An online seminar Friday, May 5, will address anti-Asian racism with the aim of promoting empowerment by building communities through unity and allyship.

“Power Circle: Building our collective future against anti-Asian racism” is open to all and features a panel moderated by Jane Ku, head of the Department of Interdisciplinary and Critical Studies, and social work professor Wansoo Park, chair of the Health Equity and Social Inclusion Interdisciplinary Research Group.

Panellists include: Sungee John, Hassaan Abbasi, Ayesha Mian Akram, Sarah Aldulaimi, Riham Al-Saadi, and Mindy Jiang.

In an email to campus Monday, UWindsor president Robert Gordon provided an update on the search process for the University’s next Vice-President People, Equity and Inclusion.

“I am pleased to report that the campus visits for the shortlisted candidates have concluded,” he wrote. “The search committee looks forward to receiving input from students, faculty, and staff which will be essential to our deliberations.”

The candidates’ biographies and presentation recordings are available to members of the campus community through the Office of the President website.

More than 380 students came out to speak with employers from varying sectors of the engineering industry at the 2023 Engineering Job Fair in the Centre for Engineering Innovation on April 21.

Hosted by the Office of Career Development and Experiential Learning (CDEL) and the Faculty of Engineering, the event helped to connect future grads to prospective employers from the automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, and construction industries, among others.

CDEL held workshops and presentations ahead of the fair on such topics as resumé writing, interview strategies, and tips on professionalism and how to make a positive impression on employers.

“We were thrilled to see so many students eager to connect with employers and learn firsthand about the skills and qualities they value in potential hires,” says Krista Kelly, manager of career development and experiential learning. “Our goal was to provide students with the tools they need to succeed in their job search and prepare them to make a lasting impression on prospective employers in their chosen field.”

Employers were invited to connect with undergraduate and master’s students, as well as new alumni with concentrations in civil, electrical, environment, industrial, or mechanical engineering.

Ray Darling will begin an appointment as University Registrar on May 15.

Currently an associate consultant for the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, he has held the role of registrar at three previous universities, Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier and most recently, the University of Guelph.

Darling’s interdisciplinary background combined with his skill as an administrator with a creative mindset will be a terrific asset to the University of Windsor, says interim provost Patti Weir.

“The committee was impressed by Ray’s depth of experience as a registrar and his people-first approach to leadership and service provision,” she said. “He is strategic, empathetic, relational, and effective in his work with a demonstrated record of success.”

Darling plans to spend the summer months orienting himself to the University of Windsor, meeting key stakeholders, and setting priorities for the upcoming year.

“I’ve gotten to know the University of Windsor quite well, and the community and campus present a unique opportunity to lead the way in fostering equitable and high-quality education for students,” he said. “There are great people here, and I can’t wait to get to work."

Dr. Weir extended thanks to Lorraine Chandler for stepping into the acting registrar role and expressed gratitude for her leadership and contributions over the past two-and-a-half years.

The Office of Open Learning has honoured two instructors for their commitment to enhancing student learning through excellent digital teaching.

The 2023 recipients of the Dr. Alan Wright Award for Exemplary Digital Teaching are:

• Gemma Smyth from the Faculty of Law and
• Tranum Kaur from the Faculty of Science.

Before the COVID-19-related online shifts, they began infusing digital tools and open educational approaches, and are continuing to develop their scholarly teaching. The award recognizes innovative and effective digitally-enabled teaching practices that engage students and promote equitable learning environments, and which emphasize the principles of open practice.

This year’s call for nominations saw the highest submission numbers since the 2017 inception of the awards, notes Nick Baker, director of the Office of Open Learning.

“With the experience of the last few years in our sights, we’re excited by the quality and variety of approaches to online, hyflex, and digitally-enabled teaching and learning at the University of Windsor,” Baker says.

Committee member Nobuko Fujita, a learning specialist in the Office of Open Learning, says she is impressed by the accomplishments of all the nominees.

“We could have awarded any of the applicants this year,” she says. “Dr. Smyth and Dr. Kaur, because of their sustained efforts and evidence infusing technology in their teaching to foster student learning, are truly inspiring.”

Smyth, associate professor and externship director in the Faculty of Law, is recognized for her innovative approaches in law education. To address the problem of scarcity of educational resources in the field of clinical and experiential education, Smyth hosts an open-licensed YouTube channel for instructors and students. She also recently published Learning in Place, an externship program open textbook, to create engaging and innovative learning experiences for her students. By incorporating intentional, incremental development of open pedagogies over time, Smyth has provided the atmosphere for her students to be inspired and accomplished.

Kaur, learning specialist and co-ordinator of the Master of Medical Biotechnology program in the Faculty of Science, is recognized for her commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as open educational practices in her teaching. She has utilized digital engagement tools, open textbooks, and other online resources to provide all students with impactful learning opportunities, even when face-to-face instruction was not possible during the pandemic. Kaur’s commitment to reflective, student-centred teaching practices has encouraged her students to achieve even in the complexity of a new learning environment.

The Health Research Centre for the Study of Violence Against Women is hosting an open social and networking event for students, faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and community members who conduct research or have a scholarly or creative interest in violence against women or gender-based violence.

Come to connect informally with other folks who share similar interests and learn more about the HRC-VAW community. No registration required.

Running 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 5, in the University Club on the ground floor of Vanier Hall. Attendees will enjoy lunch, including vegan options.

Direct questions to HRCVAW@uwindsor.ca.

Interim vice-president, research and innovation, Chris Houser will join the University of Waterloo as dean of its Faculty of Science for a five-year term commencing July 1.

Dr. Houser joined the University of Windsor in 2016 as dean of the Faculty of Science before taking up an interim appointment as vice-president, research and innovation, in September 2022.

University of Windsor president Robert Gordon says he is grateful to Houser for his years of dedicated leadership in both roles and wishes him the best in his new appointment at Waterloo.

“In his capacity as dean of UWindsor’s Faculty of Science, Dr. Houser contributed to undergraduate enrollment growth, high impact experiences for students, and faculty research,” said Dr. Gordon. “In his interim VP role, Dr. Houser has been an exemplary advocate for the University of Windsor’s research culture, creative work, scholarship and innovation on our campus and beyond. I am confident his leadership skills that will translate well into this next chapter.”

The appointment news comes after a Feb. 17 announcement that Shanthi Johnson will join the University of Windsor as vice-president, research and innovation, effective July 1.

WE-Spark Health Institute hosts monthly networking events for members of the Windsor-Essex health research community to get to know one another through casual conversations. There is no formal agenda, and all are welcome.

This is an opportunity for anyone interested in health research to make connections in an informal and enjoyable atmosphere. The next event will be held Thursday, May 4, 5 to 8 p.m. at Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa St. No RSVP is required.

WE-Spark Health Institute is a partnership of the University of Windsor, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital designed to take healthcare to the next level through research.