> Mover and shaker earns 16th honorary degree
Mover and shaker earns 16th honorary degree
Contact:
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3210
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3210
September 26, 2008
As a youngster growing up in Lorain, Ohio, Martha Piper dreamed of teaching Grade 3 students. However, the former university president’s accomplishments as an administrator and research advocate have enabled her to surpass her childhood dream.
On Friday, October 10 at 2:30 p.m., Simon Fraser University will confer an Honorary Doctor of Laws on Piper — her 16th from a university — to recognize her achievements on behalf of all universities.
One of the Canadian academic community’s most influential and charismatic leaders, Piper helped establish the University of British Columbia as an international leader in education during her 10-year tenure as its president and vice-chancellor. Her contributions at UBC have played a major role in positioning BC to lead and benefit from the knowledge economy.
Piper helped develop UBC’s Canada Foundation for Innovation and Canada Research Chairs. Piper has also worked with the British Columbia government to increase federal financial support for post-secondary education.
Currently chair of the board of trustees of the National Institute for Nanotechnology, Piper is also on the board of directors of the Bank of Montreal, TransAlta Corporation, Shoppers Drug Mart and Grosvenor Americas Ltd . She is a member of the Canadian delegation to the Trilateral Commission and an Honorary Fellow of Merton College, Oxford University.
Before coming to UBC in 1997, Piper was the Vice President-Research at the University of Alberta where the Martha C. Piper Research Prize, created in her honour, is awarded annually to a faculty member.
Piper has received numerous awards, including being named one of Canada’s most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network (2005) and Educator of the Year by the Learning Partnership (2004). The Globe and Mail newspaper nominated her for a Nation Builder award. Piper is an officer in the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Order of British Columbia.
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On Friday, October 10 at 2:30 p.m., Simon Fraser University will confer an Honorary Doctor of Laws on Piper — her 16th from a university — to recognize her achievements on behalf of all universities.
One of the Canadian academic community’s most influential and charismatic leaders, Piper helped establish the University of British Columbia as an international leader in education during her 10-year tenure as its president and vice-chancellor. Her contributions at UBC have played a major role in positioning BC to lead and benefit from the knowledge economy.
Piper helped develop UBC’s Canada Foundation for Innovation and Canada Research Chairs. Piper has also worked with the British Columbia government to increase federal financial support for post-secondary education.
Currently chair of the board of trustees of the National Institute for Nanotechnology, Piper is also on the board of directors of the Bank of Montreal, TransAlta Corporation, Shoppers Drug Mart and Grosvenor Americas Ltd . She is a member of the Canadian delegation to the Trilateral Commission and an Honorary Fellow of Merton College, Oxford University.
Before coming to UBC in 1997, Piper was the Vice President-Research at the University of Alberta where the Martha C. Piper Research Prize, created in her honour, is awarded annually to a faculty member.
Piper has received numerous awards, including being named one of Canada’s most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network (2005) and Educator of the Year by the Learning Partnership (2004). The Globe and Mail newspaper nominated her for a Nation Builder award. Piper is an officer in the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Order of British Columbia.
— 30 — (electronic photo file available on request)