Vivian 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.
Ntiri, a Windsor Law alumna (Dual JD ’17), is remembered as a truly remarkable person who brought warmth and light everywhere she went and who approached life with a sense of possibility and determination.
“She didn’t like being put in a box. Everything was fair game,” her sister, Lawren Ntiri, said. “That’s how she always lived her life. The sky was the limit.”
That belief was instilled in Ntiri from an early age.
Raised by Ghanaian parents who repeatedly emphasized the power of education, she understood that learning could open doors and shape how the world sees you. From childhood trips to Ghana with her father to earning her law degree and later her MBA, Ntiri carried that lesson with her, embracing every opportunity to learn.
Even in the face of profound loss, she remained steadfast in the pursuit of her goals.
Just days after her father’s passing, she wrote the bar exam, driven by the values and work ethic he had instilled in her. It was a powerful reflection of the determination and resilience that defined her.
“She always believed education was the gateway to everything,” her sister said. “To untap resources and find avenues in life that would allow her to fully recognize who she was.”
That mindset was evident during her time at Windsor Law, where Ntiri not only excelled academically but also discovered the communities and purpose that would shape her life and career.
It was there that she found her voice, built lasting relationships and deepened her commitment to lifting others as she climbed.
Close friend and classmate, Jacqui Palef recalls the immediate impact Vivian had.
“I met Vivian early in our first year,” Palef said. “She was up for any challenge. She found her own way, whether that was through the Black Law Students’ Association, her church community or the relationships she built on both sides of the border in the Dual JD program.”
Ntiri immersed herself in student life.
She served in a leadership role with the Black Law Students’ Association Windsor chapter, contributed as an editor of the Windsor Law Review of Legal and Social Issues (WRLSI), excelled in moot competitions, including an international intellectual property moot in Oxford.
But what really stood out was her willingness to connect with others.
“She would make time for anyone whether it was academics, career advice, or deeper conversations about life and faith. That was really special about her,” Palef said.
Her husband, Eddy Tshiasuma-Nkongolo, remembers that same quality in her everyday interactions.
“She had the ability to make anyone feel heard and valued,” he said. “Her phone was like a call centre, always ringing. She always took the time to truly connect and have meaningful conversations.”
Ntiri’s professional journey reflected her wide-ranging interests and determination to make an impact. After beginning her career at a full-service law firm in Toronto, she transitioned to in-house roles focusing on privacy and emerging technologies. Eventually, she pursued work connected to mining, a field that aligned with her long-held goal of contributing to sustainable development, particularly in Ghana, where her family roots run deep.
“She wanted to take everything she learned and use it to make a difference back home,” her sister recalled. “Ghana was always close to her heart.”
Even as her career evolved, Ntiri remained deeply connected to Windsor Law. She regularly returned to speak with students, once even traveling through a snowstorm on her birthday to participate in a speaking panel.
“That’s how she chose to spend her birthday, giving back to Windsor Law. That tells you everything about who she was,” Palef said with a smile.
Ntiri passed away suddenly in June 2025. In the days that followed, her closest friends and family began searching for a way to honour her life in a lasting and meaningful way.
“What do you do when you lose one of your best friends?” Palef said. “We knew we had to create something that would keep her memory alive.”
The result was the Vivian Ntiri Memorial Scholarship, an endowment designed to support Windsor Law students who embody the values that defined Ntiri’s life: self-belief, a strong sense of purpose and an unwavering commitment to community and her African roots.
“Vivian believed she could do anything,” Tshiasuma-Nkongolo said. “She had strong values, and she stood by them. She never lost sight of who she was and where she came from. Helping others grow and succeed was important to her. That’s what we hope this scholarship continues to do.”
Since its launch, the initiative has seen an outpouring of support, raising more than $10,000 in its first month.
For Ntiri’s family, the scholarship has been both a tribute and a source of strength.
“It’s been a lifeline,” her sister said. “Without this community, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this.”
In addition to the scholarship, friends and family are organizing a fundraising run and walk event on June 27 at Downsview Park in Toronto, a place Ntiri loved.
Running became one of her passions later in life. What started with a beginner program soon grew into half-marathons she travelled to participate in. The event honours her love of running but is open to participants of all fitness levels, with all proceeds supporting the scholarship fund.
Those who knew Ntiri say the scholarship and event are fitting tributes to a life defined by generosity, curiosity and connection.
“She was always giving back, not because she expected anything in return, but because it was the right thing to do,” her sister said.
Today, through the scholarship in her name, that legacy comes full circle.
Each student supported by the fund will carry forward a piece of what Ntiri stood for, and her presence will continue to be felt at Windsor Law — in its classrooms, its community and in the lives of those who, like her, are determined to make a difference.