Ali Mozafari during medical first responder training at a Canadian Armed Forces base in Windsor through St. John Ambulance, one of many experiences he pursued beyond the classroom to deepen his understanding of patient care and strengthen his path toward a career in healthcare. (SUBMITTED BY ALI MOZAFARI/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
Ali Mozafari’s path through the University of Windsor has been anything but linear.
A fourth-year nursing student with research experience spanning health sciences and engineering, his story is defined by resilience, curiosity and determination.
“Honestly, it’s been a chaotic journey,” he said. “But I’m proud of how I turned it around and everything I’ve been able to do since.”
— Published on May 13th, 2026
Hundreds of future Lancers gathered at the University of Windsor for the African Diaspora Youth Conference May 7 and 8 (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
Hundreds of future Lancers gathered at the University of Windsor May 7 and 8 for the 24th annual African Diaspora Youth Conference.
Secondary students of African descent from Windsor, Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area, Guelph and Georgian Bay got to experience the UWindsor campus first-hand, participating in a variety of activities, workshops and keynotes across two days.
— Published on May 22nd, 2026
Professor Sherry Morrell, one of the faculty leaders behind the creation and development of UWindsor’s RN Prescribing program, leads nursing students through an experiential learning exercise. Canada’s first cohort of registered nurses with prescribing authority will graduate this spring. (MICHAEL WILKINS/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
As Canada continues to confront longer wait times and growing pressure across a strained health-care system, the University of Windsor is preparing to mark a national milestone that reflects both urgency and innovation in care delivery.
— Published on May 12th, 2026
Dean Debbie Sheppard-LeMoine co-edited Giddens’s Concepts for Canadian Nursing Practice, a new national textbook featuring contributions from experts across the country, including several UWindsor nursing faculty. (RONAK DOOWD/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
At the University of Windsor Faculty of Nursing, classroom concepts have moved into print.
A new national publication featuring several faculty contributors is doing more than filling a gap in academic literature — it’s helping define how future nurses across Canada will learn, think and practise.
— Published on May 11th, 2026
Associate teacher Sherri-Lynn Soumis cites her mentors as inspiration in becoming an associate teacher herself (PROVIDED BY SHERRI-LYNN SOUMIS/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
Sherri-Lynn Soumis’s mentor used to tell her to “pay it forward” whenever she could.
As a high school English teacher, Soumis is doing just that as an associate teacher, mentoring University of Windsor teacher candidates through their practice teaching placements.
Soumis explains that she takes inspiration from her own associate teachers who left a lasting impression on her.
— Published on May 7th, 2026
Sydney Thompson (left), program co-ordinator with the Office of Innovation, Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, stands with Kalkidan Wubshet, the first student to take part in the University of Windsor’s Entrepreneurship Co-op program. (MAHNOZ AKTARI/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Instead of stepping into a traditional co-op role, University of Windsor computer science student Kalkidan Wubshet spent the work term building a startup — an experience that began with a simple realization.
“When it comes to communicating on campus, most students rely on word of mouth, Instagram, Discord, bulletin boards, etc.,” said Wubshet. “Everything is scattered.”
— Published on May 13th, 2026
UWindsor alum, Indigenous graduation coach and Lancer football offensive line coach Randy Beardy (KYLE ARCHIBALD/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
Randy Beardy never imagined himself becoming a teacher.
“I’m kind of a rebel at heart,” he laughs. “If you tell me to do something, I have a hard time doing it.”
Rather than following in his mother's footsteps — also a University of Windsor BEd alum, Beardy (BA Psychology ’17, BEd ’24) says he wanted to become a football coach.
— Published on May 7th, 2026
Teacher candidate Brett Bjorgan was inspired to follow his father's footsteps into teaching and coaching (KYLE SULLIVAN/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
While having your dad teach at your high school may sound like a nightmare to some, for Brett Bjorgan, it was an inspiration.
“My dad is a secondary physical education teacher, and my high school experience was great having him there as a mentor and making sure I was doing the right thing and staying in line,” he says.
— Published on May 7th, 2026
UWindsor alumnae Veronica Van Winckle aka Big V, Adele Dollar aka Delirious and Sandra Caradonna aka Diana Boss block an opposing skater in a 2025 roller derby game in Guelph, On. (SKYLAR SAWYER/University of Windsor)
By Kate Hargreaves
For the first time since 2019, residents of Windsor-Essex will have a chance to see Windsor Roller Derby (WRD) play locally.
Founded in 2010 as Border City Brawlers, the league has been playing exclusively on the road for the last few years.
June 6 marks their return to home track with UWindsor staff, students and alumni among those gearing up for a game at Tecumseh Arena.
— Published on Sep 16th, 2026
Left to right: City of Windsor chief administrative officer Ray Mensour, president of the Odette Commerce Society Makennah Murphy, director of the Farrow Family Foundation Jeff Farrow, City of Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens, board chair of the Farrow Family Foundation Pat Soulliere and City of Windsor Commissioner Dana Paladino. (RONAK DOOWD/University of Windsor)
— Published on May 5th, 2026
Ali Mozafari during medical first responder training at a Canadian Armed Forces base in Windsor through St. John Ambulance, one of many experiences he pursued beyond the classroom to deepen his understanding of patient care and strengthen his path toward a career in healthcare. (SUBMITTED BY ALI MOZAFARI/University of Windsor)
