The new Department of Interdisciplinary and Critical Studies (IaCS), housed within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, promises to propel growth in Women and Gender Studies, Latin American studies, Disability Studies, Labour Studies, and Black Studies programs as it finds new ways to shape higher education in Windsor-Essex.

Extensive demand has allowed integrated programs to flourish not only in Canada, but globally, notes acting department head Natalie Delia, an associate professor of criminology.

“Critical studies is a growing and evolving field at the intersection of the arts, humanities, and social sciences,” Dr. Delia says. “Our department will provide a comprehensive research and training approach to grow, support, and strengthen the area of critical studies at the University of Windsor while managing and scaffolding the Liberal Arts and Professional Studies program within a framework of interdisciplinary education.”

She says that creating a department dedicated to the field ensures increased student success and provides avenues beyond traditional pathways by expanding the types of academic programs currently on offer.

“Graduates will be well prepared for a variety of professional trajectories. This is particularly true when students choose to augment pre-professional programs with minors in one of the critical studies disciplines,” says Delia. “Employers and graduate schools demand critical literacy for a diverse and equitable world — our undergraduates establish this with majors and minors in the Interdisciplinary and Critical Studies Department.”

Departmental offices are located on the second floor of Chrysler Hall South. View the list of faculty members who will be teaching in this new academic unit.

—Susan McKee

The Winter 2023 recipients of the Co-op/Internship Rising Star Student Awards displayed a unique blend of enthusiasm, creativity, and a strong work ethic, says Kristen Morris, manager of co-operative education and workplace partnerships.

The awards are presented each term by co-operative education and workplace partnerships within the office of experiential learning to recognize the exceptional contributions and impact co-op students made during their work terms.

“Amazing things can happen when you bring together talented co-op students like our rising star winners and great employers who give them the opportunity to apply what they are learning in the classroom to real-world projects,” says Morris. “This year’s winners not only gained valuable experience, but were also able to contribute to their company’s culture with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.”

The award recipients are:

Aarsh Makwana, Master of Applied Computing Co-op
Makwana completed a work term at Rogers Communication as a technology co-op, where he worked to help streamline operations and enhance the accuracy of asset data. During his time there, he developed and designed an automation tool that reduced operational expenses by $50,000.

Nathan Brockenshire, Mechanical Engineering Automotive Co-op
Brockenshire completed a work term as a manufacturing engineer co-op at Vista, where he was responsible for providing production support and managing projects. He was able to manage complex tasks including overseeing the set-up, production launch, and troubleshooting of an initiative that led to annual cost savings of over $100,000.

Natalie Adam, Human Kinetics Co-op
Adam completed a work term at Centre of Health and Human Performance as a human performance assistant, where she made significant contributions to the health, wellbeing, and athletic performance of more than 400 Lancer athletes, and worked on four research projects for the American College of Sports Medicine Conference, the largest sports conference in the world.

Sabrina Sawan, Electrical Engineering Co-op
Sawan completed a work term at Agriculture and Agrifood Canada where she made significant contributions to the Naurvik project, which built a vertical farm inside a shipping container to address the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in Nunavut.

Ian Trepanier, Business Administration and Computer Science Co-op
Trepanier completed a work term as a systems and technology assistant at the University of Windsor’s Office of Enrolment Management where he excelled in high-level data management, including leading a global database migration.

The co-operative education and workplace partnerships office congratulates the award recipients and all nominees for their contributions to the University of Windsor’s co-op and internship programs, Morris says.

In a world where legal complexities remain a barrier for individuals seeking justice, Windsor Law alumna Carley Reynolds (JD 2019) is helping devise a solution to bridge the gap between the layperson and the intricacies of the criminal justice system.

Reynolds is spearheading the development of LawNewbie, a free research tool designed to provide users with a comprehensive understanding of criminal law comparable to that of a second-year law student.

An associate with the firm Donich Law, Reynolds manages a team of law students who assist with legal research and writing related to the program.

“Many of my classes at Windsor touched on issues of access to justice, which I think is important for new lawyers to be aware of,” she says. “LawNewbie allows an individual to type a legal question into the search engine and be given an answer to that question, instantly.”

Reynolds notes that the program was written and reviewed by lawyers, so the information can be trusted.

“While the program does not replace hiring a lawyer, it can allow individuals to have a better understanding of their legal issue which can better assist them in choosing the right lawyer,” she says.

The tool’s database covers elements of rights and procedure, sentencing, evidence, offences and defences. Learn more on the Donich Law website.

—Dalia Mazhar

The campus community will bid farewell to summer with a free concert today — Monday, Aug. 28 — on the River Commons.

Vocalist Shahida Nurullah and pianist Michael Karloff, both members of the jazz faculty in the School of Creative Arts, will perform at noon in the final entry in the 2023 Summer Concert Series, sponsored by the Office of the President.

The River Commons is located on the west side of Turtle Island Walk north of Lambton Tower. In addition to music, the event promises free seasonal treats.

The staff of alumni relations received training last week that will enable it to point to specific measures of engagement benefiting the University, says director Patti Lauzon.

She and her team attended a workshop Tuesday and Wednesday to develop consistent ways to gauge the impact of their efforts.

Led by Ray Satterthwaite of Engagement Analysis Inc., the session introduced methods of defining and tracking the degree to which alumni, donors, and others relate to the institution.

“The intention is to allow teams to accurately measure the difference they’re making in moving the University toward its goals: financial, reputational, and others,” Satterthwaite said.

Lauzon said the alumni office will apply what it learned to “quantify the great work the department is doing” in alignment with the priorities set out in the Aspire strategic plan.

“These tools will help with decision-making, planning, and communications with alumni,” she said.

The consultant’s work with other institutions will allow Windsor to benefit from their experience, Lauzon said: “We won’t have to waste effort re-inventing the wheel.”