Equity and Inclusion

From Uganda to the delivery room: Nursing grad's perseverance leads to a career built on compassion

Aine Mugish at his nursing graduationUWindsor nursing graduate Aaron Aine now works as a registered nurse in labour and delivery after overcoming the challenges of immigrating to Canada, starting university during the pandemic and earning his Canadian citizenship while completing his degree. (SUBMITTED BY AARON AINE/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

Just a few years ago, Aaron Aine imagined a very different future.

Growing up in Uganda, he studied history, economics and literature with plans to become a lawyer. Nursing was never part of the plan.

Everything changed after immigrating to Canada in 2019. Aine completed his final year of high school in Scarborough before enrolling in the University of Windsor's nursing program at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was adapting to a new country, a new education system and a new way of learning all at once.

Tags: 

Innovation Fellow challenging rape culture one locker room at a time

Maddie Brockbank in front of green plant wallDr. Maddie Brockbank is one of the first cohort of Innovation Fellows in a new program at the University of Windsor (KYLE ARCHIBALD/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

When social work professor Maddie Brockbank first saw the call for applications to UWindsor’s Innovation Fellowship, she wasn’t sure her work would be a good fit. 

“I remember thinking, this is not for me,” she recalls. 

“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. 

Teach Tanzania trip offers lessons in humility, collaboration and mutual learning

smiling students and a UWindsor teacher candidate sitting in the grass in TanzaniaEducation, nursing and social work students spent three weeks on the annual Teach Tanzania service-learning trip (CLINTON BECKFORD/University of WIndsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

When recent nursing graduate Eunice Kungu travelled to Tanzania as part of the University of Windsor’s 2026 Teach Tanzania trip, it was for the second time. 

Kungu, who is originally from Kenya, first participated in the 2025 trip when she was a third-year nursing student. When the opportunity arose to return in 2026, she knew she wanted to go back. 

“What motivated me to return was the connection we built with the community and seeing the positive impact that comes from being part of this initiative,” Kungu says. 

How the UWindsor Faculty of Nursing is transforming its approach to Indigenous health education

Sara Williams stands with students in an an Indigenous simulation clinicProfessor Sara Williams and nursing students participate in an Indigenous-focused clinical simulation. Indigenous health content is integrated throughout the Faculty of Nursing curriculum as part of its ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. (SUBMITTED BY SARA WILLIAMS/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

As Canada marks National Indigenous History Month and prepares to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, the University of Windsor is reflecting on the ongoing work of reconciliation taking place on campus.

Within the Faculty of Nursing, that commitment is being translated into meaningful action through curriculum transformation, community engagement and efforts to create a more equitable health-care system for Indigenous Peoples.

Student, leader, teacher, researcher: Education grad named most valuable student

Student teacher in front of elementary school childrenSarah Julius is the winner of the Faculty of Education's Most Valuable Student award for 2026 (FILE/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves

Sarah Julius is used to balancing a lot.  

A recent graduate of the University of Windsor’s concurrent education program in psychology and early childhood education, Julius (BEd, BA, ECE ’26) crossed the stage in June to receive two degrees and a college diploma. 

Making friends, having fun and getting moving: Inclusive exercise program expands to more local high schools

A teacher helps a student play baseball with other students in backgroundSTEPS teacher Joey Filipic coaches a student through some batting practice during the APEX wrap-up event at Westview Freedom Academy (KYLE ARCHIBALD/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

With baseballs and frisbees flying, music pumping and students dancing, the Adapted Physical Exercise (APEX) program wrapped up for the summer at Windsor’s Westview Freedom Academy.   

APEX — started 15 years ago in the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Human Kinetics — provides exercise programming for community members with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).  

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