Instructors

The University of Windsor's Department of Continuing Education is proud to be represented by a wide array of highly knowledgeable instructors, and industry experts. Learn more about our incredible teaching staff by exploring our learning segments below.

Cultural & Social Learning Engineering, Science & Technology Health Sciences Professional Learning & Skills Development

Professional Learning & Skills Development

Amir Talaei

Featured Courses: Applied Leadership

Dr. Amir Talaei holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and has completed three Post-Doctoral Fellowships in the fields of leadership and organizational psychology, focusing on leader counterproductive work behaviours, managing high conflict personalities in the workplace, and motivational processes in underperforming employees. He also holds certificates in Effective Workplace Communication, Supervision, Customer Service Management, Coaching, and Human Resources Management from the Universities of Waterloo, Toronto, and Calgary. Amir is currently a Partner and the Director of Applied Research at E.M. Vokes, Ph.D. & Associates, an organization development and change management consulting firm, based in Windsor, Ontario. He and his research team have been involved in the development and advancement of applied theories that have been used in training and coaching of organizational leaders at different levels in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Amir’s passion is identifying and countermanding management pseudo-science, and translating the cutting-edge psychological science into practical solutions for organizational challenges leaders routinely face. He has presented his work at several national and international conferences across the globe in countries such as Canada, USA, Japan, France, Italy, and Czech Republic.

Beatrice Anane-Bediakoh

Featured Courses: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Workplace

Beatrice Anane-Bediakoh is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at York University. She holds a Master of Education in Humanities, Social Science, and Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto (OISE) and earned her Hons. Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wilfrid Laurier University. Beatrice’s academic work is motivated by an unwavering commitment to the collective struggle for Black freedom(s) and life forms. Her interests include race and racialization, Black geographies, and the spatialization of race. Grounded in her lived experiences, her dissertation explores the links between Black personhood and neighbourhoods through processes of racialization. She has two upcoming entries in the Encyclopedia of Critical Political Science: a biographical essay on Stokely Carmichael and a co-authored conceptual essay on Racialization. Beyond her academic work, she is intimately invested in the Black community. In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel, she participates as Big Sister/ Mentor, alongside, offering affordable individualized tutoring services to low-income families in the Greater Toronto Area.

Benny Riggi

Featured Courses: Finance Essentials (MiniMBA)

Benny Riggi is director and controller of DTE Gas, a natural gas distribution company servicing 1.3 million customers in Michigan and a subsidiary of DTE Energy. As controller, Riggi is responsible for all financial activities including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, business performance reporting and project evaluation for DTE Gas.

Riggi joined DTE Energy in 2007. He was previously director of Gas Strategy & Planning – DTE Gas, controller of Distribution Operations – DTE Electric, controller of Gas Operations – DTE Gas, and other roles of increasing responsibility in finance.

Prior to joining DTE Energy, Riggi worked at Chrysler Corporation where he held several roles of increasing responsibility in ﬁnance and controlling. He is also a sessional instructor in Finance studies at the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business since 2013.

Riggi earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours Business Administration) with finance concentration from the University of Windsor and a Master of Business Administration with finance concentration from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI). He holds the certiﬁed public accountant (CPA), chartered financial analyst (CFA) and certified management accountant (CMA) professional designations.

Brandon Besant

Featured Courses: Introduction to Microsoft Excel

Brandon Besant, a skilled Data Analyst and Computer Science professional, holds a BA in Computer Science from Bucknell University. Currently a Data Analyst Specialist at the University of Windsor, he adeptly develops cross-platform queries, maintains forecasting models, and advances reporting capabilities. With a background as a Controls & Systems Analyst at the City of Windsor, he automated employee scheduling, conducted data modeling, and ensured reporting integrity. Brandon's experience also includes roles at Applied Systems Canada as a Quality Assurance and Underwriting Analyst, showcasing his automation skills and problem-solving prowess. Proficient in Excel, Peoplesoft, Python, SQL, and more, Brandon's technical finesse is matched by his dedication to unraveling insights from complex data.

