Undergraduate Students

A legacy of care: New nursing scholarship honours Jo Anne Cedar’s lifelong commitment to care

Graduation photo of Jo Anne CedarJo Anne Cedar graduated the University of Windsor’s BScN nursing program in 1980, a moment that reflects the early beginnings of her lifelong commitment to care and community. (SUBMITTED BY THE CEDAR FAMILY/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

For Jo Anne Cedar, nursing was never just a career — it was her identity.

A new scholarship established by the Cedar family at the University of Windsor Faculty of Nursing will ensure that the legacy of Cedar (BScN ’80, BA ’81) and her lifelong commitment to caring for others will continue to shape future generations of nurses.

This recent Odette grad earned a $10K national leadership scholarship and went straight into a Windsor health-care career

Photo of Makennah Murphy with her award as she stands between Fatima Laher and Greg HicksRecent alumna Makennah Murphy (centre) was recognized for her academic achievements and leadership as a Futures Fund Scholarship recipient at a national awards gala in Toronto. She is pictured with Fatima Laher (left), Deputy Chair of Deloitte and presenting partner, and Greg Hicks (right), President and CEO of Canadian Tire Corporation. (JOSEPH KRUPA/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

Fresh off national recognition for her leadership achievements, Makennah Murphy (BComm ’26) is already putting her skills to work in Windsor, launching her career in community health and fundraising.

The Odette School of Business graduate now serves as annual giving coordinator at the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation, where she helps drive fundraising initiatives that support local patient care.

Leap of faith launches Chinasa Success’ global career in human resources

Head and shoulders portrait of Chinasa SuccessChinasa Success, a University of Windsor Odette School of Business alumna, is now a vice-president and human resources business partner at Citibank Canada, where she supports a global workforce and champions inclusive leadership. (SUBMITTED BY CHINASA SUCCESS/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

Chinasa Success still remembers the uncertainty that came with her decision to move to Canada, a bold step that would reshape her career and personal life.

Since then, the University of Windsor graduate has transformed that leap of faith into a career in human resources leadership at Citibank Canada.

Now a vice-president and human resources business partner, the Odette School of Business alumna says that the decision continues to shape how she leads and supports others navigating change.

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.

From fish byproducts to invasive plants: UWindsor’s Enactus team earns national recognition for two sustainability projects

photo of entire Enactus Windsor team members holding their awardsMembers of Enactus Windsor celebrate their national achievements at the Enactus Canada National Exposition in Montreal, where the team earned multiple honours and a place among the country’s top programs. (ANITA JAFARI/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

The moment the Enactus Windsor team heard their name echo across the competition hall at regionals, something shifted.

Months of work, late nights, early mornings and relentless iteration had finally produced results.

What began as a set of student-driven ideas was gaining national traction, and the team knew the journey was far from over.

Leading the way: Nursing students earn LEAD Medallions before convocation

Kelsey Schumacher stands in front of a UWindsor backdrop in her grad gown holding her LEAD medalKelsey Schumacher, recipient of a Gold LEAD Medallion, celebrates her achievement ahead of convocation. The recognition honours students who demonstrate leadership, engagement, application, and discovery beyond the classroom. (KYLE ARCHIBALD/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

Graduation is a milestone full of reflection and possibility, marking growth, accomplishment and everything still ahead. 

From mentoring classmates and leading community initiatives to pursuing critical care certifications and life-changing leadership opportunities, this year’s nursing LEAD Medallion Scholars are celebrated for the many ways they enriched the nursing community during their time at the University of Windsor. 

Billboards, backflips and big goals: UWindsor nursing grad Ethan Vinagre is ready for what’s next

Ethan jumps for joy in his graduation gownEthan Vinagre celebrates his upcoming graduation from the Faculty of Nursing. The Class of 2026 graduate will begin working in the surgical ICU at Henry Ford Health this fall. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

As he prepares to cross the stage at the University of Windsor’s Spring Convocation, the next chapter of Ethan Vinagre’s life is already taking shape.

A career in critical care nursing, a new home of his own and even his face on a UWindsor billboard celebrating the Class of 2026 are all part of what comes next for the BScN graduate, who will begin working in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) at Henry Ford Health this fall.

Shedding light on new possibilities in Parkinson’s research

photo portrait of Brooke ShepleyBrooke Shepley, a PhD candidate in kinesiology at the University of Windsor, is studying the effects of near-infrared light therapy on Parkinson’s disease. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

By studying how near‑infrared light affects the brain, a University of Windsor PhD candidate is exploring a potential new approach to managing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. 

Brooke Shepley (MHK ’21, BHK ’19), a kinesiology researcher specializing in cerebrovascular physiology and vascular biology, is studying an approach known as photobiomodulation (PBM).

UWindsor professors recognized on international Francophonie stage as Knights of La Pléiade

photo of Dr. Emmanuelle Richez and Dr. Vincent Georgie standing in front of Memorial HallHonouring excellence in the Francophonie, Dr. Vincent Georgie and Dr. Emmanuelle Richez celebrate their induction as Knights of the Order of La Pléiade, recognizing their contributions to French language and culture. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)

 

By Victor Romao

Two University of Windsor professors are being recognized on the provincial and international stage.

Dr. Vincent Georgie and Dr. Emmanuelle Richez have been named Knights of the Order of La Pléiade by the Ontario section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie — two of just six recipients selected across the province for 2026. 

‘Making invisible experiences visible’: University of Windsor study uses art to explore life after abuse

photo of a piece of artwork by participant 12A participant-created artwork from the study visually maps the complex help-seeking journey women often navigate after leaving a violent intimate partner. (SUBMITTED BY RACHEL ELLIOTT/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

For many women leaving a violent intimate partner, the journey to safety continues long after the relationship ends.

Rebuilding health, stability and quality of life often means navigating healthcare, housing, social services and community supports — a complex process researchers at the University of Windsor are exploring through an innovative arts-based study.

As May marks Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month, the project examines the help-seeking journeys of women who have physically separated from violent intimate partners.