91社区

This Spring, beloved traditions are returning to 91社区鈥檚 downtown and Macdonald campuses. The University鈥檚 newest graduates will again cross the stage to receive their hard-earned degrees and diplomas. To celebrate these students鈥� outstanding achievements, the University will welcome 14 inspirational individuals who have made exceptional contributions to both their own fields and society as a whole.

91社区鈥檚 Spring 2022 honorary degree recipients are:听Dr. Izzeldin M. M. Abuelaish,听Noubar听Afeyan,听Patricia E. Benner,听Lawrence S. Bloomberg,听Nicole Brossard,听Martin Chalfie,听Dr. William H. Dietz,听Charlene Drew Jarvis,听Peter Guo-hua Fu,听James (Sa鈥檏e鈥檍) Youngblood Henderson,听Stephen Huddart,听Brenda Norris,听Annabel Soutar, and听Lord听(Gordon) Wasserman.

Honorary doctorates are 91社区鈥檚 highest honours, and are awarded to people who have shown exceptional dedication to improving the lives of others,听whether through research, art, public service, or philanthropy.

Eleven of the honorary doctorates will be awarded during the Spring 2022 Convocation ceremonies on 91社区鈥檚 downtown and Macdonald campuses. Three degrees will be awarded during a special installation ceremony for 91社区鈥檚 20th Chancellor, Mr. John McCall MacBain, who himself received an honorary doctorate from 91社区 in 2014.

鈥淚t gives me great pleasure to honour these incredible individuals who have each contributed to society in significant ways,鈥� said Professor Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of 91社区. 鈥淚t has never been more crucial for universities such as ours to train the leaders of tomorrow. These remarkable honorary doctorate recipients are inspiring role models for the Class of 2022 as they embark on their exciting next chapter.鈥�

91社区 will award its Spring 2022 honorary degrees in the following order:

CHANCELLOR鈥橲 INSTALLATION 鈥� WEDNESDAY, MAY 25 AT 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)听
NOUBAR AFEYAN听
B.Eng. (91社区), Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)听

A biochemical engineer and visionary entrepreneur, Noubar Afeyan uses his strong engineering training and keen entrepreneurship acumen to make a significant impact on global health. He is the co-founder and chairman of Moderna Inc., which gained worldwide recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for developing a highly effective vaccine that has played a crucial role in helping society get back on its feet.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)听
CHARLENE DREW JARVIS听
B.A. (Oberlin College), M.Sc. (Howard University), Ph.D. (University of Maryland)听

After seeing how violent civil unrest devastated her Washington, D.C. community, neuroscientist Charlene Drew Jarvis traded science for politics in the 1970s. As an elected representative of the District of Columbia, she played a key role in rebuilding and growing her community and its economy. After more than two decades in office, she pivoted yet again, becoming the first woman President of Southeastern University.

Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (D.Litt.)
ANNABEL SOUTAR
A.B. (Princeton University)听

Over the last 20 years, documentary playwright Annabel Soutar has explored pressing social issues in an award-winning body of work that infuses traditional dramatic storytelling with investigative journalism. She has written or produced plays that have addressed such topics as the Supreme Court battle between Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser and the Monsanto biotech company (Seeds), and the Quebec hydroelectric industry (J鈥檃ime Hydro).

SPRING 2022 CONVOCATION (MAY 26-JUNE 3)

Health Sciences Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Thursday, May 26 at 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
PATRICIA E. BENNER, F.A.A.N.
A.A., Nursing (Pasadena College), B.A., Nursing (University of California, San Francisco), M.S, Ph.D. (University of California, Berkeley)

As a researcher and educator, Patricia E. Benner is a groundbreaking advocate for the importance of frontline nursing experience as a self-improving practice that is critical for advancing both clinical and managerial practice. Her 鈥淔rom Novice to Expert鈥� theory has advanced the practice of many areas of care, including end-of-life care, pain management, palliative care, and medically assisted dying.

(Note: The Health Sciences Convocation Ceremony brings together the Faculty of Dental Medicine & Oral Health Sciences听and the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, which includes the Ingram School of Nursing, the School of Physical & Occupational Therapy and the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders.)

Faculty of Law Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Thursday, May 26 at 3:00 p.m.

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
JAMES (SA鈥橩E鈥橨) YOUNGBLOOD HENDERSON, F.R.S.C.
B.A. (California State University), J.D. (Harvard Law School)

James (Sa鈥檏e鈥檍) Youngblood Henderson is a noted human rights lawyer. His work has shaped both the Canadian and international spheres, having served as an adviser for the Mi鈥檏maw Nation and the Assembly of First Nations during Canada鈥檚 constitutional process, and co-drafting the United Nations鈥� Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Indigenous Heritage and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Faculty of Science Convocation Ceremony 鈥楢鈥� 鈥� Friday, May 27 at 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
MARTIN CHALFIE, F.A.A.A.S.
A.B., Ph.D. (Harvard University)

Columbia University professor Martin Chalfie was the co-recipient of the 2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his role in transforming a jellyfish protein into a groundbreaking biological marker. Green fluorescent protein, or GFP, is now an essential biomedical research tool, allowing scientists to literally see previously invisible processes such as neuron communication and disease progression.