Dave Cormier

Featured Courses: AI in Action: Intro to Prompt Engineering

With 25 years of experience as teacher, researcher and author, Dave Cormier is interested in how technologies change what it means to learn and to have learned. He is currently a learning specialist for digital strategy and special projects at the Office of Open Learning at the University of Windsor in Ontario Canada. His new book, ‘Learning in a time of Abundance: the community is the curriculum‘ is available @ Johns Hopkins University Press and other online retailers.

Diana Sarkis

Featured Courses: Human Resources Management Essentials (MiniMBA), Applied Leadership

Diana Sarkis currently works as a Sessional Instructor at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. She teaches courses at the Master of Business (MBA) and the undergraduate program in the Management and Labour areas.

Diana operates as an HR Consultant, where she partners with organizations throughout Canada to provide expertise in compensation, training and development, recruitment and outplacement services. She previously worked in the field of human resources in a full-time capacity in various sectors, including manufacturing, professional services and the broader public sector. Through her employment experience, Diana has gained extensive experience in labour relations, recruitment, training and development and strategic human resources practices.

Diana completed a Master of Industrial Relations (MIR), a specialized advanced degree in human resources and labour relations, at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. Diana also holds a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation through the Human Resources Professional Association. She has served the HR community as the Chair of the Human Resources Professional Association of Windsor.

Francine Durivage

Featured Courses: Applied Leadership

Francine helps individuals, groups and industry leaders handle the often challenging landscape of Project Management in a practical and impactful way. She works with private and not for profit businesses domestically and internationally as well as all levels of government to create or enhance their project frameworks, project management offices and to upskill the project team's abilities and execution.

In addition to providing a broad set of in-demand courses, Francine has created two university accredited certifications in the areas of Project Management and Business Process Improvement. For Francine it is the ability to positively impact results, make the project a more enjoyable experience and remove impediments by providing user friendly tools, techniques, tips, troubleshooting and tutorials that fuel her passion for project management.

A fluently bilingual instructor (English, French), Francine is the Founder and President of Durivage Management Solutions Limited where she and her team have worked in more than a dozen countries on three continents. She is a speaker, trainer, consultant, author and project manager. Francine holds a Master of Project Management (MPM), a Masters Certificate in Organizational Development (MCOD), and a BA(Psychology), as well as having multiple industry credentials including certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and PRINCE2 Practitioner (P2P) and has been using Agile project methods for the past 20 years.

Kyle Brykman

Featured Courses: Applied Leadership

Kyle Brykman is an Assistant Professor of Management at Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. Kyle's research focuses on employee voice and interpersonal team dynamics, including team resilience and conflict. Kyle's mission is to help employees speak up with higher quality ideas and to assist leaders with creating and sustaining effective teamwork, such as by building their teams’ resilient capabilities and improving their conflict-experiences. As part of his research, Kyle has worked with large and small companies to diagnose and improve their human capital challenges. Kyle's research has been published in various prestigious academic journals, including the Journal of Organizational Behavior and Small Group Research, and presented at various international conferences, including the Academy of Management and Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Kyle holds a PhD in Management (Organizational Behaviour) from Smith School of Business at Queen's University, an MSc in Management (Organizational Behaviour & Human Resource Management) from Wilfrid Laurier University, and an HBA from Ivey School of Business. 

Mark Peco

Featured Courses: Data Analytics Essentials (MiniMBA)

Mark Peco is an educator, consultant and manager with expertise in data management, analytics, business analysis and process improvement. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from the University of Waterloo and works with clients to identify and implement key capabilities needed to drive results from their investments in data and analytics. Mark teaches companies on a global basis how to implement and govern "intelligent" business solutions.

As a Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP) at the mastery level, Mark maintains his professional focus at the intersection of business, operations, and technology. He enjoys advising and facilitating management teams as they learn new concepts for shaping data-driven business strategies.

Mark lives in the Toronto area and can be contacted at mark.peco@gmail.com

Matt Carlini

Featured Courses: Accounting Essentials (MiniMBA)

Matt Carlini has been a sessional instructor since 2007. In addition to teaching, he has more than 18 years of financial leadership experience within the energy, financial services, automotive manufacturing and public accounting industries. He is currently the Vice President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer for ENWIN Utilities Ltd. He also was appointed to the Windsor Essex County Humane Society board of directors in 2021 and currently is the Treasurer for the organization. In 2022, he joined the MEARIE board of directors as well. He holds a Business Administration degree from the University of Windsor and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan, along with the designation of CPA, CA.

