The Samit & Reshma Sharma Foundation has established more than three dozen endowed awards at universities, colleges and polytechnics across the country. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL WILKINS/UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
A transformative new endowment from the Samit & Reshma Sharma Foundation is set to strengthen graduate research at the University of Windsor.
The $300,003 gift establishes three endowed graduate scholarships that will support outstanding thesis-based students in areas where the institution demonstrates national leadership: automotive engineering, Great Lakes ecology and sports and health kinetics.
Each award reflects a distinctive approach to philanthropy — one that identifies and amplifies institutional strengths rather than spreading resources broadly.
“For us, it was important to focus on areas where the University of Windsor truly excels,” says Samit Sharma.
“Every university has its own ecosystem — its geography, industry connections, expertise and history. When those elements align, the impact of education and research is multiplied.”
Through its work across Canada, the Sharma Foundation asks postsecondary institutions to identify programs where they are uniquely positioned to lead. Scholarships are then created in three of those areas, with no overlap between institutions, reinforcing distinct pockets of excellence nationwide.
To date, the foundation has established more than three dozen endowed awards at universities, colleges and polytechnics across the country.
At Windsor, that focus aligns closely with the university’s location and legacy.
Situated in the heart of Canada’s automotive corridor, the University of Windsor has long been recognized for its strength in automotive engineering and mobility research.
Its proximity to the Great Lakes — home to roughly 20 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater — positions it as a leader in freshwater ecology and environmental science.
Meanwhile, its Faculty of Human Kinetics is nationally respected for research in human performance, injury prevention and health.
“These are programs where Windsor has something truly distinctive to offer,” Sharma explains. “If automotive engineering were taught elsewhere, it wouldn’t have the same impact. Here, there’s an entire ecosystem of industry, suppliers, expertise and talent. The same is true for Great Lakes research based on proximity, and demonstrated excellence in human kinetics.”
Beginning in Winter 2028, the three endowed scholarships — each named in honour of Samit and Reshma Sharma — will be awarded annually to full-time thesis-based graduate students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, research excellence and meaningful practical impact in their field. Recipients must maintain a minimum 85 per cent academic average.
Dr. Lori Buchanan, professor in the Faculty of Psychology and a key contributor to the development of the scholarships, says the Sharma Foundation’s approach stood out.
“The Sharma family has a creative approach to philanthropy that looks for pockets of excellence and provides targeted support for students,” says Buchanan.
“Their generosity will make a huge difference to some of our best students in some of our top programs. We are extremely grateful to them and excited to start on this partnership.”
For Sharma, the decision to invest in graduate education is deeply personal. Raised in India in a modest household by a widowed mother, he credits education with shaping his life trajectory.
“Education played a pivotal role in my life,” he says.
“It’s something no one can take away from you and it forms the foundation of economic growth and opportunity in any society.”
That belief led Sharma and his wife Reshma to establish their foundation upon turning 50, with a singular focus on advancing excellence in education. The long-term vision includes expanding support beyond universities to colleges, polytechnics and eventually the high school level.
Beyond the immediate benefit to recipients, Sharma hopes the scholarships will create a ripple effect.
“I see my role as planting a seed,” he says.
“If the students who benefit from this support go on to succeed and later give back to education themselves, then this initiative grows far beyond what we started.”
The University of Windsor endowment exemplifies that philosophy, ensuring that top graduate students will have the support they need to push boundaries, pursue discovery and help define the next chapter of research leadership at the University of Windsor.