Computer science professor Dima Alhadidi has won recognition as one of Canada’s 2021 Top Women in Cybersecurity.

The title was awarded by IT World Canada, Women in Security & Resilience Alliance, and the Canadian Women in Security Forum as part of the second annual Top Women in Cybersecurity Celebration, honouring 20 women working in cybersecurity across private, public, not-for-profit, and academic sectors.

Video tributes to the recipients were a highlight of a virtual awards presentation July 28.

“This prize summarizes all my achievements in this domain and makes me happy and proud,” says Dr. Alhadidi, an assistant professor in the School of Computer Science.

Alhadidi, who started at UWindsor in July 2019, says her research addresses data privacy and security issues in emerging technologies such as cloud computing and healthcare.

“Recently, there has been a tremendous growth in the collection of personal data such as social data, health data, location data, financial data, and sensor data. We need to analyze data for different applications in a way that ensures the confidentiality and privacy of user-generated data,” says Alhadidi.

“I was involved in research projects which have targeted security hardening at the code level, security hardening at the design level, and security and privacy of data in the domain of cloud computing.”

Ziad Kobti, director of the School of Computer Science, says Alhadidi is an asset to the department.

“Dr. Alhadidi brings a fresh perspective on the field of security to the Windsor community, and she is a mentor for young women pursuing a career in cybersecurity,” says Dr. Kobti.

The computer scientist has also conducted research with TD Bank about threat modelling and she won a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) discovery grant to conduct research about privacy-preserving machine learning.

This year, Alhadidi won the 2021 Faculty of Science Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research Award at the University of Windsor.

The University of Windsor and the Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association are presenting C-O-N-T-A-C-T, a revolutionary, socially-distanced outdoor theatre event, over the next four weeks — and now faculty, staff, and students can attend this ground-breaking show at a steep discount.

The play overcomes the physical restrictions of the pandemic and addresses its emotional themes, such as the challenges of isolation and the human need to connect. The moving piece features drama professor Meaghen Quinn in the lead role of Sarah.

University of Windsor faculty, staff, and students can visit www.contact-the-show.com/windsor and enter the code UWIN50. This can be redeemed at any show during the run and will entitle the patron to a 50 per cent discount, excluding ticket fees and tax.

The fall season is an exciting time and presents the ideal opportunity to enrol in courses for career advancement or professional development. Continuing Education is offering unique fall programs and short courses to help participants take the next step in their journey towards lifelong learning. Classes are online and are open for registration.

Foundations of International Trade is the first module of the International Trade and Border Management Program. In this class, participants will learn how preferential trade agreements and other forms of international cooperation impact the movement of goods, people, and services across borders. Learn on your own timeline: this class is asynchronous and starts Sept. 20.

E-Commerce Business and Operations explores how to create and operate an e-commerce business, identifying and defining opportunities and various methods to monetize them. Participants will then create a high-level plan to develop a strategy to bring the business to life. This live, online class starts Sept. 25.

Learning project management best practices is essential for those seeking a supervisory or management role across all sectors. Delivered in partnership with Procept, an authorized training partner of the Project Management Institute, the program provides participants with the skills necessary to succeed in project management processes and is ideal for all disciplines. Level I: Project Management Essentials begins Oct. 5. More information on the program will be provided in a one-hour information session, hosted by Continuing Education and president of Procept Associates Ltd, Kevin Aguanno on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. Visit this link to register.

Current and aspiring leaders are encouraged to register for the Applied Leadership program. This unique offering provides an opportunity for individuals to network with professionals across multiple sectors while applying up-to-date best practices in leading teams in a post-pandemic environment, including managing virtual or hybrid teams. The program spans across eight, half-day modules and starts Oct. 15.

Continuing Education is also bringing back the Arrhythmia and 12 Lead Interpretation Workshop. The workshop is designed for those who have experience in basic Lead II ECG interpretation and wish to learn how to analyze and interpret 12 lead ECGs. It will provide a refresher on arrhythmia interpretation and then will focus on the “need to know” subjects of 12 lead electrocardiography. This one-day workshop is Oct. 16.

For details on all Continuing Education programs, visit continue.uwindsor.ca.

Students, staff, and alumni are eligible for a discount on select courses. Email continue@uwindsor.ca for the exclusive discount code or for course inquiries.

An alumnus of the University of Windsor has been named an Officer of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Order of Honour.

Dedicating over two decades to the advancement and promotion of engineering, Sean P. McCann (BASc 1989, MASc 1993) has been recognized for his voluntary contributions to the community and engineering profession. He was inducted into the Order at a virtual gala on June 19, 2021.

McCann was inducted as a Member of the Order of Honour in 2006 and serves as a PEO Windsor-Essex Chapter executive. He has also taken positions on PEO’s Continuing Professional Development, Competency and Quality Assurance Task Force, and Advisory Committee on Volunteers.

“As a PEO Windsor-Essex chapter executive, Sean has been invaluable in providing the board with input and recommendations on various chapter activities and issues,” says a statement released by PEO.

“His contribution and insight have proved to be invaluable for the engineering profession and community.”

McCann was elected as the Windsor-Essex Engineer of the Year in 2016. He is a prominent role model for engineering students at UWindsor, regularly speaking on campus, and helps organize events aimed at inspiring children with education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

A webinar for UWindsor faculty and staff will highlight actions to help develop a “growth” mindset.

A mindset is a belief that orients the way we handle situations. Our mindsets help us identify opportunities, but they can also trap us in self-defeating cycles.

The webinar “How to Develop a Growth Mindset to Deal with the Realities of COVID-19” will be facilitated by Mohsan Beg, executive director of Student Health, Counselling, and Wellness Services; lead physician Matt Scholl of Student Health Services; and Katie Chauvin, mental health and wellness co-ordinator in the Student Counselling Centre.

The Department of Human Resources is presenting the two-hour webinar twice:

• Monday, Aug. 30, 10 a.m.
• Monday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.

Register to attend on the Professional Development registration site.