Faith in Detroit
Faith in Detroit is a collaborative storytelling ecosystem led by the Rev. Dr. William Danaher, who is the Executive Director of this initiative and the Rector of Christ Church Cranbrook. The project empowers Metro Detroiters to tell compelling faith stories about their personal journeys, their communities, and the contexts in which they have experienced deeper meaning, connection, and transformation.
Because every Detroit success story hinges on people working together, Faith in Detroit is made up of diverse stakeholders and partners in Metro Detroit who are committed to telling stories of resilience and renewal. The Center for Public Humanities is proud to be a leading partner in this work.
The CPH will contribute to this community partnership with two dynamic programs. First, we are organizing an annual Summer Nonfiction Writing Workshop, free and open to the public. Additionally, we will launch the Faith in Detroit Journal, a juried online literary magazine publishing flash nonfiction, with a companion website that includes an expanding toolkit of curated writing resources. We seek to encourage, support, and celebrate Metro Detroit’s storytellers; whether you are a novice or established writer, we have a place for you.
We invite you to join us! Watch this space for more information, or email us at [email protected] with any questions.
College of Arts and Sciences Advising
614 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
(location map)
(248) 370-4567
[email protected]
College of Arts and Sciences
Dean's Office
Varner Hall, Room 217
371 Varner Drive
Rochester , MI 48309-4485
(location map)
(248) 370-2140
Fax: (248) 370-4280
[email protected]
College of Arts and Sciences Advising
614 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
(location map)
(248) 370-4567
[email protected]
College of Arts and Sciences
Dean's Office
Varner Hall, Room 217
371 Varner Drive
Rochester , MI 48309-4485
(location map)
(248) 370-2140
Fax: (248) 370-4280
[email protected]
Running from 2026–2029, the "Faith in Detroit Journal" will publish seven themed issues of short nonfiction exploring moments of faith and transformation in Metro Detroit. Submissions open June 15, 2026 for our Fall, 2026 issue.
From June 11 - 14, 2026, our Summer Writing Workshop will feature generative sessions, panels, and keynote speaker Emily Bernard. Hosted on the campus of Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, all sessions are free and open to the public.
Professor of English and Creative Writing Kathy Pfeiffer leads a team of collaborators that include OU faculty and alums, guest writers, artists, guest faculty and community partners.
Faith in Detroit Summer Writing Workshop
Susan is Special Lecturer in the Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film, where she teaches courses in British Literature, Creative Writing, and Modern fiction. She also serves as the Director of British Studies at Oxford, and Faculty Fellow to the Dean of the Donna & Walt Young Honors College and the Midwest Center for Undergraduate Research (MCUR). Susan also serves as Councilor, At-Large: Council on Undergraduate Research.
Jonathan Cooper, Creative Consultant
Jonathan is a multidisciplinary designer & educator with a passion for culture and community. He has experience in agency branding and marketing, in-house experience and interaction design, and freelancing branding and illustration. His focus is a research-driven and empathetic approach to design.
Faith in Detroit Journal
Greg Giberson, Co-Editor
Professor of Writing and Rhetoric at Oakland University, Greg teaches first-year and upper-level writing courses. His scholarship focuses on the history and development of undergraduate Writing Majors, the history and reality of scholarly editing in the field of Writing Studies, and the corporatization of higher education. He is the founder and lead facilitator of the Pomeroy Senior Living Orion Discussion Group and Guest Lecturer Series.
Brandon R. Grafius, Co-editor
Brandon is professor of biblical studies and academic dean at Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit. His work explores the intersection of religion, horror, and politics, and has been widely published in both academic and popular spaces, including Salon, The Christian Century, and The Metropolitan Review. His recent book, Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scripture, was published in 2025 by Morehouse publishing. Concerning Dust and Ashes: Affects of Horror in the Hebrew Bible, is scheduled for publication in 2026 by Oxford University Press.
Rachel V. Smydra, Web Content Curator
Rachel is an Associate Professor in the Department of English, Creative Writing, and Film. Her scholarly interests focus on stimulating curiosity, embedding active learning strategies, and improving student writing. She is currently working on a historical fiction novel that explores 20th century map-making.
Kaitlyn Piggott, First Reader
An Oakland University graduate in Creative Writing, Kaitlyn worked as a Writing Center consultant and served as Vice President and President of the Student Writers Group at OU. In that capacity, she helped create the student literary journal Swallow the Moon, contributing to all facets of editorial production.
Sonja Wilhelm, First Reader
An Oakland University Presidential Scholar who graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Women & Gender Studies, Sonja earned Summa Cum Laude and Departmental Honors. During her time as President and Vice President of the OU Student Creative Writing Club, Sonja led numerous workshops and editing sessions, and her success in these roles earned her an invitation to conduct a creative writing workshop for the Rochester Older Persons Commission.
