People, Equity & Inclusion

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. 

Understanding birds through an Indigenous lens

Alysha RiquierFormer integrative biology graduate student Alysha Riquier stands beside the University of Windsor’s first student-designed bird-friendly window mural, which helps prevent bird–window collisions. Bird enthusiasts will have a chance to learn more about birds and their roles in the natural world at an upcoming campus event. (CHERRY THERESANATHAN/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott

Bird enthusiasts will have a chance to learn how Anishinaabemowin, the Ojibwe language, describes birds and their roles in the natural world at an upcoming campus event. 

The session, Birds of Anishinaabe Aki: Ecology & Language, will explore Indigenous knowledge systems and the ecological connections between language, land and biodiversity.  

Stand-up success: Alumna takes comedy from stage to screen

Courtney Gilmour performs stand up comedy Alumna Courtney Gilmour is a two-time Juno-nominated stand-up comedian and television and voice actor (PROVIDED BY C. GILMOUR/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Courtney Gilmour (BA ’12) is a two-time Juno-nominated stand-up comedian, a voice on PAW Patrol and a recent addition to the cast of Trailer Park Boys.  

She built that career the hard way — starting with zero comedy experience on a Windsor stage she had no business being on. 

Windsor Law to host national moot highlighting Indigenous laws and perspectives

A group of law faculty and staff stand beneath the Sky Woman art installationFaculty and staff from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law gather beneath the Sky Woman installation in the Ianni Law Building where they will host the Kawaskimhon Moot on March 13 and 14. (PETER MARVAL/University of Windsor)

By Sara Meikle

The sound of prayer will rise before the first argument is made.

When the Kawaskimhon Aboriginal Moot takes place at Windsor Law from March 13 to 14, the proceedings will begin with ceremony — a welcoming to the territory, a call to the ancestors and a powerful affirmation that Indigenous Peoples are still here and Indigenous laws continue to live.

Renewal of University Librarian and Dean of the University Library

Portrait of Selinda BergDr. Selinda Berg has been renewed for a second term as University Librarian and Dean of the University Library. (PHOTO BY MICHAEL WILKINS/UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR)

The University of Windsor is pleased to announce the renewal of Dr. Selinda Berg for a second term as University Librarian and Dean of the University Library, effective July 1.

During her first term, Berg has led Leddy Library through significant transformation, strengthening its role as an essential academic, research and student-centered hub.

Beauty is Me: Social work alumna shares message of belonging

Joan Simpson speaking at a podiumUWindsor alumna Joan Simpson is the founder of the Beauty is Me non-profit (KYLE ARCHIBALD/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Belonging has always been at the heart of everything University of Windsor alumna Joan Simpson (BSW ‘06, MSW ‘14) does. 

From supporting newcomers and those facing socioeconomic barriers to co-founding the Beauty is Me non-profit, Simpson’s work is all about empowerment and reminding people that they belong. 

It’s a drive that has been with Simpson since her youth.