People, Equity & Inclusion

“We’re only just getting started:” HK alum are changing the game in women’s pro sports

Eve Uwayesu headshot and Eva Ou on the ice with a press passUWindsor alumnae Eve Uwayesu and Eva Ou turned their experience in the Faculty of Human Kinetics into roles in pro women's sports (PROVIDED BY E. UWAYESU & PWHL/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

The first time Eve Uwayesu walked into the Toronto Tempo's offices, the WNBA's newest team was still being built — and so was a moment in professional women's sport that nobody could have predicted a decade ago. 

"Everyone watches women's sports." 

What does Disability Pride Month mean at UWindsor? Staff share why it matters all year long

close up of disability pride flag sticker on a laptopDisability Pride Month celebrates disability activism and the culture, identity and contributions of the disability community (CANVA STOCK/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

With its colourful and muted stripes, the Disability Pride flag is itself an example of accessible design. 

First created by Ann Magill in 2016, the original flag featured brighter colours in a lightning bolt pattern but inadvertently had a strobing effect for some with migraines and seizures. In true inclusive fashion, Magill listened to the community and redesigned the flag, leading to its current version of muted colours and diagonal stripes. 

Building belonging through conversation

Marium Tolson-Murtty attends Alumni eventThree-time University of Windsor alumna Marium Tolson-Murtty holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication studies, a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Education and is currently pursuing a PhD in the Faculty of Education. (FILE/University of Windsor)

By John-Paul Bonadonna

For Marium Tolson-Murtty, creating inclusive environments has never been confined to a job description.

Long before becoming director of the Office of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Mediation (OHRCRM), equity shaped her work across campus — whether supporting students, recruiting future Lancers, coordinating professional development programs or helping advance institutional anti-racism initiatives.

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.” 

Kinesiology professor recognized for commitment to leadership in equity

Dr. Sean HortonDr. Sean Horton is the 2026 recipient of the Mary Lou Dietz Equity Leadership Award (MICHAEL WILKINS/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

From academic advocacy to community engagement, Dr. Sean Horton’s work is consistently imbued with a focus on equity and inclusivity. 

These efforts will be recognized by the Windsor University Faculty Association’s (WUFA) Status of Women, Diversity and Equity Action Committee as Horton is awarded the 2026 Mary Lou Dietz Equity Leadership Award at an award celebration on May 27

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. 

24th annual African Diaspora Youth Conference draws hundreds of future Lancers from Windsor, Georgian Bay and the GTA

Group of students outside Dillon Hall with banner for African Diaspora Youth ConferenceHundreds 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.

UWindsor forum tackles anti-racism and power in newcomer settlement work

Anti-racism forum School of Social Work professor Dr. Riham Al-Saadi hosted the forum, Approaches to Integrating Immigrants & Refugees 2.0, bringing together community organizations, service providers and practitioners for a day of learning about inclusive approaches to newcomer integration in Windsor-Essex. (Photo courtesy of Riham Al-Saadi/ University of Windsor)

By Lindsay Charlton

What began as an icebreaker — picking up a marble for each statement that applied and weighing how light or heavy a bag felt — opened a frank discussion about power and privilege.

“The best assumption is usually that if you are coming from a dominant background, your bag is lighter,” School of Social Work professor Dr. Riham Al-Saadi shared. “This led to emotional reflections from those with lighter bags and conversations about what they can do to support.”

Third JCRID issue centres decolonization, global voices

Journal of Critical Race, Indigeneity, and Decolonization cover pageThe Journal of Critical Race, Indigeneity, and Decolonization (JCRID) has published another issue, this one highlighting decolonization and marginalized voices. (JCRID/ The University of Windsor)

By Lindsay Charlton

Which perspectives in academic publishing are amplified — and which are overlooked?

In its latest issue, the Journal of Critical Race, Indigeneity, and Decolonization (JCRID) highlights decolonization and marginalized voices while advancing what the editors call “knowledge globalization.”

“We tried to spread the geographic tentacles of this edition,” said chief editor Dr. Festus Moasun, a professor in the School of Social Work. “We included articles from Africa, South Asia, as well as North America.”

Accessibility, adaptability, connection: Building age-friendly universities and communities

Shanthi Johnson and Veronika Mogyorody speak at podiumsDrs. Shanthi Johnson (left) and Veronika Mogyorody (right) advocate age-friendly cities, communities and universities (FILE/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

With age comes a wealth of lived experience and a lifetime of growth and knowledge.  

Barriers created by a lack of accessibility, adaptability and connections in our homes and communities can, however, sometimes make the aging process unnecessarily challenging.