As the director of the Black Scholars Institute (BSI), Camisha Sibblis is leading efforts to support and advance Black scholarship, building a movement that challenges conventional approaches to Black studies.

Dr. Sibblis has an extensive background in social work. She has worked in child welfare, family law, and the criminal justice system, as well as in public education as a school social worker. Her experience across these systems has shaped her research, which explores the pervasive presence of carceral systems in Black life through social institutions and societal scrutiny — even for those who never physically enter a prison.

Sibblis hopes her research, aligned with the vision of the BSI, will foster greater interdisciplinary collaborations while also working to dismantle barriers between disciplines and institutions.

DailyNews will showcase the contributions and insights of members of the Black Scholars Institute leading up to its official launch on Sept. 26 and connected with Sibblis to discuss her research and goals as director of the BSI.

Q: Tell us about your research interests and what projects you’d like to pursue at the University of Windsor.

A: The biggest project I am pursuing at UWindsor is the establishment and evolution of the Black Scholars Institute. I aim to develop it from an idea on paper into a movement that does not focus on Black studies in conventional, narrow ways that can be co-opted. This research institute serves as a vehicle to promote Black scholarship in various ways to ultimately achieve Black liberation.

In terms of my personal research interests, my work focuses on the prevalence of carceral systems in Black life, which can be viewed as a cradle-to-prison pipeline. It examines how the prison system is implicated throughout the life span of Black individuals through social institutions and societal scrutiny — even for those who do not ultimately end up in physical prison. My work also critiques law, particularly criminal law, as an institution and a set of practices. It explores how its educational framework protects the status quo and reinforces oppressive power dynamics while othering Black bodies.

Q: Can you share a bit about your academic journey and what inspired you to pursue a career in sociology and criminology?

A: I am a social worker who has worked within and at the intersections of major social institutions. I have experience in child welfare, family law as a clinical agent for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, and the criminal justice system. I am also a court-qualified expert in Black identity and anti-Black racism as it intersects with social institutions. Additionally, I have worked in the public education system as a school social worker, both in mainstream schools and alternative programs, including expulsion and suspension programs. I am frequently called upon to speak with authority on race and racism in society, business, criminal justice and policing, education, child welfare, and mental health as a psychotherapist.

Ultimately, I began writing reports for the courts to elucidate how anti-Black racism in various institutions can influence and restrict the choices of criminalized Black individuals to mitigate their sentencing. My transition from social work to sociology and criminology was quite natural as I sought to delve into how the social institutions in which I operated created carceral conditions for Black individuals.

Q: What led you to become a part of the University of Windsor’s Black Scholars Institute?

A: I was one of the founding members of RAACES and served as chair of the President’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force at the University of Windsor, both of which advocated for the establishment of the BSI.

Q: Could you explain the significance of your work and research interests?

A: In reference to the reports I mentioned earlier, I wrote the Impact of Race and Culture Assessment Report, which set a precedent in Ontario requiring courts to take judicial notice of the effects of systemic anti-Black racism on offenders in sentencing hearings.

Q: What do you believe are some of the most pressing challenges in your field today?

A: One of the biggest challenges is the resistance of various systems, including law and law schools, to radical change. Institutions and disciplines operating in silos both deny and reinforce the systemic nature of oppression for the most marginalized.

Q: In what ways do you hope your research and work will influence policy and/or community programs?

A: I hope my research, in line with the vision of the BSI, will encourage more interdisciplinary collaborations while also beginning to break down barriers between disciplines and institutions. My research calls for radical reforms in law, education, policing, and politics. These systems, which operate as intended, are unphased by incremental change. They need to be dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up to align with the principles of social justice.

The annual campus community barbecue will serve up complimentary burgers and chips with a vegetarian option today — Wednesday, Sept. 25 — on the River Commons.

Sponsored by the Office of the President and the University of Windsor Alumni Association, the event will welcome diners starting at noon on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

It’s on rain or shine, says organizer Mona Sleiman, manager of outreach, events, and protocol.

“We’ll have music and entertainment as well as a free lunch,” she says. “Come on out and enjoy a mid-week boost.”

She encourages attendees to bring reusable water bottles to refill at the mobile hydration station.

The celebration is part of Alumni Week festivities, which continue through the weekend.

Sept. 28 marks the “Saturday Afternoon on Sunset” community event and on Sunday, Sept. 29, the parking lot behind the Centre for Engineering Innovation will host a car meet.

Family and friends will enjoy entertainment and activities Saturday from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Organizers ask guests to check in at the Welcome Centre and register in advance to receive a special alumni anniversary gift. Local band Leave Those Kids Alone will provide live music from 3 to 5 p.m. Guided tours will direct visitors through the campus. The Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse will offer public access for drop-in activities like badminton, basketball, and volleyball from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. At 7 p.m., the Lancer football team will bring its perfect 4-0 start to the season to a contest against the Toronto Varsity Blues at Alumni Field.

Sunday’s car meet invites alumni, students, and the community to connect over a love of cars: classics, modern, modified, and OEM. It will run 1 to 3 p.m. and offers prizes for best vehicle. Register vehicles here.

Electrical and computer engineering professor Esam Abdel-Raheem is contributing to a work that is paving the way for early detection of diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness.

Making an earlier diagnosis will help physicians treat the condition and stave off serious deterioration, says Dr. Abdel-Raheem.

