Education

Teach Tanzania trip offers lessons in humility, collaboration and mutual learning

smiling students and a UWindsor teacher candidate sitting in the grass in TanzaniaEducation, nursing and social work students spent three weeks on the annual Teach Tanzania service-learning trip (CLINTON BECKFORD/University of WIndsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

When recent nursing graduate Eunice Kungu travelled to Tanzania as part of the University of Windsor’s 2026 Teach Tanzania trip, it was for the second time. 

Kungu, who is originally from Kenya, first participated in the 2025 trip when she was a third-year nursing student. When the opportunity arose to return in 2026, she knew she wanted to go back. 

“What motivated me to return was the connection we built with the community and seeing the positive impact that comes from being part of this initiative,” Kungu says. 

Learning and resistance in the age of AI: Keynote to explore educational ethics

Lauren BialystokDr. Lauren Bialystok will be the keynote speaker for the 2026 summer session of the Joint PhD in Education, hosted at UWindsor this July (PROVIDED BY L. BIALYSTOK/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Dr. Lauren Bialystok never wanted to research artificial intelligence (AI). 

"I feel like AI chose me more than I chose it,” she says. 

However, with the ubiquity of AI, including in her field of education, Bialystok found herself drawn to the topic. 

“I’ve seen changes over the last few years that portend such enormous shifts in what education is for and how we go about our business,” she says. 

Three-time UWindsor alum named director and CEO of Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board

John Ulicny at his deskJohn Ulicny will be the next director of the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (PROVIDED BY WECDSB/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

In his three decades in education, John Ulicny has seen it all. 

“Or...” he laughs. “You think you’ve seen it all in 34 years.” 

Starting his teaching career at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) in 1992, the three-time University of Windsor alumnus is set to take over as the board’s director and chief executive officer this August. 

This recent Odette grad earned a $10K national leadership scholarship and went straight into a Windsor health-care career

Photo of Makennah Murphy with her award as she stands between Fatima Laher and Greg HicksRecent alumna Makennah Murphy (centre) was recognized for her academic achievements and leadership as a Futures Fund Scholarship recipient at a national awards gala in Toronto. She is pictured with Fatima Laher (left), Deputy Chair of Deloitte and presenting partner, and Greg Hicks (right), President and CEO of Canadian Tire Corporation. (JOSEPH KRUPA/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

Fresh off national recognition for her leadership achievements, Makennah Murphy (BComm ’26) is already putting her skills to work in Windsor, launching her career in community health and fundraising.

The Odette School of Business graduate now serves as annual giving coordinator at the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation, where she helps drive fundraising initiatives that support local patient care.

Student, leader, teacher, researcher: Education grad named most valuable student

Student teacher in front of elementary school childrenSarah Julius is the winner of the Faculty of Education's Most Valuable Student award for 2026 (FILE/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves

Sarah Julius is used to balancing a lot.  

A recent graduate of the University of Windsor’s concurrent education program in psychology and early childhood education, Julius (BEd, BA, ECE ’26) crossed the stage in June to receive two degrees and a college diploma. 

Pre-service teachers build confidence through cross-cultural learning

A teacher presenting in front of a class of children in ChinaChantal Gauthier teaches a second-grade class in China as part of the Reciprocal Learning Program (YUHAN DENG/University of Windsor)

Guest submission by Yuhan Deng, PhD candidate, Faculty of Education 

Four teacher candidates and two doctoral students from the University of Windsor are participating in a 12-week Mitacs international reciprocal learning internship in China.

This experience is strengthening their confidence in teaching through enhanced global competence.

Continuing teacher education course grounds inclusive futures in queer history

Walter Cassidy in the Leddy archivesWalter Cassidy is a local high school teacher and instructor of the Teaching LGTBQ Students additional qualification course for teachers (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

History tells us that the bigots never win. 

That’s what gives Windsor high school teacher and Faculty of Education alumnus Walter Cassidy (BEd ’00) hope in the face of what seems like an uptick in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ sentiment. 

“As long as we know our history and we know that we’ve been through this before, we’ll get through it,” Cassidy says. “We always do.” 

From the pitch to the suit: Graduating Lancer athlete reflects on life as Winston

UWindsor Lancer mascot Winston in front of a crowd at a football gameGraduating Lancer midfielder Robbie Oates has hung up the Winston suit after several years as the mascot (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Lancer midfielder Robbie Oates (BSc Kin ’24, BEd ’26) has maintained a packed sports schedule over his last few years at UWindsor. 

Some nights, he’s on the basketball court, others surrounded by cheering volleyball fans and others still on the sidelines at football games. He’s even been known to make the occasional appearance at a pre-game tailgate. 

Lucky ducks and school spirit abound at LEAD Challenge Cup

A group of teacher candidates and someone in a duck costume does a cheer performance in front of stands full of students at Alumni stadiumHundreds of local elementary and high school students attended LEAD Challenge Cup events (J. MANDAP & A. PALAZZOLO/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

The University of Windsor’s Alumni Stadium was bursting with spirit, cheers and...ducks as the Faculty of Education’s LEAD service-learning classes hosted hundreds of local children for the annual LEAD Legacy Project Challenge Cup. 

LEAD — which stands for Leadership Experience for Academic Direction — is a service-learning course first introduced by Dr. Geri Salinitri in which second-year teacher candidates volunteer in schools to work with educators to support student success programming.

Repairing injustice through gender transformative education

Headshot of Dr. Desai over image of room 2223 education buildingDr. Desai will present a free public lecture on gender transformative education (RUTGERS UNIVERSITY/FILE/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

What is the role of education in repairing injustice, and how does a gender transformative approach align with these aims? 

Guest speaker Dr. Karishma Desai will deliver a lecture titled “Gender Transformative Education: Potentials and Possibilities of a Feminist Reparative Education” as part of the UWindsor Faculty of Education’s invited speaker series on June 4 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.