Honorary Degrees

Jagat (Jack) Uppal, B.C. South Asian community leader and businessman of Indian descent is known for always giving back, hiring new immigrants and sponsoring others needing jobs before entering Canada. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on Mr. Uppal on Tuesday, June 12 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Saida Rasul, dentist and former member of SFU’s board of governors, is renowned for her community work with the United Way, Outward Bound, Leadership Vancouver, Channel M and many other educational and health institutions. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on Dr. Rasul on Wednesday, June 13 at the 9:45 am ceremony.

Louise Mandell is a groundbreaking Vancouver lawyer who over the last three decades has become one of Canada’s most important conceptual thinkers and influential actors in the area of Aboriginal and treaty rights law. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on Ms. Mandell on Wednesday, June 13 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Harry Arthurs, York University president emeritus, professor emeritus and former Osgoode Hall Law School dean, has made significant contributions to legal theory, education and practice—particularly labour law. He is one the country’s most distinguished educators and jurists. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on Prof. Arthurs on Thursday, June 14 at the 9:45 am ceremony.

Yosef Wosk is a Vancouver philanthropist, scholar, educator, rabbi, community leader, businessman and a former director in Continuing Studies at SFU. He also founded the Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars and SFU’s Philosophers’ Café, the world’s largest series of cafe discussion gatherings. The degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, will be conferred on Dr. Wosk on Thursday, June 14 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Glenda Gray, a South African pediatrician is acclaimed for her pioneering work in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission and her visionary leadership of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, one of Africa's leading HIV prevention and treatment research and clinical-care centres. The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, will be conferred on Dr. Gray on Friday, June 15 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Martha Nussbaum is a prominent and fearless American philosopher, classics scholar and faculty member of the University of Chicago’s law school, philosophy department and divinity school. She also passionately defends the humanities as central to the education of citizens of a democratic state. The degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, will be conferred on Dr. Nussbaum on Thursday, October 4 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Abdul Kalam is a former president of India, aerospace engineer, professor, writer, world statesman and internationally renowned scientist and technologist who is passionate about the power of science to solve problems in ways that transcend ideology and religion. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on Dr. Kalam on Friday, October 5 at the 9:45 am ceremony.

Kim Baird is the youngest elected female chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation. She is currently serving her sixth term since being elected in 1999 at age 28. She was instrumental in negotiating Canada's first modern urban First Nations treaty in 2009. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on Chief Baird on Friday, October 5 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.