Sharing holiday wishes with the UWindsor campus community! 

UWindsor chancellor Mary Jo Haddad (BScN 1984, LLD 2005) issued a message wishing the best of the season to the University community.

Dear University of Windsor Community, 

With the holiday season around the corner and another year coming to a close, this is a time for both reflection and celebration.

Looking back on a year filled with challenges and triumphs, your well-being and success have been a constant source of inspiration.  As you reflect on your journey, I hope your heart is filled with peace and gratitude for all that you have accomplished.  

It has been an honour to serve as your Chancellor and witness the growth and strength of our campus community. The kindness, support, and steadfast commitment to our students – even through the most challenging times – has been truly inspiring.  

Whether you remain in town or are travelling afar this holiday season, I wish you a safe and joyful time with family and friends as you embrace your traditions, and share the gift of hope with those in need. 

I hope you return to campus renewed and refreshed for the journey ahead.  

Dr. Mary Jo Haddad CM
Chancellor

Ontario’s Minister of Education, Jill Dunlop, added a stop on her tour of Windsor-Essex on Tuesday to observe Aleshia St. Louis, a teacher candidate from the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Education, in her practicum placement.

The visit to L.A. Desmarais Catholic Elementary School highlighted the practical experience that teacher candidates gain in the classroom, allowing the Minister to see firsthand the impact of in-class teacher training in preparing future educators.

Accompanying the minister was Ken Montgomery, dean of the Faculty of Education, as well as the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board’s Director of Education, Emelda Bryne, and board trustees Kim Bouchard and Lisa Soulliere (chair).

Together, they toured the school and observed St. Louis leading a lesson.

“It was truly wonderful that Minister Dunlop took time out of her schedule to visit one of our teacher candidates during her placement,” shared Dr. Montgomery.

“The Minister’s visit really highlights her commitment to strengthening the partnerships between elementary and secondary schools, universities and the Ministry of Education, to ensure the success of future educators.”

St. Louis, who is currently completing her first elementary practicum placement, shared that she was nervous but also excited to have the Minister sit in on a class lesson.

“My associate teacher, Jodi Ruggirello, helped me prepare and create my lesson for the visit, which really helped with my nerves,” shared St. Louis. “I was thankful for the experience and excited to showcase what I have learned and how I have grown in my placement.”

As UWinsite People (UWP) prepares to go live on Monday, Jan. 6, a variety of resources have been developed to support a smooth transition. These include knowledge-based articles with step-by-step guidance on completing tasks in the new HR and payroll system. 

Additionally, numerous training sessions will be offered throughout 2025 to help staff navigate UWinsite People effectively. Some of these sessions include: 

• Navigating UWinsite People Employee Self Service 101 (for Staff) 
• From Posting to Placement: Student Hiring (Co-op, Ignite, and Casual positions) 
• Navigating UWP for Staff Career Profile 

As a reminder, employees who wish to download pay slips (bulk download instructions) and T4s are encouraged to do so before UWP launches and myUWinfo is retired.  

More information about UWinsite People can be found online.  

The University of Windsor welcomes two seasoned professionals to leadership roles, each bringing decades of experience to help shape the institution’s future.

Kelly Gosselin stepped into the director of advancement and alumni position on Dec. 2, 2024. With more than 22 years of experience in alumni engagement, fundraising, and leadership roles in higher education and the non-profit sector, she brings a proven track record of fostering relationships and driving initiatives that make a lasting impact.

Most recently, as acting director of advancement and alumni, Gosselin helped secure support for scholarships, capital projects, and programs designed to enhance the student experience. Her career includes leadership roles at St. Clair College, Transition to Betterness, and the Odette School of Business, where she led successful capital campaigns, secured major gifts, and connected with high-net-worth donors.

Gosselin said her focus aligns closely with the university’s Aspire for Tomorrow plan, and she’s ready to play a vital role in strengthening alumni relationships and driving philanthropy to support the university’s goals.

“As an alumna and long-time member of the University of Windsor community, I am excited to strengthen the connections between our alumni, donors, stakeholders, and the university,” Gosselin said.

“Together, we can cultivate a culture of giving that empowers future generations, supports transformative opportunities, and drives meaningful change. Our collective impact will shape the future of this institution and ensure that the Windsor experience continues to inspire and enrich lives."

Cory Mitic joins as director of labour relations, also bringing more than 22 years of experience to the human resources team. Mitic’s background spans union and employer perspectives, giving him a well-rounded and collaborative approach to navigating labour relations.

“I am excited to bring some new ideas and solutions to the table and as we prepare for negotiations, I look forward to working with our union leadership,” Mitic said.

As the national director of employee and labour relations for the Salvation Army, he led national negotiations and developed strategic frameworks to guide workplace relations. In his previous role as director of labour relations for the Ontario Ministry of Education, Mitic oversaw bargaining efforts for more than 200,000 employees across nine bargaining units.

“In dealing with labour/people issues, often we have to deliver unpleasant news. Keeping the people part front of mind is our responsibility as human resource practitioners,” he noted.

Known for his collaborative approach and strategic vision, Mitic looks forward to fostering strong relationships across campus. When he’s not working, he enjoys cooking, the arts, listening to music, and spending time with his dog, Milo.

