Posted May 31: Alumni Gallery celebrates 20 years with 12 new inductees

Alumni Weekend 2002 marks the official launch of the Alumni Gallery's twentieth year. Started by a group of alumni to recognize the achievements of other Mac grads, the Alumni Gallery has become the most widely recognized honour offered by the McMaster Alumni Association. Alumni Gallery members exemplify how McMaster alumni positively affect and contribute to society.

This year's inductees are business leaders, innovators in the creative arts, scientists, health sciences researchers, and policy makers.

2002 Alumni Gallery Inductees

William Cody '46, B.A. Faculty of Science

A botanist with the National Research Council of Canada, Willliam Cody has focused his research on the flora and fauna of Northern Canada and he is widely considered to be Canada's foremost expert on Canada's northern flora. His studies led to the publication of five award-winning books, including Flora of the Northwest Territories in 1996.

Harold Cowie '62, B.Div. Faculty of Divinity (posthumously)

Harold Cowie's diverse and interesting career took him all over the globe. His work included archeological digs in Israel; teaching in Jamaica; helping coordinate ophthalmic treatment for people in Asia, Africa, and South America in his capacity as Associate Director, Overseas Development for Operation Eyesight Universal; as well as serving as a minister at various churches in Ontario.

Hertzel Gerstein '89, M.Sc. Faculty of Health Sciences

Hertzel Gerstein is an associate professor, director of the division of endocrinology & metabolism at McMaster, and director of the diabetes care and research program for Hamilton Health Sciences. He currently leads the Diabetes Reduction Approaches with Rampril and Rosiglitazone Medications study (DREAM) which tests the possibility that certain drugs may prevent Type 2 diabetes.

B.Connor Johnson '33, B.A., '34, M.A. Faculty of Science(posthumously)

Connor Johnson's discovery that vitamin K is an integral part of the clotting mechanism opened the investigative world for
vitamin K. Until his death this past March, Johnson continued his research work, most recently on obesity, caloric intake and life span.

Bartha Maria Knoppers '72, B.A. Faculty of Humanities

Bartha Maria Knoppers is a professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Montreal and Senior Researcher and Counsel to the law firm Borden, Ladner, Gervais. She was a member of the International Bioethics Committee of the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization that drafted the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights. Currently, she is Chair of the International Ethics Committee of the Human Genome Project.

Michael Lee-Chin '74, B.Eng. Faculty of Engineering

Although his degree is in Engineering, Michael Lee-Chin made his career in financial services and mutual funds. Currently chair and chief investment officer of AIC, Michael Lee-Chin shares his good fortune with the community by supporting such diverse causes as Ronald McDonald House, the Black Community Achievement Awards, Joseph Brant Hospital and the Burlington Art Gallery.

Karen Maidment '81, B.Com. Faculty of Business

When Karen Maidment accepted the position of executive vice-president and chief financial officer with Bank of Montreal in 2000, she became one of the highest-ranking women in Canadian banking. Despite her busy career, Maidment continues to be active in her community, including acting as treasurer for the Cambridge Winterhawks Junior B
Hockey Team.

Basanti Majumdar '87, M.Sc. Faculty of Science

As a professor of nursing at McMaster University, Basanti Majumdar is instrumental in bridging the University and ethnocultural communities. As well, she has committed her professional research and personal pursuits to community health care throughout the world with a focus on both the empowerment of women and the HIV and AIDS crisis.

Dawn Martens '86, B.A. Faculty of Humanities

Dawn Martens is an educator with a passion for opera. As the artistic director of the Buchanan Park Opera Club, Martens has not only fostered an appreciation of opera in the over 400 individual students who have taken part in annual performances, she has also used these performances to help raise $11,000 for McMaster's Children's Cancer and Leukemia Fund.

Thomas Mason '90, Ph.D. Faculty of Science

Through his research, Thomas Mason earned an international reputation for his groundbreaking work in the underlying origins of superconductivity. He is now the director of the spallation neutron source project in Oakridge, Tennessee. Mason continues to be involved in his community by lecturing on the role of science to student, church and seniors' groups.

Dermot Nolan '69, B.A. Faculty of Humanities

Dermot Nolan is a former professional actor with the Stratford Festival who has practiced law in Hamilton for 26 years. He is a former president of both the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association and the Hamilton Law Association. His volunteer work includes membership on community boards of Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Peter's Hospital.

Miriam Stewart '67, B.Sc.N. Faculty of Health Sciences

In 1999, Miriam Stewart was awarded the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Health Senior Scholar Award. She is currently professor of nursing and in public health sciences, faculty of medicine at the University of Alberta. She has served on numerous national and provincial foundations, government committees, and
community groups on health research and policy.

The Alumni Gallery reception and induction ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday June 1 in Convocation Hall.

The Alumni Gallery display of members' biographies and photographs has
traveled to many places throughout southern Ontario and to Alumni
Association branch events across the country and around the world.

As part of the oral history of the Gallery, an attempt has been made to record an interview with each Gallery member. CFMU 93.3, the McMaster campus radio station, airs these interviews as part of its program McMaster Magazine that airs Wednesdays at 12:30 pm. As well, the entire Gallery can be viewed on the Web at
McMaster @lumni Community.

If you would like more information, or are considering a nomination, please contact, Michelyn C. Siple '98 by phone at extension 23071 or by e-mail alumni@mcmaster.ca

The Alumni Gallery sub-committee of the McMaster Alumni Association
welcomes nominations for potential Alumni Gallery Inductees at any time, though they must be received by September 1, 2002 for consideration for the Alumni Weekend 2003 Induction. Nomination forms are available by calling the Office of Alumni Advancement at extension 23900 and by accessing www.mcmaster.ca/ua and selecting the “Awards” icon.