3
dear
viewer
ALAN WILDEMAN
President and Vice-Chancellor
T
his 50th anniversary year has given me more opportunities to meet alumni than perhaps
any other time since I joined the University of Windsor in 2008. During the many
reunion events, I’ve heard campus stories ranging the full spectrum from our 1963 graduates,
right through to our recent alumni of the 2000’s. Each story contributes a new weave to the
tapestry of experiences that make the University of Windsor such a special place for so many.
Alumni have reminisced about favourite professors, pioneering accomplishments,
championship games, late-night study sessions and the excitement of walking across
convocation stage. And some have shared stories of extra-curricular shenanigans that garnered
many more smiles than course credits.
Through all of these memories, our alumni reinforce a common theme – a sense of place
that the University provided during a critical chapter in their lives. It’s this sense of place that we
continue to strengthen with our plans to transform the campus and prepare for the next 50 years.
Our Campus Master Plan extends the student’s relationship with the University beyond
the buildings, and explores how the spaces in between connect with each other. In this issue,
you’ll read about how this plan focuses on being a more people-centred place with pedestrian
pathways designed to bring students together in spaces that offer recreation, creativity and even
quiet contemplation.
Connectivity will play a major role in UWindsor’s future as it becomes less obvious where
the University stops and the community starts. More of our academic programs are placing
students in real-world situations, with close to ten percent of our undergraduates engaged in
co-op programs.With this growing trend, UWindsor inspires people to meet the challenges of
the 21st century and builds our local and global economy.
You’ll read about some of our entrepreneurial alumni in the second half of our two-issue
feature celebrating 50 alumni of achievement for our anniversary year, and we know there are
more entrepreneurial alumni to come.This last year alone, 17 spin-off companies were created by
student-driven ideas.We’re also very proud of our award winning students, faculty and alumni
that are highlighted in this special edition.
Whether you are five, twenty, or fifty years past your monumental walk across convocation
stage, we all have stories to share and we’d like to hear yours at
As a
UWindsor alumni, you are part of a growing family that is more than 115,000 strong who are
making a difference in our country and around the globe. Send us your story to be an inspiration
to those who will be a part of our next 50 years.
Dr. Alan Wildeman
