November 15, 2024
Congratulations Fall 2024 McMaster graduates!
This is your one-stop shop for stories and highlights from Fall 2024 Convocation ceremonies. Check back on this page as we add more stories about our inspiring graduates throughout convocation season. Details of all convocation ceremonies can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
Share your special moments with us by tagging us on Instagram (@McMasterU) and use the hashtag #MacGrad2024.
Fall 2024 Convocation: What you need to know
The hard work and accomplishments of our fall grads will be celebrated at ceremonies on Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Learn more
Meet the honorary degree recipients of Fall 2024
The achievements of artist, poet and community champion Tom Wilson; and John Ioannidis, a pioneer and international leader in evidence-based medicine and meta-science will be honoured at this year’s Fall Convocation ceremonies. Learn more
Meet the Fall 2024 Valedictorians
Three graduating students will serve as valedictorians at the Fall Convocation ceremonies this week.
Carolyn Ralph from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Kian Yousefi Kousha from the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Xiru Wang from the Faculty of Engineering will represent their student communities and directly address fellow students, faculty, guests, family and friends at the ceremonies on Nov. 20 and 21.
Congratulations to all three of these extraordinary students for not only their academic excellence, but their leadership and contributions to the community during their time at McMaster.
Two exceptional graduating students awarded prestigious Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal
Lin Li and Shadman Khan are this year’s recipients of the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious awards students in Canadian schools can receive. As they get set to cross the Convocation stage, the award winners share how the research opportunities, mentorship and guidance they received at McMaster helped them succeed.
President’s Awards celebrate excellence in graduate supervision
Allison Williams, Deborah Sloboda and Manish Verma are this year’s recipients of the President’s Awards for Excellence in Graduate Supervision.
2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards
Five decades and 9,000 works of art: Judith Nasby
Judith Nasby was 22, newly graduated from McMaster, when she became the curator of the University of Guelph’s Art Gallery, tasked with hunting down its small, scattered art collection. Today, the Art Gallery of Guelph is a renowned cultural institution.
An advocate for patients at every stage of life: Jean Marmoreo
Whether she was delivering a baby, advocating for an underrepresented group or supporting a patient who wishes to die on their own terms, Jean Marmoreo has treated every patient as an individual who deserves compassion and empathy.
A guide to McMaster Convocation traditions
Since its founding in 1887, thousands of McMaster University students have celebrated and been celebrated at convocation ceremonies. Many official, and unofficial traditions have grown from these celebrations. Here are a few of them.
Grads to watch
Learn more about some of our inspiring graduates, what they accomplished during their time at McMaster and the future impact they hope to make on the world
PhD student’s music therapy ‘hides the broccoli in the brownie’
With the therapy hidden within the music, it’s a clinical intervention that doesn’t feel clinical, says Rachael Finnerty, whose Introduction to Music Therapy course draws 2,000 students in the fall term, and another 2,000 in the winter.
‘Good historical research offers an opportunity to understand the present’
New PhD Ryan Heyden’s interest in Germany, migration and humanitarianism has both personal and intellectual significance
Three degrees & a wedding at The Phoenix. This grad reflects on a decade at McMaster.
Kenny Noguchi’s journey at McMaster University began in 2014, studying kinesiology. He’s since completed a master’s degree, is graduating with a PhD in rehabilitation science, and is hailed by his thesis supervisor as a “rising leader in stroke research.”
How this nursing PhD grad is working towards reconciliation through research
Aric Rankin graduates from McMaster University with a PhD in Nursing, having successfully defended a thesis that explored the role of the Indigenous Patient Navigator in the health-care system, and arming policymakers with the evidence needed to invest in this vital role.
PhD graduate an emerging leader and role model in responsible artificial intelligence diagnostics
The equity-driven research of Eman Rezk, an emerging leader in artificial intelligence-based diagnostics, is described as “inspiring” by her supervisor. Here’s how the PhD in Computational Science and Engineering hopes to make a positive impact in the lives of patients by creating responsible AI models that are equitable, transparent and human-centred.
