Faculty

From pediatric patient to professor: Rebecca Balasa on nursing, research and why Windsor felt like home

Rebecca Balasa stands outside in a green spaceThe Faculty of Nursing welcomes Professor Rebecca Balasa to the University of Windsor. Her experience in nursing and public health, along with her research on child health equity, brings valuable insight to our community. (SUBMITTED BY REBECCA BALASA/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

For Dr. Rebecca Balasa, the path to nursing didn't start in a classroom.

Her own experiences as a pediatric patient introduced her to the role nurses play, not only in delivering treatment, but in providing comfort and connection.

“I was really inspired by my own healthcare team,” she said. “It was through my relationships with nurses and seeing everything they do that I decided to go into the profession.”

That sense of purpose continues to guide her as she joins the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing.

UWindsor nursing professor leads cross-border study highlighting lung transplant care

Jane and her team of colleagues and students stand with their poster at the WESPARK conferenceJane Simanovski (left) and her team of colleagues and students stand with their research poster at the WE-SPARK conference in March, highlighting a cross-border study on caregivers supporting lung transplant patients. (SUBMITTED BY EDWARD CRUZ/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

It takes more than medical expertise to support a patient after a lung transplant.

As April marks Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month, a new cross-border study examines an often-overlooked part of the transplant journey — the family members and friends who provide care after surgery.

The unwritten rules about what to wear at work — an Odette researcher is studying who they actually serve

photo of Dr. Yanhong Li seated in her officeOdette School of Business professor Dr. Yanhong Li is leading a SSHRC funded study examining how workplace dress norms and office design shape self expression and feelings of belonging. (VICTOR ROMAO/University of Windsor)

By Victor Romao

What do you wear to work?

Is what you wear truly your choice?

Or is it a reflection of how your workplace signals you are expected to look?

What employees wear is often assumed to be a personal decision, but in reality, those choices are often shaped by workplace norms, informal cues and broader power structures.

Clothing can affect how professionalism is judged, how credibility and organizational fit are assigned and how comfortable someone feels simply existing at work.

Argue, negotiate, represent: how mooting competitions shape Windsor Law students

students and judges pose in the courtroom after a moot competitionMark Jones and his co-counsel stand with moot judges and opposing counsel after completing the preliminary round of the Julius Alexander Isaac Moot. (SUBMITTED BY MARK JONES/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

For students at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, mooting and negotiation competitions are more than academic exercises — they are integral to how students grow into confident, capable legal professionals.

Mooting, a simulated court hearing usually focused on appeals, challenges students to think critically, advocate persuasively and navigate complex legal and ethical issues under pressure.

Jane’s Walk Festival invites community exploration

group of people on a tour outdoors in front of a flowering treeSarah Morris (back row, third from left) leads a Jane’s Walk in Windsor (PROVIDED BY S. MORRIS/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves

Ever wanted to learn about historical burial practices, the Underground Railroad, heritage architecture, labour history, local ecosystems and more, all for free? 

These are only a handful of topics covered by the Windsor-Essex Jane’s Walk Festival, taking place across three weekends: April 23 to 26, April 30 to May 3 and May 9, 2026. 

Shark Tank-style ImpactPreneurs summer camp to give kids a taste of business

Two boys stand with a box of lunches in front of a sign that says Make Poverty HistoryRegistration is now open for the ImpactPreneurs Shark Tank Summer Camp (J. BUSHI/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

For kids with entrepreneurial aspirations outside of the lemonade stands of yore, a new summer camp at the University of Windsor offers a unique opportunity for learning and fun. 

Modelled on the popular Shark Tank television show, in which entrepreneurs pitch business ideas to a panel of investors, the ImpactPreneurs Shark Tank Summer Camp invites kids six to 13 years old to learn about business and teamwork while having fun.  

A lifelong legacy of giving back: Retired women teachers’ organization celebrates 70 years

A group of women with a banner for the Retired Women Teachers' OrganizationRetired Women Teachers of Ontario celebrated its 70th jubilee at Devonshire Mall (MIKE FLANAGAN/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Teaching has been part of Gina Marcon’s (BA ’87, BEd ’88) life since she was six years old. 

“I knew then that I was going to be a teacher,” she says. “Every time my cousins would come over, we’d play school, and I was always the teacher.” 

Vivian Ntiri’s life and legacy inspires new Windsor Law Scholarship

Vivian Ntiri is pictured in a blue dressVivian Ntiri, Windsor Law (Dual JD ’17), is remembered for her determination and deep commitment to community. A memorial scholarship in her name will support future students who reflect her values and carry her legacy forward. (SUBMITTED BY EDDY TSHIASUMA-NKONGOLO/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

Vivian Ntiri was never defined by a single path.

She was a lawyer, a mentor, a devoted friend, family member, community builder and a woman whose curiosity and compassion shaped every interaction.

Now, through the Vivian Ntiri Memorial Scholarship, her community is ensuring that her legacy continues to open doors for future generations of students at Windsor Law.

UWindsor doctoral student shaping policy in correctional nursing

Corina Makore stands in a graduation cap and gown among other graduatesCorina Farai Makore, now a University of Windsor doctoral student researching correctional healthcare policy, is pictured at her 2015 MPH graduation from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. (SUBMITTED BY CORINA FARAI MAKORE/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

When Corina Farai Makore began her PhD at the University of Windsor, she wasn’t just pursuing a long-held personal goal, she was equipping herself to change a system.

As healthcare manager at the South West Detention Centre in Windsor, Makore leads 50 nurses and oversees a 10-bed infirmary providing 24/7 care for incarcerated patients.

At the same time, she is a scholar using her doctoral research to guide policy reform and strengthen correctional nursing in Ontario.

AI infotainment systems: Just another distraction for drivers?

Francesco Biondi in front of a driving simulatorFaculty of Human Kinetics professor Dr. Francesco Biondi studies distracted driving (DAVE GAUTHIER/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Twenty years ago, the cockpit of the average car was a lot less complicated.  

Knobs and buttons turned on the heat and air conditioning, adjusted vents or changed the radio station. 

Today, touch screens are the norm, and manufacturers compete to add the latest in technological advancements.