Nadir Jabur

Featured Courses: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (CLSSMBB) and McGill Mechanical Engineering graduate with over 16 years of experience in the domain of Continuous Improvement. A passionate Sensei (coach) and teacher in the subject matter, he founded Master Sensei in 2020, a continuous improvement consultancy and professional certification company. He led numerous complex and strategic initiatives at several companies across North America, spanning a variety of industries such as aviation, e-commerce, construction, manufacturing, and logistics. In addition, he spearheaded the planning and deployment of operational excellence programs and trained/coached hundreds of Lean Six Sigma students and design thinking practitioners.

Nicole Scott

Featured Courses: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Workplace

Nicole Scott, BSW, MSW, RSW has been appointed to the Field Learning Specialist in the School of Social Work, University of Windsor. Nicole’s responsibilities include negotiation of field placements, referral of undergraduate and graduate students to field sites, confirmation of placements, site visits and monitoring of students’ performance in the field.

Nicole has over ten years of clinical social work experience working in a hospital setting. She has held multiple roles within a clinical setting, discharge planning, bariatric/medical weight clinic, mental health, geriatric mental health and addictions. Nicole has had a hand in program development and program evaluation and was part of the Ontario Bariatric Network mental health task force.

Nicole Scott is a member of the University of Windsor's Anti-Black Racism Task Force.

Nicole Scott has been appointed as a member of the Working Group: Black Scholars Hiring Initiative at UWindsor.

Nicole Scott has been appointed as a member of the Employee Mental Health Strategy Working Group at UWindsor.

Ori Schibi

Featured Courses: Defining and Managing Project Requirements, Change Management Practitioners Certification

Ori Schibi has 27 years’ experience providing practical new ways of managing projects and programs and effectively dealing with challenges around organizational change, strategy, business analysis and PMOs. His experience includes driving process efficiencies, software implementations, project recoveries, project management skills assessments and complex programs that stabilize business, create growth and value and lead sustainable change.

He has long and solid agile experience – including assessing organization’s readiness for agile projects, helping organizations select the right lifecycle approach, aligning agile projects with corporate governance structures, coaching team members, leading agile transitions and adaptations and driving value through leading agile projects. Ori is well-versed in several agile methods, with focus on discipline agile delivery, and teaches for a variety of in-house clients, as well as for OPS, University of Toronto and the City of Toronto.

Ori has extensive experience working with large to mid-sized organizations in diverse industries. These industries include Telecoms, Financial Services, Aerospace, Hospitality, Pharmaceuticals and government agencies (Canada - all levels of government, US, the United Nations).

He is the author of the book Managing Stakeholder Expectations for Project Success (2013), as well as the book Effective PM-BA Role Collaboration (2015). He is also the co-author (with Kevin Aguanno), of the book Agile Business Analysis: Enabling Continuous Improvement of Requirements, Project Scope, and Agile Project Results (2018). His latest books is Effective Project and Change Sponsorship: Getting the Most from Your Strategic Investments (2020).

Ori’s track record is one of value-creation and excellence and he consistently delivers success in his consulting engagements. As an instructor, Ori brings his wealth of experience to class and his delivery style includes real-life, practical examples – that are easy to relate to and to understand; an appropriate sense of humour, and a unique ability to connect with his class participants to maximize the value of their learning. Ori’s clarity and easy-going ability to share his knowledge helps participants apply the learning in their environments; leading to customers repeatedly asking for his services and expertise.

He is also accredited by PMI under its Authorized Training Partner Instructor program to teach its PMP Exam Prep course.

Shelly-Ann John

Featured Courses: Constructive Conflict Management

DBA, PMP®

CEO & Director of Projects, IMVELO Inc.

For several decades, Shelley-Ann has had a passion for management, and the development of tools and strategies that effect long-term impact at the individual and organizational levels. She co-creates value with her clients (typically educational and healthcare institutions, charitable organizations, and multinational corporations) based on her richly diverse experiences that include the management of projects to benefit for various populations within rehabilitation, mental health, transportation, and other businesses.

