Jeffrey Berryman leads a discussion.Jeffrey Berryman, associate VP academic, leads a discussion of tenure and promotion policies during New Faculty Orientation last week.

Expanded orientation program welcomes new faculty members

With so many people joining the UWindsor faculty, this year seemed like an opportune moment to expand the orientation program exploring the roles, responsibilities, and possibilities of their new positions on campus, says provost Douglas Kneale.

More than 70 presenters, facilitators, or networking partners welcomed 30 newcomers to New Faculty Orientation last week. The three-day event included a campus network fair which drew presenters from 30 campus units and services, and working sessions on research, teaching and the tenure process.

The intention is to establish a more extended orientation to campus for faculty, to include a mentoring network, as well as online resources and workshops for early career faculty.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming so many new faculty on campus this year,” Dr. Kneale says. “Everyone involved—both new and established members of the community—showed the energy and enthusiasm that is really at the heart of what’s great about the University of Windsor.” 

Lisa Salfi, a recent hire in the Faculty of Engineering, calls the orientation program a “wonderful and beneficial” experience.

“It provided numerous resources, information on many topics, opportunities to make meaningful connections, and much more,” she says. “I feel extremely welcome, well-equipped, and supported in my new role at the University of Windsor.”

These new members of faculty participated:

  • Maher Abdel-Khalek, Electrical and Computer Engineering;
  • Michael S. Boroughs, Psychology;
  • Pascal Calarco, Leddy Library;
  • David Court, Dramatic Art;
  • Kelly Daniels, Dramatic Art;
  • Boram Do, Odette School of Business;
  • Kathryn Edmunds, Nursing;
  • David Firang, Social Work;
  • Ryan Flannagan, Student Experience;
  • Brent Furneaux, Odette School of Business;
  • Guangrui Guo, Odette School of Business;
  • Adrian Guta, Social Work;
  • Nicholas Harney, Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology;
  • Jeffery Hewitt, Law;
  • Christopher Houser, Science;
  • Mehdi Kargar, Computer Science;
  • Michelle MacArthur, Dramatic Art;
  • Elena Maltseva, Political Science;
  • Scott Mundle , Chemistry and Biochemistry, Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research;
  • Jesse Ovadia, Political Science;
  • Julien Poloni, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures;
  • Helen Power, Leddy Library;
  • Simon Rondeau-Gagné, Chemistry and Biochemistry;
  • Lisa Salfi, Engineering;
  • Beth-Ann Schuelke-Leech, Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering;
  • Catherine Shea, Odette School of Business;
  • John Trant, Chemistry and Biochemistry;
  • Vasanthi Venkatesh, Law;
  • Valarie Waboose, Law; and
  • Emily West, English Language, Literature, and Creative Writing.

The event was capped off with an optional walking tour of Detroit facilitated by faculty members. View a slideshow of images here: