McMaster announces honorary degree recipients

Prolific Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn, a pioneer of evidence based medicine, a world renowned art detective, and a local activist who has dedicated her life to raising awareness about ALS, are among the distinguished list of those being awarded honorary degrees at McMaster University's spring convocation.

Approximately 4,500 students will graduate in May and June this year. Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions in such areas as public service, education and scholarship, creative and performing arts, and for their work within the McMaster community.

Please note: Convocation will take place at Hamilton Place, unless otherwise noted below. Where two or more people are listed as honorary degree recipients, an asterisk indicates the recipient will address convocation.

Divinity College

Tuesday, May 19, 8 p.m. (Convocation Hall, McMaster University)

Nancy Bell, active member of the Baptist church, Doctor of Divinity

Lois Crofoot, active member of the Baptist church, Doctor of Laws*

Faculty of Health Sciences

Friday, May 22, 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Alvin Zipursky, chairman and scientific director, The Programme for Global Paediatric Research , The Hospital for Sick Children, Doctor of Science

Dr. David Sackett, a pioneer of evidence based medicine and founder of the first department of clinical epidemiology at McMaster University, Doctor of Science*

Faculty of Humanities/Arts & Science (Art, Art History, Classics, Communication Studies, Comparative Literature, Multimedia, Music, Peace Studies, Philosophy, Theatre and Film Studies, Women's Studies)

Monday, June 8, 9:30 a.m.

Bruce Cockburn, Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter, Doctor of Letters*

Shirley Elford, celebrated Canadian artist and glass blower, Doctor of Letters

Faculty of Humanities (Graduands in a single or combined program with majors in Humanities programs not included in the morning ceremony)

Monday, June 8, 2:30 p.m.

Maurizio Seracini, a world renowned diagnostician of Italian art, Doctor of Letters*

Maximilien Laroche, one of Haiti's foremost intellectuals, working in the areas of Haitian, Quebec and American studies, Doctor of Letters

Faculty of Science (Biochemistry, Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Geoscience, Kinesiology, Molecular Biology, Neural Computation, Psychology, Science)

Tuesday, June 9, 9:30 a.m.

Herbert M. Jenkins, professor emeritus of psychology at McMaster University and the first director of the Arts & Science program, Doctor of Laws

Peter Nicholson, inaugural president and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies, Doctor of Laws*

Faculty of Science (Graduands in a single or combined program with majors in Science programs not included in the morning ceremony)

Tuesday, June 9, 2:30 p.m.

Sir Martin J. Rees, president of the Royal Society, Doctor of Science

Faculty of Business

Wednesday, June 10, 9:30 a.m.

Charles Coffey, retired executive vice president of government affairs and community development, RBC Financial Group, Doctor of Laws*

John Howard, founder of Megalomaniac Wines, Doctor of Laws

Faculty of Social Sciences (Anthropology, Geography, Labour Studies, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology)

Thursday, June 11, 9:30 a.m.

Philip Awashish, Cree political leader and advisor to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Doctor of Laws

James Bartleman, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Doctor of Laws*

Faculty of Social Sciences (Graduands in a single or combined program with majors in Social Science programs not included in the morning ceremony)

Thursday, June 11, 2:30 p.m.

The Honorable R. Roy McMurtry, former Chief Justice of Ontario, High Commissioner to Great Britain and Attorney General for Ontario, Doctor of Laws*

Robert Fitzhenry, director of the Woodbridge Foam Corporation, Doctor of Laws

School of Nursing/Faculty of Science (Medical Radiation Sciences Program)

Friday, June 12, 9:30 a.m.

Dr. Yasmin Noorali Amarsi, Foundation Dean, College of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa, Aga Khan University, Doctor of Science*

Elizabeth Grandbois, diagnosed with ALS and passionate activist who has raised awareness about the disease, Doctor of Laws.

Faculty of Engineering

Friday, June 12, 2:30 p.m.

Gilles Patry, former president of the University of Ottawa, Doctor of Laws*

Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division, Doctor of Science

McMaster University's guidelines for awarding of honorary degrees are available at http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/policy/HonoraryDegrees.pdf.