Dr. John completed a BSc. degree in Psychology from McGill University and a master’s degree in Behavioural Medicine. Her most advanced degree is a doctorate in Business Administration from Athabasca University with a focus on stakeholder engagement for strategic management, and sustainability.

When not engaged in projects or teaching business communications, strategic management or business strategy at the University of Windsor, she tries to create balance in her spare time by gardening and doing yard work, refinishing, and painting furniture, decorating, reading, hiking, and enjoying quality time with her family.

Steven Javor

Featured Courses: E-Commerce Courses

Steven Javor is an accomplished leader in E-Commerce and is a pioneer of Digital Customer Experience and E-Marketing strategies.

As a digital business professional with 20+ years experience, he has built B2C and B2B strategies and solutions for major National and International brands.

Steven has worked with companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Canada Post, Rogers, Bell, RBC, CTV, Home Depot and also has led 2 start-ups in the Online Retail and Digital Services verticals.

Currently, he is a Global Director of E-Commerce for a Paris based, Energy Solutions Multinational and has held leadership positions in Canada, the US and the EU.

Steven is also an active member of the Academy of Television Arts and Science (Emmy Awards) and currently resides in his hometown of Toronto.

Susanne Earle

Featured Courses: Succession Planning in the Workplace

Susanne Earle is the founder and President of Game Change Coaching & Consulting. As a Leadership Coach and Human Resources Consultant, Susanne empowers leaders at all levels to master an engaging leadership style that brings out the best in others, improves the way people work together, and increases employee commitment, accountability and performance. Customized training programs and personalized one-on-one coaching incorporate tools to apply the learning to the workplace for positive and sustainable organizational change.

Susanne has 12 years of experience as a Leadership Coach and over 25 years’ experience in Human Resources, both as a consultant and in the corporate sector. Her unique background in coaching and HR provides an added level of support to leaders when handling everyday people issues such as performance and attendance problems, workplace conflict, communication and disengagement.

Susanne’s qualifications include:

Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation

Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) with the Coaches Training Institute

Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) with the Human Resources Professionals Association

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (B.A.)

Tony Mao

Featured Courses: Strategic Management Essentials (MiniMBA)

Tony Mao is a business professor and a strategy consultant with over thirty years of global business experience as an entrepreneur and a senior manager for multinational companies. He is the founder of KM Consulting, a consultant entity specializes in international expansion and organizational change management. He has taught capstone strategy courses in the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels for over fifteen years. As an educator, his goal is to be a great teacher who inspires his students to be self-motivated lifelong learners. 

Vincent Georgie

Featured Courses: Marketing Essentials (MiniMBA)

Dr Vincent Georgie is Associate Vice-President, External at the University of Windsor, and a Marketing Professor at the Odette School of Business. He is the Executive Director and Chief Programmer of the Windsor International Film Festival. Originally from Montreal, Vincent holds a PhD in Marketing. Dr Georgie is an authority on the marketing of film. He participates in countless media appearances annually with media outlets both local and national, including his annual coverage of the Oscars from Hollywood. His most recent citation was with the industry's leading publication, Variety. Vincent has worked as a marketing consultant for over 15 years in media, entertainment, consumer packaged goods, higher education, government, retail and tourism sectors.

In 2021, Dr Georgie received an appointment from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario to serve on the Board of Ontario Creates, the largest economic development driver for the entertainment industry in Canada. In 2018, Vincent was named “Top 40 Under 40” for Windsor-Essex. Vincent has dedicated both his professional and personal lives to the not-for-profit sectors, and strives for community impact. Along with his brother Trevor, they are the naming sponsors of the Georgie-Odette Leadership Symposium (GOLS), a Richard Peddie Leadership Initiative at the University of Windsor. From 2013-2017, Vincent lead Graduate programs at the Odette School of Business before undertaking his latest role. In 2016, Vincent received the University's highest teaching award, that for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching. WIFF is a partner festival of the Toronto International Film Festival. WIFF is currently Canada's largest volunteer-run film festival, selling over 42,000 paid tickets in 2019. He has recently finished leading the popular drive-in event, WIFF Under The Star.

