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By Kate Hargreaves 

Being a teacher is about more than getting kids up to speed on their reading, writing and math. 

Teachers also support students as they solve problems, build relationships, set goals and manage emotions. 

These skills are part of social-emotional learning (SEL), which takes place every day in elementary and secondary schools. But PhD researcher Elizabeth Szymanski (BA, ECE, BEd, MEd) says that teacher candidates don’t necessarily feel prepared to take it on. 

By Kate Hargreaves 

On an extremely hot day in early July, 42 doctoral students arrived on the University of Windsor campus for the Joint PhD in Educational Studies 2026 summer institute.  

Over the whirr of handheld fans, first-year students introduced themselves to one another while second years exchanged hugs and life updates after a year apart. 

By Kate Hargreaves

While July may be summer vacation for schools across Canada, it marks the beginning of the teaching careers of students in UWindsor’s Bachelor of Education in Technological Studies program. 

Hailing from all over the province, the BEd in Tech students spend the month of July on campus in the Faculty of Education before returning to their home school boards to complete their practicum and additional courses online.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.”