An academic standout through his undergraduate career, electrical engineering alumnus Gian Mario Favero will receive Governor General Silver Medal during the ninth session of Convocation, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6.

The medal is awarded to the undergraduate student considered to have achieved the most outstanding academic record in comparison to their graduating peers. Although Favero graduated in October 2023, he was eligible for consideration since this medal is not awarded at Fall convocation.

It is the latest honour for Favero, who received the Board of Governors in-course medal for three consecutive years and the Gold Medal of the Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education.

Behnam Shahrrava, head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, credits his “exceptional dedication and intellectual curiosity” and notes his work with a research group to develop a software platform for vision disorders diagnosis.

Now a master’s student at McGill University, Favero is focusing on applying deep learning models for research into neurodegenerative disease.

Convocation continues through Friday at the Toldo Lancer Centre; the team in Public Affairs and Communications will stream every session live on the UWindsor YouTube channel.

The University of Windsor Alumni Association will bestow its Alumni Award for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching on two professors during Spring Convocation ceremonies this week: Pooya Moradian Zadeh of the School of Computer Science and Kevin Milne of the Department of Kinesiology.

The award honours faculty members — nominated by colleagues, alumni, and students — as incentive and encouragement for achieving excellence in teaching and learning at the University of Windsor.

Dr. Moradian Zadeh holds a certificate in experiential learning from the National Society for Experiential Education which has supported his ability to apply these concepts in the redesign and development of several graduate and undergraduate courses. He is known within computer science for his unique and engaging teaching methods, genuine concern for his students, and desire to motivate them.

He describes his teaching philosophy as to help students understand the various aspects of technical concepts and to support them in generalizing their ideas, enhancing their problem-solving abilities, and fostering critical thinking skills necessary for tackling real-world issues.

Moradian Zadeh will receive his award at the 2 p.m. June 5 session of Convocation.

Dr. Milne’s pedagogical approach is summed up in the acronym “ENGAGE”:

• Explain rather than simply show information,
• Nourish all ideas, even those that might begin with an incorrect foundation,
• Generate interest in the wonder of our world,
• encourage Active participation in classes,
• be Genuine in my enthusiasm for the learning process,
• foster an environment where students Enjoy learning.

He has previously received the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance Teaching Award and the Ontario University Student Alliance Teaching Award in 2012; the Faculty of Human Kinetics Student Society Teaching Award in 2013, 2014, 2017; and the Faculty of Human Kinetics Wayne Marino Teaching Excellence Award in 2021.

Milne will receive his award at the 9:30 a.m. June 7 session of Convocation.

Convocation celebrations continue through Friday at the Toldo Lancer Centre; tune in to the livestream on the UWindsor YouTube channel.

A UWindsor-led research investigation is looking to create degradable electronics that could detect and treat brain cancer. The implanted electronics would detect cancer growth and then degrade and release medicine.

“The goal is to use materials chemistry, device engineering, and polymer science to get these little devices, which are sensors, to be physically placed at the site of the brain cancer that has been surgically removed,” says Simon Rondeau-Gagné.

“When there are biomarkers of the cancer relapsing, it triggers, and we could selectively degrade those devices which would liberate a drug for treatment — we call that E-Theranostic.”

The researchers received a grant of $250,000 over two years through the Tri-Agency New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) - Exploration program for their project “Implantable Electronics and E-Theranostics: A Paradigm Shift in Brain Cancer Management.”

“All the engineering behind the sensor signal and polymer science will make sure they degrade,” says Dr. Rondeau-Gagné.

“We’re investigating how much will it degrade, how much will it liberate, will it liberate well enough, fast enough, and target enough. All those aspects.”

This revolutionary drug delivery method will be tested using 3D bio-printed brain models with cancer cells. John Trant will work with a team at the University of Victoria to bio-print the models.

The team includes Rondeau-Gagné and Dr. Trant of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry along with Jennifer Voth, a research associate at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and an adjunct assistant professor in the UWindsor Department of Kinesiology, and Konrad Walus of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia.

Beyond the lab-based science research, Rondeau-Gagné says the team is taking the time to look at the bigger picture — at the possible clinical adoption of the medical technique down the line.

“We want to consult with a host of medical practitioners and patients to know what design criteria is required to maximize adoption, to design better with guidance,” he says.

“It is great to get a sensor to detect for something special and release treatment, but it has to be adopted or it’ll just be something that’s great in the lab and we want it to be adopted so it can be a real solution for patients.”

Voth, with her network of Windsor-Essex clinicians and cancer experts, will aid with the goal of adoption.

“Voth will be the bridge between the lab and the hospital, supported by WE-Spark Health Institute,” Rondeau-Gagné says.

“This grant is interdisciplinary, and we want to connect multiple fields together. We want to go beyond science and treatment and reach out to the medical community because if they don’t see value in a tool, they won’t use it.”