Health Sciences

Debbie Rickeard

Featured Courses: Arrhythmia and 12 Lead Interpretation Workshop

Debbie Rickeard, DNP; CNE, CCRN, RN is an Experiential Learning Specialist and faculty member at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Nursing. She has a diverse clinical background in the areas of critical care, heart failure, cardiac transplant, and medical surgical nursing. Aside from 40 plus years of clinical practice, Debbie Rickeard has been a clinical educator and faculty at university, and college level as well as an education specialist with a focus on critical care at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Debbie began teaching at the University as a sessional instructor in the 1990's and became a full-time experiential learning specialist in 2010. Content areas taught include medical-surgical classes in the second and third year of the program, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, simulation, and a fourth-year transition into practice class.

Aside from teaching and practice experience, Debbie has been a Certified Critical Care Nurse through the AACN since 1996 and a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League for Nurses since 2012.

Destiny Cadarette

Featured Courses: Critical Care Simulation

Destiny Cadarette, MN, BScN, RN, is a critical care trained, registered nurse. She has been working for the last seven years in an emergency department as a bedside nurse and preceptor. She has her Master of Nursing degree and is part of the sessional faculty at the University of Windsor. Over the last three years, she has taught with the University of Windsor and St Clair College in the BScN program. Destiny teaches clinical placement in many different settings, as well as experiential learning lab, and is a faculty member in the simulation lab. Destiny has participated in many research opportunities and has been a presenter at nursing conferences. She is a current member of RNAO and a past president of Sigma Tau Upsilon Chapter. Destiny’s main nursing interests include cardiac and critical care. Destiny is looking forward to sharing her passion for nursing and knowledge with others!

Felicia Varacalli

Featured Courses: Introduction to Critical Care

Felicia Varacalli, PHC-NP, MScN, BScN is a nurse practitioner who currently works in primary care. However, she recently worked three years in the intensive care unit as a critical care-trained registered nurse. She just obtained her Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner degree in August of 2024, and completed a thesis during her Master of Nursing degree in 2023. Her research focused on nursing perspectives of family-centred rounds in adult intensive care units. She also works as a faculty member in the simulation lab at the University of Windsor. She is a current member of RNAO and Sigma Tau Upsilon. She looks forward to sharing her critical care knowledge and passion for teaching with you.

Gina Pittman

Featured Courses: Foundations of Pharmacology, Ontario University Consortium RN Prescribing Education Program

Gina Pittman has worked at the University of Windsor in the Faculty of Nursing since 2015. She is teaching in the undergraduate BScN and graduate NP nursing programs. She has a wide variety of teaching experience; examples include professional nursing, pharmacology, and fourth year labs. Currently, Gina also works as a nurse practitioner in the community at two local urgent care centres.

Kimberly Mcalpine

Featured Courses: Health Assessment Refresher Workshop

Kimberly McAlpine is an accomplished Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner and University Instructor with over 22 years of experience in healthcare. Since becoming an Instructor with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Windsor in 2002, McAlpine has gone on to lead in various roles within the University community, including Sessional Instructor, OSCE- Skills Examiner, and Accreditation Support personnel for the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program, along with leading various certificate program workshops. McAlpine first received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Windsor in 1991 and has since received her Master of Nursing in 2006 and a PHCNP Certificate in 2004. For the last 16 years, she has worked as a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner at the Windsor Essex County Health Unit. She is an active leader in the Nursing community, serving as a Member on the Board of Directors for the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, as well as a Member of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Ontario. McAlpine has been published in numerous Nursing texts and looks to continue her work as a figurehead in the healthcare community.

Lourdes Brothers

Featured Courses: Health Assessment Refresher Workshop

As an accomplished Nurse Practitioner, Sessional Instructor for the University of Windsor, and Nursing Practitioner Student Mentor, Lourdes Brothers is a dedicated nurse practitioner and academic leader in the Windsor community. After graduating from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Nursing in 1996 with a BScN, Lourdes achieved both PHCNP and RNEC certifications in 2002/2003 and a Master of Nursing degree in 2007. She has spent over 21 years as a nurse practitioner in the community and hospital setting and has been heavily involved on-campus at the University of Windsor since 2010. Lourdes has led NP students in the classroom, as an examiner, and as an NP application reviewer for the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Program. In addition, she was a member of the Board of Directors for the Essex County Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic for 9 years and has volunteered on medical missions abroad to Haiti and the Philippines.

