The University of New Brunswick and philanthropist Lorretta Windsor are pleased to announce the launch of a new graduate award. The Ken Windsor Graduate Fellowship in History will be awarded to a student pursuing graduate studies in history on UNB's Fredericton campus.
The fellowship has been made possible through a gift of $500,000 from Loretta Windsor, Ken Windsor's sister-in-law.
The late Kenneth N. Windsor was a widely admired associate professor in UNB's history department from 1967 until his untimely death in 1979. Professor Windsor was a popular don of Harrison House as well and played a key roll in establishing many of the traditions within Harrison House and across UNB's residence system.
Prof. Windsor initiated the creation of a journal designed to "recover the past" of the Atlantic region, suggesting that historians borrow the title Acadiensis from an antiquarian journal which had been produced in Saint John between 1901 and 1908. Acadiensis: Journal of the History of the Atlantic Region, established in 1971, continues to be produced at UNB to this day, and many of Prof. Windsor's former students are now respected historians. The Ken Windsor Graduate Fellowship will extend his legacy at UNB in the field of historical studies.
"Ken had a deep interest in how Canadians represent their history to future generations and a boundless enthusiasm for the work of graduate students," Loretta Windsor said. "I believe one of the best ways we can honour his memory is to ensure that graduate students can continue to study history here, at the university he loved."
"Ken Windsor was determined to place the study of Atlantic Canada's history on a firm foundation," said Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle, president and vice chancellor at UNB. "He succeeded in doing so, and we are deeply grateful for this generous memorial to him, which will encourage and reward good scholarship."
The first student to be awarded the $20,000 Ken Windsor Graduate Fellowship in History is Kelsey James.
"As a mother to three young children, ages six, three, and four months, the decision to pursue a Masters degree was an intimidating one, but something I am extremely passionate about. The Ken Windsor Graduate Fellowship helps to provide some peace of mind so that I can focus on the important things, like my family and my studies," Kelsey James said.
