletics Center, which can hold 1,200 people. It also has a large soccer field that hosts camps and tournaments, as well as Ilitch Ballpark for baseball and a fast-pitch softball field.
Notable alumni
- Lyn Bankes, member of the Michigan House of Representatives
- Kerry Bentivolio, U.S. Representative (graduated from Saint Mary's College)
- Ella Bully-Cummings, police chief
- Nora Chapa Mendoza, artist
- Chris Dierker, professional basketball player
- Warren Evans, Michigan politician and police officer
- Vincent Gregory, member of the Michigan Senate
- Charlie Henry, college basketball coach
- Worteh Sampson, college soccer player and coach
- Robert C. Schuler, advertising executive (graduated from Saint Mary's College)
- John Vigilante, professional hockey player
- Catherine Waynick, Anglican bishop