Rondeau-Gagné says the NFRF program is about high risk and high reward, and this really resonates with this project.

“We are going to learn a lot along the way with this project. We’ll learn about printing brain models, degradable polymers, we’ll learn about degradable electronics, we’ll learn about implants and drug release, but we’ll also learn about what patients are looking for out of treatment.”

The University of Windsor has climbed nearly 100 spots in a ranking examining the world’s top universities.

Windsor ranked fourth among non-medical universities in Ontario, seventh nationally, and 547th overall in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, a notable improvement from last year’s position, which was between 640 and 650.

The 21st edition of the QS World University Rankings, compiled by the higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds, evaluated over 5,600 universities. Only 1,503 universities made the final list, with Windsor ranking among the top 37 per cent.

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students,” said UWindsor president Robert Gordon. “Our significant improvements in sustainability and international research partnerships reflect our commitment to addressing global challenges and fostering a robust academic environment.”

The University’s improved performance is due to higher scores in sustainability and international research network metrics, which measure universities’ social and environmental impact as centres of education and research, and the diversity of their international research partnerships, respectively. Windsor climbed more than 320 positions in the sustainability metric to 381st overall, a significant improvement from last year’s rank above 701.

Additionally, the University of Windsor ranked in the top 25 per cent globally for research impact, securing the 378th position with an average of 111 citations per faculty member. The University also ranked in the top 30 per cent for employment outcomes, meaning its graduates are among the most sought-after by employers.

“We are proud of our progress and will continue to strive for excellence in all areas,” Dr. Gordon said.

Alumna and adjunct professor Bernadette Berthelotte (BMus 1981, B.Ed 1985, M.Ed 1990) has dedicated her professional life to music education. Last Friday, her outsized impact on arts education in Windsor-Essex was recognized with the Windsor Endowment for the Arts 2024 Community Arts Leadership Award.

“It is a privilege for me to advocate for the arts in public education and in the lives of children,” says Dr. Berthelotte. “Not because we are making artists, musicians, dancers or actors, but because we are aiding in the development of human beings and offering them ways to enhance the quality of their lives, throughout their lives.”

Known as “Dr. B,” Berthelotte spent 23 years developing and leading a thriving instrumental music program at W.F. Herman Secondary School. She created the “Reach Ahead” program that allows students in Grades 7 and 8 to participate in their local high school band, which enhances their skills and eases the transition to high school. Her commitment to music education and its impact on the development of young people has not only shaped the futures of her students but also set a high standard for educational excellence within the Greater Essex County District School Board.

In collaboration with local music educators and vendors, Berthelotte founded MusicFest Windsor, a regional festival affiliated with MusicFest Canada. The festival strives to provide an opportunity for students and educators across Southwestern Ontario to share their musical achievements through a performance venue.

She is the creator of “The String Project.” Inspired by Venezuela’s “El Sistema,” it is an after-school program at two schools in Windsor where children learn to play the violin from Grade 3 onward. Berthelotte firmly believes that music education fosters community, confidence, and success in young learners, and is already seeing incredible developments in program participants.

“Thousands upon thousands of studies that utilize the arts as part of a holistic education for all children continue to find that self-efficacy and self-esteem are heightened with these experiences,” she says. “Common sense, in addition to science, tells us that when children feel better about what they do, they will do better in everything.”

Following her retirement from the school board, Berthelotte has continued to share her passion and expertise through teaching music education courses in the UWindsor Faculty of Education. She also contributes to the Continuing Teacher Education Program, crafting and instructing additional qualification courses.

She regularly performs with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and freelances in Windsor and Detroit. Her extensive orchestral experience includes performing with the Detroit Civic Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Metropolitan Orchestra, the Canadian Chamber Orchestra, the Regina Symphony Orchestra, and other ensembles.

Berthelotte received her recognition from the Windsor Endowment for the Arts during a community celebration May 31 at the Mackenzie Hall Cultural Centre.

Other leadership awards recipients with a UWindsor connection included alumni Christopher Lawrence Menard (BA 2012) in the literary arts category, Hugh Leal (BA 1973, BComm 1978) in the performing arts music category, and Arts Collective Theatre, directed by Chris Rabideau (BA 2008, B.Ed 2009).

To mark World Environment Day, the University of Windsor has updated its CampusGo wayfinding app with new features highlighting campus sustainability efforts.

The global observance each June 5 promotes environmental conservation. This year’s theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” underscores the urgent need to address such challenges as land degradation and water scarcity, says sustainability officer Nadia Harduar.

“At the University of Windsor, we recognize the importance of this day and are committed to supporting initiatives that promote biodiversity and sustainability,” she says.

A tool for navigating the campus, CampusGo now includes a dedicated Points of Interest (POI) tab enabling users to search for and discover sustainability initiatives, including the Native Plant Garden on the rooftop of the Centre for Engineering Innovation, the Campus Community Garden Project, electric vehicle chargers, waste collection bins, and water refill stations.