Sherry Morrell

Featured Courses: Foundations of Pharmacology, Ontario University Consortium RN Prescribing Education Program

Sherry Morrell has worked at the University of Windsor in the Faculty of Nursing since 2006. She is teaching in the undergraduate BScN and graduate NP nursing programs. She has a wide variety of teaching experience; examples include anatomy, health assessment, pharmacology, and experiential labs. Concurrently, Sherry works as a nurse practitioner in the community. Most recently at Grand Maris Urgent Care, and prior, Windsor Regional Hospital Emergency Department.

Cultural & Social Learning

David Owen

Featured Courses: Writing Foundations

David Owen started his teaching at the University of Windsor in 2001, as a Writing Consultant, an Instructor of Technical Writing for Engineering (85-118), an English Language Instructor (EAP), and TESOL Supervisor and Mentor.

He has also conducted in-class writing seminars for professors, facilitated workshops and tutorials for students, and provided editing services for university faculty. He is committed to supporting students in developing strategies to become competent and autonomous writers.

Johnathan Bayley

Featured Courses: University of Windsor Lab School Music Program

Dr. Bayley is a graduate of McGill University, the University of Alberta, University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music), and The Ohio State University. He is presently Professor Emeritus at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

He has taught at the secondary school level (Junior and Senior High School), adjudicated numerous music festivals throughout Canada and was a flute instructor at Alberta College Conservatory of Music for 15 years. He has also taught at the University of Alberta, The Ohio State University, University of Regina, University of Windsor, and Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Judie Powell

Featured Courses: The Fundamentals of Race and Anti-Black Racism

For over 20 years, Judie Powell has worked in the child welfare sector, both in frontline service and recently as an equity lead with a focus on anti-Black racism and the over-representation and disparity in service to Black children and youth and their families. Judie has a Bachelor of Social Work from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Windsor. She has also completed diversity and inclusion courses through the Canadian Centre of Diversity and Inclusion along with certificate courses through the University of Alberta, focusing on Black Canadian history and racism. In her professional capacity, Judie was seconded to the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Society to work on phase II of the One Vision One Voice project, which aims to decrease the over-representation of Black youth in care and the disparities in service to the Black community as a community engagement worker across the province. Today, she continues to deliver child welfare training across the province focused on equity and Anti-Black racism.

Kaitlyn Ellsworth

Featured Courses: Building the Foundation: Race Literacy

Kaitlyn Ellsworth is a sixth generation Underground Railroad and Black Loyalist descendent from Windsor, Ontario. She is currently the Black Student Support Coordinator in the Office of the Vice-President of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Windsor.

Kaitlyn’s post-secondary education includes a BA from the University of Windsor, a BEd from the University of Toronto's OISE specializing in Anti-Racism education, a BA in African American Studies from Wayne State University and is currently working on a Master of Research in the History of Africa and the African Diaspora from the University of Chichester. Kaitlyn’s research is focused on the contemporary transnational relationship between Black Canadians in Windsor, Ontario, and Black Americans in Detroit, Michigan.

 Kaitlyn currently is the Scholarship Chair of The Hour-A-Day Study Club, Canada’s oldest African Canadian women’s organization, a Board of Director for the Essex County Black Historical Research Society, Executive Board member and founding member of The Black Council of Windsor-Essex, a member of The Distinguished Women of International Service, Windsor’s Black Educators Association, Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators, the social justice group Teachers for Global Awareness and the alumni/community rep on the University of Windsor’s Anti-Black Racism taskforce.

Michael Karloff

Featured Courses: University of Windsor Lab School Music Program: Jazz Mentorship Program

Michael Karloff teaches jazz/pop piano and aural skills classes for the University of Windsor School of Creative Arts. He also serves on the faculty in the department of Music Theatre Performance at St. Clair College, as the instructor for Music Theory, Ear Training, and as musical director. Michael is the anchor jazz-pianist for Jazz at Mackenzie Hall produced by Windsor Jazz Concert Series, and also performs regularly with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Opera, 4th Wall Music and Windsor Light Music Theatre. A highly in-demand collaborative pianist for classical music, opera accompaniment, orchestra and chamber music concerts, Michael also performs jazz regularly in both Windsor and throughout southeastern Michigan with Dave Bennett, Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings, Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club, and others. Michael hold a masters degree in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University.