The University of Windsor continues to shine on the global stage, achieving its highest-ever rankings in the 2024 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS), earning recognition across eight academic disciplines.

This marks the University’s highest-ever performance in these global rankings, reaffirming its position as a leader in research, innovation, and academic excellence.

Administered annually by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, the Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) assesses more than 1,900 universities across 55 disciplines worldwide, evaluating research output, citations, international collaboration, and faculty impact.

In 2024, the University of Windsor earned top 200 global rankings in four disciplines, with telecommunication engineering leading at 101–150 globally and placing seventh in Canada. mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and automation and control engineering also secured spots in the top 200, reflecting the University’s growing impact and leadership in high-demand technological fields critical to innovation and industry.

Beyond engineering, the University of Windsor excelled in several other areas:

• Computer science and engineering and electrical and electronic engineering ranked 301–400 globally, among Canada’s top 20.

• Earth sciences placed in the same range, ranking top 15 nationally.

• Ecology earned a global ranking of 401–500 and placed among Canada’s top 25.

“This remarkable achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and innovation,” said provost Robert Aguirre. “Our standing among the world’s best — and our leadership as a Canadian institution — demonstrates the talent and dedication of our faculty, researchers, and students.”

The University’s engineering programs stand out, with four subjects ranked in the top 200. These accomplishments highlight Windsor’s role as a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation.

“This recognition underscores the Faculty of Engineering's commitment to driving innovation and advancing knowledge in high-demand fields,” said Bill Van Heyst, dean of the Faculty of Engineering. “These rankings highlight the exceptional talent and dedication within our faculty and students, as well as our growing influence on a global scale.”

With this recognition, the University of Windsor continues to strengthen its reputation as a leader in academic and research excellence, shaping a better future for communities locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Toldo Lancer Centre is proving popular with the campus community and draws patrons from off-campus as well.

There are currently 693 active paid members from the ranks of alumni and neighbouring communities.

The Challenge Course has been rented to 63 groups, hosting a total of 3,363 participants.

The facility has held 1,320 fitness classes in 2024.

Nine intramural leagues boast 96 teams with a total of nearly 1,100 players each week.

The front entrance recorded 360,000 individual entries from the start of January through November!

“Faster and more efficient construction,” says professor Niel Van Engelen, “and developing new methods for faster production of commercial and residential spaces is a need.”

In collaboration with civil engineering professor, Dr. Somma, at the University of Udine, Dr. Van Engelen, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Master’s students Tommaso Dorbolo and Endin Dafota and research associate Hamed Amini Tehrani are testing a new method, which involves concrete-filled steel tubes.

“This method of construction is very common in Europe and other parts of the world, and not very common in this part of the world,” Van Engelen says. “We are bringing the experts from Europe and matching it with our local technical and experimental resources to form a joint cobrand.” 

Powered by a $25,000 NSERC Alliance International Catalyst Grant, the research teams are working on testing concrete-filled steel tubes to strengthen the connection between the concrete and the steel. When properly connected, the materials benefit each other and result in a much stronger structural section. The testing is being done at the University of Windsor Structural Engineering Laboratory which is one of the largest structural labs in Canada. 

The research will lead to a better understanding of the structural system to improve cost efficiency and safety in our infrastructure and remove barriers to the application of this technology. This collaboration will assist in developing and promoting this effective structural system for application in Canada.

The University of Windsor campus lies in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit. For many of its researchers, collaborators are just across the fast-moving water that defines the Windsor-Detroit boundary.

The free exchange of knowledge is just as important as the stream of trucks that pass through the international border every day. The Health and Wellness Friendly Communities project led by nursing professor Kathryn Pfaff used the border and the interconnectedness of Windsor and Detroit to begin to grapple with pressing health concerns that impact the cross-border communities.

She established a team that included researchers from law, biomedical sciences, political science, and computer science, and pulled in partners from Windsor Regional Hospital, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, McMaster University, and the University of Toronto with a goal of setting up a locally relevant system of collaborations and knowledge sharing.

“This work is all about having a shared context for taking action,” says Dr. Pfaff. “Our cities face similar economic and environmental challenges. We came together with the mindset that we can learn from each other and support each other in changing the systemic challenges our communities face.”

The working group that arose from the initial project is now moving forward to tackle serious problems, and Pfaff is particularly optimistic about new programming to address homelessness.

Learn more in the full article, “Healthy communities beyond borders,” published in the Research and Innovation in Action report.

As co-ordinator of UWindsor exchange programs, Michelle Fitzgerald has collected souvenirs and keepsakes from around the world.

Her proud international display caught the eye of Public Affairs and Communications staff, who selected her office as one of the most interesting on campus. The resulting video tour is the first installment of a series, “Campus Cribs,” exploring unique and inspiring spaces where UWindsor staff and faculty work their magic.

Watch the video now.

In her role, Fitzgerald connects UWindsor students with opportunities to study abroad and welcomes international students to Windsor for a semester or two of Canadian experience. The deadline for local students to apply for international exchange in the fall 2025 semester is Jan. 15. Learn more at uwindsor.ca/exchange.

“Campus Cribs” promises an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creativity, passion, and purpose that drives the Lancer family. To nominate someone for consideration in the series, email socialmedia@uwindsor.ca.