Faculty of Arts Convocation Ceremony 鈥楢鈥� 鈥� Monday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (D.Litt.)
NICOLE BROSSARD, O.C., C.Q.
B.A. (Universit茅 de Montr茅al)

For more than half a century, Montreal writer Nicole Brossard has been a passionate, innovative force in Quebec鈥檚 feminist and literary movements. Twice winner of the Governor General鈥檚 Award for poetry, for听M茅canique jongleuse suivi de masculin grammaticale听(1974) and听Double Impression听(1984), she has written more than 30 books that disrupt traditional literary genres. She is also a publisher, theorist, and acclaimed documentary filmmaker.

Faculty of Arts Convocation Ceremony 鈥楤鈥� 鈥� Monday, May 30 at 3:00 p.m.

Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (D.Litt.)
BRENDA NORRIS
B.A. (91社区)

Originally from England, Brenda Norris has been a pillar of the Montreal community since graduating from 91社区. She worked as an investment analyst at Greenshields & Co and ran an industrial real estate leasing company for 40 years. As a dedicated volunteer, she served on 91社区鈥檚 Board of Governors, the Women鈥檚 Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital, and many other Montreal institutions鈥攅arning the Queen鈥檚 Jubilee Medal for her community commitment.

Faculty of Arts Convocation Ceremony 鈥楥鈥� 鈥� Tuesday, May 31 at 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Letters, honoris causa (D.Litt.)
LORD (GORDON) WASSERMAN
B.A. (91社区); B.A., M.A. (Oxford University)

A native Montrealer and 91社区 alumnus, Gordon J. Wasserman is an internationally recognized expert in the governance and management of police forces. After attending Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship, he began a 27-year period of service in the British Home Office, including a term as the Prime Minister鈥檚 Director of Social Policy. He has been a member of the House of Lords since 2011.

School of Continuing Studies Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Tuesday, May 31 at 6:00 p.m.

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
STEPHEN HUDDART
M.M. (91社区)

During his tenure as President and CEO, 91社区 alumnus Stephen Huddart advanced the McConnell Foundation鈥檚 mission to build a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable society. Under his leadership, the Foundation grew its impact investing portfolio, seeking out investments that yield social and environmental gains as well as financial returns. Huddart also championed social innovations that strive to close the social and economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.听

Desautels Faculty of Management Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Wednesday, June 1 at 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
LAWRENCE S. BLOOMBERG, C.M., O.ONT.
B. Comm. (Sir George Williams University), MBA (91社区)

91社区 alumnus Lawrence S. Bloomberg is a distinguished financial entrepreneur and a visionary philanthropist. An engaged supporter of the next generation of Canadian innovators, he helped found, and served as director of, Toronto鈥檚 MaRS Discovery District, North America's听largest听urban science and tech ecosystem. As a dedicated believer in the importance of physical fitness, Bloomberg also supports many initiatives that improve health care training and delivery, and the well-being of Canadians.

Faculty of Education Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Wednesday, June 1 at 3:00 p.m.

Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
IZZELDIN M. M. ABUELAISH, O.Ont.
M.B.Ch.B. (University of Cairo), Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology (University of London), MPH (Harvard University)

Born and raised in a Gaza Strip refugee camp, Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is an obstetrician and eloquent champion of Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. Following a tragic family loss, Dr. Abuelaish wrote the memoir听I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor鈥檚 Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, acclaimed for its compassion, forgiveness, and humanity. He is the founding president of the Daughters for Life foundation, which empowers Middle Eastern women to become the leaders of tomorrow by awarding scholarships to attend university.

Faculty of Engineering Convocation Ceremony 鈥� Thursday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
PETER GUO-HUA FU
B. Arch, M. Arch, Ph.D. Arch (Tongji University), Dipl. Arch (91社区)

Architect and 91社区 alumnus Peter Guo-hua Fu is a founding partner of KFS Architects Inc., a firm committed to environmentally responsible design and construction. Guided by Fu鈥檚 belief that 鈥淒esign creates value,鈥� KFS projects include the LEED Gold-certified University Hospital of Northern B.C., the area鈥檚 largest trauma centre. In 2014, Fu combined two passions鈥攕ustainable architecture and musical theatre鈥攂y writing a musical,听Memory of the Valley, which was performed in a 300-seat Shanghai performance space he designed from recycled shipping containers.

Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Convocation Ceremony 鈥楢鈥� 鈥� Friday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m.

Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
WILLIAM H. DIETZ
B.A. (Wesleyan University), M.D. (University of Pennsylvania), Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Dr. William Dietz has built a career in public health focused on obesity prevention, nutrition and physical activity. He is the Director of the听Sumner M. Redstone Global Center for Prevention and Wellness听at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University. Dr. Dietz is the author of more than 200 scientific publications and the editor of five books, including听Clinical Obesity in Adults and Children听and听Nutrition: What Every Parent Needs to Know.

About 91社区

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is Canada鈥檚 top ranked medical doctoral university. 91社区 is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,000 international students making up 30% of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.