“With these enhancements, CampusGo not only simplifies campus navigation, but also promotes awareness of the University’s green initiatives, making it easier for everyone to contribute to a sustainable campus,” Harduar says.

She calls on the entire University community to find ways to mark World Environment Day.

“We can contribute by planting native species, conserving water, and supporting local conservation projects,” says Harduar. “Together, let’s work towards a healthier, more sustainable future for our planet.”

Download CampusGo via Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS) to start exploring the new sustainable features. The wayfinding technology and interactive campus maps are also available through any mobile or desktop web browser.

A Great Lakes research centre that studies the link between climate change, harmful algal blooms, and human health is getting $6.5 million US to continue its work and relocate to the University of Michigan, bringing it closer to its research partners in Windsor.

The Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health will be able to continue its work, thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Mike McKay, director of UWindsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, is a co-investigator with the center. Before coming to GLIER, McKay was a principal researcher at the center when it was founded at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and has continued his research partnerships with scientists there.

“This is wonderful news for the University of Michigan, but also for research partners here at GLIER and the University of Windsor,” Dr. McKay said. “Renewal is a testament to the strong foundational work on harmful algal blooms conducted through the center over the past five years and we are excited to be able to continue to work closely with an expanded network of research partners throughout Michigan, Ohio, New York, Virginia and Tennessee.”

The center is collaborating on INSPIRE, a UWindsor-led research project that will help Canada respond to future pandemics by strengthening the country’s biomanufacturing sector. The federal government earlier this month announced $15 million in funding for INSPIRE to study biomanufacturing and health sector supply chains, bolster cross-border trade and mobility, and explore new technologies in pathogen surveillance.

“The Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health is a key cross-border partner in INSPIRE,” McKay said. “I’m heartened to learn of the U.S. federal support for the center’s work and that research projects already underway can continue.”

With the University of Windsor as its only Canadian partner, McKay has collaborated with the center’s scientists on research discerning the environmental drivers of harmful algal blooms. These blooms of cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae, produce toxins that can pose a challenge for treatment of drinking water and also become airborne when waves crash along shorelines.

Climate change has led to the proliferation of harmful algal blooms. Once common only in western Lake Erie, such blooms now occur in all five Great Lakes due to increased precipitation, more powerful storms, and the warming of lake waters.

The Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health was founded in Bowling Green State University in 2018. Due to the retirement of its founding director George Bullerjahn, the center’s administrative home is moving to Ann Arbor under the leadership of Gregory Dick, an environmental microbiologist at the University of Michigan. Dr. Dick is also the director of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research, a partnership among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, regional universities, and other stakeholders within the Great Lakes basin. The University of Windsor is the only Canadian university with membership in this consortium.

A symposium June 26 will discuss the legal implications of crowdfunding and personal donation platforms.

Hosted by the Law and Technology (LTEC) Lab in Windsor Law, the event will run all day in person with an online option.

A keynote address by Greg Elmer, Bell Globemedia research chair in professional communication at Toronto Metropolitan University, is titled “Researching Political Crowdfunding Campaigns: Premises, Promises, and Obstacles.”

In addition, panels will focus on the intersection of media, politics, the creator economy, and crowdfunding; the connections between healthcare, politics, sociology, and crowdfunding; and the legal implications and frameworks for crowdfunding.

The “The Law of Giving: Ecosystem and Legal Implications of Crowdfunding & Personal Donation Platforms” symposium was organized by UWindsor professors Pascale Chapdelaine of law and Vincent Manzerolle of communications.

Visit its website to learn more and register to attend.

The University of Windsor’s Scantron services for computerized text scoring have moved from Information Technology Services to the Print Shop. The process for using Scantron services will remain the same.

To ensure a smooth transition, here’s a brief step-by-step guide:

1. Obtain Scantron forms: Get University of Windsor customized blank Scantron forms from your department.
2. Create an answer sheet: After administering your test using the provided forms, create an answer sheet using a blank Scantron form.
3. Submit a ticket: Prepare to submit your tests by creating a service request at www.uwindsor.ca/scantron.
4. Drop off materials: Bring your test forms, answer sheet, and service request number to the Print Shop.
5. Processing: The Print Shop will process the tests and email the results to your valid UWindsor email account.
6. Pick up completed tests: Return to the Print Shop to retrieve your completed tests.

WE-Spark Health Institute hosts monthly networking events for members of the Windsor-Essex health research community to get to know one another through fun and 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, June 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bourbon Tap & Grill, 1199 Ottawa St. No RSVP is required.

WE-Spark Health Institute is supported by an innovative partnership among the University of Windsor and Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital that brings together health research strengths, expertise, and infrastructure from across the WindsorEssex region.