Mike Havey, Nihar Biswas, Richard PeddieEngineering professor Nihar Biswas (centre) receives congratulations from athletic director Mike Havey and alumnus Richard Peddie on an award recognizing his support of Lancer student-athletes.

Engineering professor recognized for his work outside of the classroom

Nihar Biswas’s dedication to the University of Windsor extends well beyond the classroom walls. When Dr. Biswas isn’t lecturing on water quality and waste management, the civil engineering professor is helping attract top student athletes to UWindsor.

“While many of our students and staff may recognize Nihar as a frequent visitor to the St. Denis Centre and a regular exerciser on our track, what many probably don’t know is all the work he is doing behind the scenes to help our Lancer teams,” athletic director Mike Havey said April 6 at the Lancer Evening of Excellence.

Havey presented Biswas with the Richard Peddie Leadership Award to recognize his dedication to Lancer athletics. For the past 25 years, Biswas has augmented UWindsor’s recruitment efforts by calling and meeting Lancer recruits and their parents to discuss academic programs, assisting with scholarship growth and endowments that help benefit all students, and providing academic advice to student-athletes on campus.

“That’s the main objective,” Biswas said. “We try to support the students as much as we can.”

When he’s not working with students on the sidelines, Biswas regularly attends Lancer games. The former senior associate dean of engineering joined the University of Windsor faculty in 1981.

“It is safe to say that Dr. Biswas has as much interest in the success of the Lancers as any person that I know,” Havey said. “He is a very deserving recipient of the Richard Peddie Leadership Award.”

The award, in its eighth year, is named in honour of University of Windsor alumnus and loyal Lancer supporter, Richard Peddie, retired president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. It is presented annually to an individual who has made valuable contributions to the success of Lancer athletics.

In addition to the recognition, Biswas received a cash award from Dr. Peddie to be directed to the Lancer varsity team of his choice. Biswas chose to split the award between women’s and men’s teams in basketball, volleyball, and track and field.