Professor Nihar Biswas’s dedication to the University of Windsor extends well beyond the classroom walls.
When Dr. Biswas isn’t lecturing on water quality and waste management, the engineering professor is helping attract top student athletes to UWindsor.
“While many of our students and staff may recognize Nihar as a frequent visitor to the St. Denis Centre and a regular exerciser on our track, what many probably don’t know is all the work he is doing behind the scenes to help our Lancer teams,” Michael Havey, UWindsor’s athletic director, said April 6 at the Windsor Lancers 2015-16 Evening of Excellence.
Havey later presented Dr. Biswas with the Richard Peddie Leadership Award to recognize Dr. Biswas’s dedication to Lancer athletics. For the past 25 years, Dr. Biswas has augmented UWindsor’s recruitment efforts by calling and meeting Lancer recruits and their parents to discuss academic programs; assisting with scholarship growth and endowments that help benefit all students at UWindsor and providing academic advice to student athletes on campus.
“That’s the main objective,” Biswas said. “We try to support the students as much as we can.”
When he he’s not working with students on the sidelines, Dr. Biswas regularly attends various Lancer games. The former Senior Associate Dean in the Faculty of Engineering joined the University of Windsor as a faculty member in 1981.
“It is safe to say that Dr. Biswas has as much interest in the success of the Lancers as any person that I know,” Havey said. “He is a very deserving recipient of the Richard Peddie Leadership Award.”
The leadership award is in its eighth year and is named in honour of University of Windsor alumnus and loyal Lancer supporter, Dr. Richard Peddie, the retired President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
The award is presented annually to an individual who has made valuable contributions to the overall success of Lancer Athletics. In honour of Richard’s legacy of leadership, each year’s recipient will be someone who has made a significant impact on our varsity program and whose contributions have helped enhance the overall success of the University of Windsor.
In addition to the recognition, Biswas received a cash award from Dr. Peddie to be directed to the Lancer varsity team of his choice. Biswas choose to split the award between the women’s and men’s basketball and volleyball teams and track and field.
Photo: Engineering professor Nihar Biswas (centre) receives congratulations from athletic director Mike Havey and alumnus Richard Peddie on an award recognizing his support of Lancer student athletes.