Nadine Manroe-Wakerell, her daughter Gabrielle and her mother Miriam, pose following Gabrielle's University of Windsor graduation in 2025. Twenty-one years after graduating from the university herself, Manroe-Wakerell greeted her daughter on the convocation stage as a member of the Board of Governors. (SUBMITTED BY NADINE MANROE-WAKERELL/University of Windsor)
By Victor Romao
Twenty-one years after crossing the University of Windsor convocation stage as a student and young mother, Nadine Manroe-Wakerell (BA, Hons ’05) returned to the same stage for a moment she never could have imagined: presenting her daughter with her parchment.
As Gabrielle (BSc ’26) walked across the stage this spring, Manroe-Wakerell was there to greet her, not as a fellow graduate, but as a member of the university's Board of Governors. It was a poignant full-circle moment that connected two generations through the same institution, the same stage and a shared belief in the power of education.
For Manroe-Wakerell, the moment represented far more than a graduation ceremony. It was the culmination of two decades of perseverance, service and family support and a reminder of how far both she and her daughter had come.
"When I graduated from the University of Windsor, I had small children," she recalled. "My daughter Gabrielle was a little over one year old."
While completing her Bachelor of Arts degree, Manroe-Wakerell balanced the demands of student life with the responsibilities of motherhood. Gabrielle accompanied her to the library and computer labs, becoming familiar with the campus long before she would one day attend the university herself.
The future she imagined as a student was rooted in service. Motivated by her own experiences, Manroe-Wakerell hoped to create opportunities for young mothers and families facing barriers to success.
With encouragement from mentors and support from the university community, she developed a passion for helping others that would shape the next two decades of her career.
That passion ultimately shaped a distinguished career in health care and community leadership.
Today, Manroe-Wakerell serves as director of clinical practice at the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre, where she leads interdisciplinary teams supporting mental health, addictions, youth wellness and primary care services.
Her career has also included leadership roles in long-term care, dementia services, acute care and regional health-system planning. Throughout those roles, she has remained committed to health equity and community-centred care.
Her commitment is deeply personal.
As a young single mother who arrived in Windsor with few resources and limited support, she says the community helped her succeed. Professors accommodated her parenting responsibilities, while local organizations stepped in when she needed assistance.
"I received help when I needed it most," she said. "When we empower people to live up to their optimal potential, they, their families and our community are better for it. The support I received changed the course of our lives, and it showed me how powerful it can be when community members come together to help someone in need. Even small acts of support can create opportunities, build confidence and have a lasting positive impact that extends far beyond one person."
The same resilience carried Gabrielle through her own educational journey.
Like many students, she faced disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her high school graduation was held virtually, she missed traditional milestone celebrations and much of her early university experience took place online. Despite those challenges, she remained focused on earning her degree.
Seeing her daughter receive that degree made the moment even more meaningful for Manroe-Wakerell. In a touching tribute to their family legacy at the University of Windsor, Gabrielle wore the same dress her mother had worn to her graduation 21 years earlier.
"Watching her walk across that stage felt like I had gone back in time and was looking at the future all at the same time," said Manroe-Wakerell. "It was a moment I will never forget."
For Gabrielle, sharing the stage with her mother made the milestone even more meaningful.
"It was such a special moment," she said. "More than anything, I was excited for my mom. Seeing the joy on her face made me realize that this milestone meant just as much to her as it did to me. In that moment, it felt like I was able to say, 'We did it, and thank you.'"
As Gabrielle stepped forward into the next chapter of her life, her mother reflected on the remarkable symmetry of the occasion.
Looking back, Manroe-Wakerell hopes her story serves as a reminder that investing in and supporting others can have ripple effects across generations. The encouragement and assistance she received as a young mother helped her build a career dedicated to serving others, underscoring the value of communities lifting people up when they need it most.
Twenty-one years earlier, Manroe-Wakerell crossed the convocation stage looking ahead to her future while glancing back at the children cheering her on.
This spring, she stood proudly on that same stage, welcoming her daughter as a graduate and celebrating Gabrielle's achievement in a full-circle journey shaped by education, perseverance and community support.
"What proved to be a challenging yet rewarding journey," she said, "came full circle."
This profile is part of a special series celebrating Alumni Week. Discover events and more at uwindsor.ca/alumni.