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Prolific Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn, a pioneer of evidence based medicine, a world renowned art detective, and a local activist who has dedicated her life to raising awareness about ALS, are among the distinguished list of those being awarded honorary degrees at McMaster University&#039;s spring convocation. <br />
<br />
<p>Approximately 4,500 students will graduate in May and June this year. Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions in such areas as public service, education and scholarship, creative and performing arts, and for their work within the McMaster community.  <br />
<br />
<p>Please note: Convocation will take place at Hamilton Place, unless otherwise noted below. Where two or more people are listed as honorary degree recipients, an asterisk indicates the recipient will address convocation.<br />
<br />
<p><b>Divinity College</b><br />
<br>Tuesday, May 19, 8 p.m. (Convocation Hall, McMaster University)<br />
<br><li>Nancy Bell, active member of the Baptist church, Doctor of Divinity<br />
<br><li>Lois Crofoot, active member of the Baptist church, Doctor of Laws*</p></li><br />
<br />
<p><b>Faculty of Health Sciences</b><br />
<br>Friday, May 22, 2:30 p.m.<br />
<br><li>Dr. Alvin Zipursky, chairman and scientific director, The Programme for Global Paediatric Research , The Hospital for Sick Children, Doctor of Science<br />
<br><li>Dr. David Sackett, a pioneer of evidence based medicine and founder of the first department of clinical epidemiology at McMaster University, Doctor of Science*</p></li><br />
<br />
<p><b>Faculty of Humanities/Arts & Science</b> (Art, Art History, Classics, Communication Studies, Comparative Literature, Multimedia, Music, Peace Studies, Philosophy, Theatre and Film Studies, Women&#039;s Studies)<br />
<br>Monday, June 8, 9:30 a.m.<br />
<br><li>Bruce Cockburn, Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter, Doctor of Letters*<br />
<br><li>Shirley Elford, celebrated Canadian artist and glass blower, Doctor of Letters</br></li><br />
<br />
<p><b>Faculty of Humanities</b> (Graduands in a single or combined program with majors in Humanities programs not included in the morning ceremony)<br />
<br>Monday, June 8, 2:30 p.m.<br />
<br><li>Maurizio Seracini, a world renowned diagnostician of Italian art, Doctor of Letters*<br />
<br><li>Maximilien Laroche, one of Haiti&#039;s foremost intellectuals, working in the areas of Haitian, Quebec and American studies, Doctor of Letters</p></li><br />
            <br />
<p><b>Faculty of Science</b> (Biochemistry, Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Geoscience, Kinesiology, Molecular Biology, Neural Computation, Psychology, Science)<br />
<br>Tuesday, June 9, 9:30 a.m.<br />
<br><li>Herbert M. Jenkins, professor emeritus of psychology at McMaster University and the first director of the Arts & Science program, Doctor of Laws<br />
<br><li>Peter Nicholson, inaugural president and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies, Doctor of Laws*</p></li><br />
<br />
<p><b>Faculty of Science</b> (Graduands in a single or combined program with majors in Science programs not included in the morning ceremony)<br />
<br>Tuesday, June 9, 2:30 p.m.<br />
<br><li>Sir Martin J. Rees, president of the Royal Society, Doctor of Science</p></li><br />
<br />
<p><b>Faculty of Business</b><br />
<br>Wednesday, June 10, 9:30 a.m.<br />
<br><li>Charles Coffey, retired executive vice president of government affairs and community development, RBC Financial Group, Doctor of Laws*<br />
<br><li>John Howard, founder of Megalomaniac Wines, Doctor of Laws</p></li><br />
<br />
<p><b>Faculty of Social Sciences</b> (Anthropology, Geography, Labour Studies, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology)<br />
<br>Thursday, June 11, 9:30 a.m.<br />
<br><li>Philip Awashish, Cree political leader and advisor to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Doctor of Laws<br />
<br><li>James Bartleman, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Doctor of Laws*</p></li><br />
            <br />
<p><b>Faculty of Social Sciences</b> (Graduands in a single or combined program with majors in Social Science programs not included in the morning ceremony)<br />
<br>Thursday, June 11, 2:30 p.m.<br />
<br><li>The Honorable R. Roy McMurtry, former Chief Justice of Ontario, High Commissioner to Great Britain and Attorney General for Ontario, Doctor of Laws*<br />
<br><li>Robert Fitzhenry, director of the Woodbridge Foam Corporation, Doctor of Laws</p></li><br />
            <br />
<p><b>School of Nursing/Faculty of Science</b> (Medical Radiation Sciences Program)<br />
<br>Friday, June 12, 9:30 a.m.<br />
<br><li>Dr. Yasmin Noorali Amarsi, Foundation Dean, College of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa, Aga Khan University, Doctor of Science*<br />
<br><li>Elizabeth Grandbois, diagnosed with ALS and passionate activist who has raised awareness about the disease, Doctor of Laws.</p></li><br />
            <br />
<p><b>Faculty of Engineering</b><br />
<br>Friday, June 12, 2:30 p.m.<br />
<br><li>Gilles Patry, former president of the University of Ottawa, Doctor of Laws*<br />
<br><li>Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division, Doctor of Science</p></li><br />
<br />
<p>McMaster University&#039;s guidelines for awarding of honorary degrees are available at <a href="http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/policy/HonoraryDegrees.pdf">http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/policy/HonoraryDegrees.pdf</a>.

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