SFU 2014 Honorary Degree Recipients

Simon Fraser University presented six prominent citizens with honorary degrees at its 2014 June and October Convocation ceremonies:

David Baines  |  Kim Campbell  |  Sir Mason Durie  | John Maeda  |  Steven Pinker  |  Ahmed Zewail  

David Baines is a retired Vancouver Sun securities columnist who devoted 25 years and 3,887 columns to exposing illegal and unethical investment deals, winning four National Newspaper awards and the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jack Webster Foundation. The degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Baines on Tuesday, June 10 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Dr. Baines' citation
Dr. Baines' convocation address

Sir Mason Durie is an expert on Indigenous and Maori development, a psychiatrist and professor emeritus, Massey University, New Zealand. He has devoted much of his career to pioneering community and family mental health programmes with a focus on Indigenous communities. The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Sir Mason on Thursday, October 9 at the 9:45 am ceremony.

Sir Mason's citation
Sir Mason's convocation address 

Steven Pinker is an experimental psychologist hailed by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people on Earth. He is one of the world’s foremost writers on language, mind and human nature. The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Pinker on Thursday, June 12 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Dr. Pinker's citation 
Dr. Pinker's convocation address

The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, PC, CC, OBC, QC, served as Canada’s 19th and first female Prime Minister in 1993 and continues to promote global democracy, international cooperation and women in politics, for which she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada. The degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Campbell on Wednesday, June 11 at the 2:30 pm ceremony.

Dr. Campbell's citation
Dr. Campbell's convocation address

John Maeda is a designer who has spent his career exploring the intersection of graphic design, computer science, education and leadership. In 2008, he was named one of the 75 most influential people in the 21st century by Esquire magazine. The degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Maeda on Friday, June 13 at the 9:45 am ceremony.

Dr. Maeda's citation
Dr. Maeda's convocation address

Ahmed Zewail is the 1999 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, the Linus Pauling Chair professor of chemistry and professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology, and a statesman who has received international awards for his contributions to science and public life. The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, was conferred on Dr. Zewail on Friday, October 10 at the 9:45 am ceremony.

Dr. Zewail's citation
Dr. Zewail's convocation address