“If this diabetic retinopathy is detected early, over 90 per cent of vision loss can be prevented,” he says. “The current methods of screening rely on manual examinations, which are time-consuming, subjective, and prone to error. Adopting the presented deep learning techniques will result in saving vision and cutting down on overall health-care demands.”

A paper published in IEEE Access, “Deep Learning in Automatic Diabetic Retinopathy Detection and Grading Systems: A Comprehensive Survey and Comparison of Methods,” is co-authored with his doctoral student Sudipta Modak and colleagues from the University of Sharjah, where Abdel-Raheem served as a visiting scholar. This is the first journal article resulting from the collaboration.

A ceremonial raising of the Franco-Ontarian flag on Wednesday is believed to be a first for the UWindsor campus.

The ceremony is timed to coincide with annual celebrations of the Journée des franco-ontariennes et franco-ontariens on Sept. 25, says political science professor Emmanuelle Richez.

She points to the University’s history as indicative of its French roots.

“When Assumption College, a forerunner of the University of Windsor, was established in 1857, it was actually called Collège de l’Assomption and it was run by French-speaking priests,” says a memo prepared by the Comité Franco. “The collège grew out of the paroisse Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, the first French-language Catholic parish in Ontario, founded in 1767.”

Today, the University of Windsor has a French studies program and a relatively new French specialization in political science, with more than 40 professors in various departments who are fully proficient in French.

“The proportion of francophones and francophiles in the student body is also significant,” Dr. Richez says.

The ceremony will begin at noon outside the west side of Chrysler Hall Tower.

An address by the founder of a boutique management agency will kick off a speakers’ series on sports law.

Led by law professor Shanthi Senthe, the Sports Law Speaker Series aims to provide attendees with valuable insights from industry experts, including attorneys, sports executives, and company founders.

The inaugural speaker is Jordan J. Rassam, founder and president of football operations at Fifth Quarter Sports Management, which offers services ranging from player representation and contract negotiation to branding, marketing, and career development.

Rassam holds memberships in both the Michigan and California state bars, with a practice specializing in business and contract law, civil litigation, criminal defence, cannabis law, and municipal law.

He will share his unique experiences and insights into the legal aspects of the sports industry during his talk, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in the law building’s Moot Court. Register at uwindsor.ca/law/sportslawseries.

Members of the University of Windsor community are invited to join the UWindsor team participating in this year’s community Suicide Awareness Month Walk, Sunday, Sept. 29, at the St. Clair College SportsPlex. The event is hosted by the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch and community partners.

The UWindsor team will be led by Student Health, Counselling & Wellness Services, the Employee Mental Health Strategy implementation team, and the Human Resources Workplace Wellness team.

“We invite UWindsor students and employees to walk with us in support of suicide awareness,” says Katie Chauvin, mental health and wellness co-ordinator in Student Health, Counselling & Wellness Services. “When someone is experiencing thoughts of suicide or has been impacted by suicide loss, there is often an overwhelming sense of isolation.

“By attending these events as representatives of our campus, we send a powerful message that UWindsor cares and that we believe no one should have to walk their journey alone.”

Raising awareness is just one way to make a difference, says Chauvin.

“At UWindsor, we also offer opportunities throughout the year to attend suicide prevention trainings that teach skills for responding when someone is experiencing thoughts of suicide and strategies for supporting them in accessing professional care. Additionally, we offer free and confidential mental health resources and have a year-round suicide prevention initiative in place called It Matters that You’re Here that promotes mental health and crisis supports, shares messages of care from the campus community, and highlights coping strategies and self-advocacy skills.

“If you are thinking about suicide or going through a difficult time, reaching out for support is the strongest thing you can do,” says Chauvin.

Student mental health resources can be found here. Employee mental health resources can be found here.

Sign up here to join the UWindsor team at the community Suicide Awareness Month Walk.

On Friday, Sept. 6, the Odette School of Business presented former dean Allan Conway with its fourth annual Sue Skrobiak Award for Excellence.

Named in honour of the late long-time Odette staff member, the award honours a person who has positively impacted the Odette MBA program for a sustained period of time.

As dean of the Odette School of Business, Dr. Conway was responsible for leading improvements to the school that resulted in internationally recognized accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

“Dr. Allan Conway is the person most responsible for the bold vision, the pursuit of learning-in-application, and the enduring search for improvement that marks the best of the Odette MBA,” says Gerry Kerr, a member of the Sue Skrobiak Award committee and acting associate dean, programs.

“Like Sue, students are the focus for Allan. They are the ultimate beneficiaries of his vision.”

The award was presented at the annual Dean’s Dinner, dedicated to welcoming incoming Master of Business Administration full-time and professional accounting specialization cohorts and celebrating the graduating class. Keynote speaker Katharen Bortolin (MBA 2016), executive director of the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County, shared advice and words of wisdom and encouragement with the MBAs.

The second annual conference to celebrate Open Education Week will run from March 3 to 7, 2025. Block off time in your calendars now, as there will be a whole week of free events, says Mark Lubrick, learning specialist in the Office of Open Learning.

“This year we want to open things up to a wider audience, so not only can proposals focus on Open Education topics, but we are also inviting people to talk about the use of educational technologies,” Lubrick says. “We are excited to see what ideas people come up with and we also want to open this call to anyone, including people outside the University of Windsor.”

The call closes on Nov. 15, so start preparing now. Submit your proposal through the Qualtrics form.