Hello,

It is an honour for me to introduce my first annual report as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Windsor.

There is no university in Canada quite like the University of Windsor. There is something special about sitting on the border. With that comes the reality of learning what it means when the forces of economic change are felt first. There is something special about contributing to the entrepreneurship that enabled Windsor and Essex County to drive wealth creation for Canada. With that comes the reality of learning how to innovate and adapt.

And there is something really special about how the University of Windsor has accomplished so much without pretense. We have a faculty that has been recognized with some of the highest national and international accolades for its contributions to research, creative works and teaching. We have staff being recognized for their innovations in technology, service provision, student support, and more. We are a place whose greatest strength is in helping students reach their own potential to make a difference in their own lives and in those of others. And like every university, we have alumni of whom we are very proud.

But we are also deeply and profoundly a place in which the head has not lost sight of the feet. The connection between ideas and action has defined so much of what the University has accomplished. It defines the practical realities that we aspire to. These realities include the unequivocal commitment that all people who work and study here, regardless of sex, colour, religion, nationality, or ability, are a part of who we are. They include the awareness that our city and region’s future is linked to our success. They include the way we focus on doing what makes sense.

The University of Windsor’s approach is the right one. We are walking a balance of providing a wide range of excellent educational opportunities, of encouraging our students to take leadership in social justice and community engagement, and of applying our creativity to the needs of society.

This annual report is one more step in telling this great story. You won’t find another one like it.

Sincerely,

Alan Wildeman
President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Windsor