Read. See. Hear.

The Way the River Goes 

Dan Weber ’89

Dan Weber ’89 is living proof that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Weber graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management and traveled out West to work as a park ranger in Canyonlands National Park. At 50, he decided to pursue his passion for music. When Weber was a student at UD, he didn’t even know how to play an instrument. But, when he released his record The Way the River Goes in 2020, it rose to No. 3 on the alt-country charts. In 2019, he won the Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition.

Up in Flames

Michele Palmer ’16 

Michele “Meesh” Palmer ’16, an education major while at UD, has been a teacher for six years. In her spare time, she pursues a passion for poetry. She published her second poetry collection, Up in Flames, in May. It takes readers on a journey of the complexity and challenges that can come with relationships, exploring complicated topics like infidelity, abuse, forgiveness and growth. Her vulnerability allows readers to relate to her pieces and find comfort in knowing they are not alone. Her first book, Up in My Arms, was published in 2021. 

Empty Churches: Non-Affiliation in America 

Jan E. Stets ’80 and James L. Heft ’66

Father James Heft, S.M. ’66, and Jan E. Stets ’80 contemplate the increase in disaffiliation with religion in America within the past 50 years in their book Empty Churches: Non-Affiliation in America. The book explores the decline in individuals affiliated with religion. The idea for the book grew from a lecture led by Heft on the same topic at UD’s sister school, Chaminade University of Honolulu. Chaminade University presented Heft with the Mackey Award for Catholic Thought after the lecture. This social phenomena of religious disaffiliation is especially prevalent in young people, the book explores, and shares how parents can teach the positive effects of religion.