Russell A. Evans

Featured Courses: Indigenous People of Southwestern Ontario

Dr. Russell A. Evans is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at the Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. He is Anishnaabe with roots in both Temagami First Nation (Bear Island) and Matachewan First Nation communities in northeastern Ontario. His dissertation research focused on financial accountability relationships between Indigenous communities and their various stakeholders, including the Government of Canada. He completed his PhD in Behavioural and Social Accounting at the J.R. Smith School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. His current projects include research involving Indigenous governance, economic development within Indigenous communities, Indigenous research methodology, and EDI issues related to the Indigenization of post-secondary education in Canada. He has received several internal and external grants for his research and was awarded the CPA Ontario Best Paper Award in 2018 for his paper titled "Budgeting Practices in Canadian First Nations Settings: A Study of Their Role in the Persistence of arbitrary-set Social Hierarchies.

Russel Nahdee

Featured Courses: Indigenous People of Southwestern Ontario

Russell Nahdee holds the position of Indigenous Learning Specialist at the Office of Open Learning, University of Windsor, and serves as an adjunct Lecturer at the University of Windsor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology. His research endeavors focus on collaborative projects with Indigenous communities, with a particular emphasis on facilitating cross-cultural exchanges and the respectful sharing of Indigenous Knowledge.

Vanessa Mio-Quiring

Featured Courses: University of Windsor Lab School Music Program: Strings

Dr. Vanessa Mio-Quiring is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Education and the Music Education (Continuing Education) departments at the University of Windsor. Vanessa completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies degree (with a focus on violin pedagogy) from the University of Windsor. Vanessa also earned a Master of Music, a Bachelor of Music, and a Performance Diploma in Violin Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied violin with Mimi Zweig, Kathleen Winkler, Baroque violin with Stanley Ritchie, and string pedagogy with Mimi Zweig and Dr. Brenda Brenner. Vanessa’s passion for teaching was sparked at Indiana University where she was appointed as an Associate Instructor with the Indiana University String Academy from 2005-2008.

Vanessa is a member of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association (CMFAA), Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA), Canadian Music Educators’ Association (CMEA), American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and the International Society for Music Education (ISME).

Engineering, Science & Technology

Amin Azmoodeh

Featured Courses: Certificate in Cybersecurity

Dr. Amin Azmoodeh is an accomplished professional with a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Software Development, Dr. Azmoodeh has years of experience teaching and conducting research at various universities and colleges. His work in these fields is marked by a dedication to advancing theoretical and practical knowledge, contributing significantly to the academic and professional communities.

Lakshmi Varaha Iyer

Featured Courses: Electric Vehicle Powertrain Systems

Dr. Lakshmi Varaha Iyer (Senior Member, IEEE) is currently a Senior Manager, Advanced Powertrain and Chassis, with Magna International’s Corporate R&D division. Dr. Iyer is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Windsor. He received MASc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Windsor, Canada and a B.Tech. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from SASTRA University, India. He has been innovating in the area of electric vehicle powertrain components and systems since 2008. He has also been teaching courses occasionally in the areas of electric vehicles, energy conversion and power systems since 2016. Dr. Iyer has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers in international conferences and journals has published over 30 patents. He was a recipient of the 2017 Governor General’s Gold Medal in Canada, one among North America’s “30 under 30” honored by Society of Manufacturing Engineers in 2018, and a recipient of NSERC CGS and OGS awards in 2014 during his doctoral studies at the University of Windsor. He was also a recipient of the Magna Innovation Award in 2022. He is an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.

Majid Afshar

Featured Courses: Certificate in Front End Web Development

Majid Afshar is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Windsor, bringing expertise in Data Analytics and a passion for cutting-edge AI research. Afshar is also a postdoctoral fellow at Toronto Metropolitan University's Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, where his work focuses on the intersection of Data Analytics, Machine Learning, and the development of robust AI-driven models to tackle real-world challenges. Notably, his contributions to dimensionality reduction and scalable feature selection, including the pioneering method of singular vectors feature selection, have garnered recognition within the field. Afshar is passionate about advancing computer science through research and teaching, with a strong commitment to academic excellence.