With her calm, student-centered approach, nursing instructor Sharon Thorpe fosters confidence, critical thinking, and lasting growth.
In celebration of National Nursing Week, the Faculty of Nursing thanks all nursing professionals for their steadfast dedication to caring for our communities and proudly highlights Sharon Thorpe — a UWindsor alumna and sessional instructor — for her professionalism, mentorship, and collaborative spirit.
Prof. Thorpe (BA 1981, BScN 1989, MScN 1999) leads nearly every nursing class with a quote recited from an article held in her hand. It gets a rise from her students — some only slightly older than her grandkids — and usually in the form of a chuckle at the sight of an actual newspaper. The tactic works.
Thorpe jokes that she is a “dinosaur,” yet she is far from archaic or obsolete. Her decades of experience, academic expertise, and insight have helped shape some of the Faculty of Nursing’s finest and most resilient graduates. Thorpe’s breadth of real-world clinical practice combined with meaningful teaching is invaluable. She is also keenly aware of the current state of the profession and the modern-day challenges in education, including the impact of artificial intelligence.
Thorpe’s nursing journey reflects a deep commitment to community care, education, and mentorship.
Raised near Kingsville, Ontario, she pursued her nursing diploma at Victoria Hospital in London, later earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Nursing Science from the University of Windsor.
Thorpe’s early career included five years with the Victorian Order of Nurses in Windsor, where she contributed to pioneering home care initiatives. She then dedicated two decades to teaching medical-surgical nursing at St. Clair College, playing a pivotal role in developing what is now the collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Windsor.
Her passion for oncology and palliative care led her to work at the Windsor Cancer Centre. Currently, she serves as a sessional instructor and faculty advisor in community health at the University of Windsor. She supports students in their placements and emphasizes the importance of mentorship and teamwork in nursing education. She also evaluates their progress, marks assignments, and assigns final grades.
Through her position, she stays connected with various community agencies, including WE-Spark Health Institute and the Cardiac Wellness Program, which provide significant learning opportunities for her students.
Professor Sharon Thorpe’s nursing journey reflects a deep commitment to community care, education, and mentorship.
Thorpe emphasizes the importance of mentoring young nurses while also promoting career growth.
“There’s something quietly powerful about the way she makes everyone feel like they belong,” says nursing student Jennifer Obiora. “It’s not just about teaching; it’s about the learning environment she fosters.”
Thorpe emphasizes the importance of mentoring young nurses in hopes of curbing workforce attrition, while also promoting career growth.
“I hope they find a mentor to help them navigate through rough times,” says Thorpe. “It would help keep them in the profession and most importantly, it would help them find a niche whether it’s areas such as acute care, oncology, or palliative care. That sense of job satisfaction and pride is extraordinary.”
Thorpe also inspires students to engage with current affairs, even encouraging them to explore political topics, understanding that improvements to the profession and workplace result from lobbying for policy change.
Every instructor has a teaching style, reflective of their beliefs in what is most effective. The everlasting impression it leaves on the student is a bonus. For Thorpe’s students, they feel that their academic journey has been enriched by her presence - shaped not only by her knowledge and experience, but by the values she embodies. Her influence, they say, will continue to resonate throughout their careers.
Thorpe currently sees no reason to stop raising the newspapers in class or the weekly visits to her students on placement.
When asked about Thorpe’s unique start to every session, nursing student Kasoki Tasongo replied, “Can you imagine her raising an iPad and quoting Twitter?”
– Gam Macasaet