Convocation time
1, 425 students to graduate at McGill this November
David Johnston is returning to his beloved McGill this fall. The Universitys former vice-chancellor and principal, along with alumnus Milton K.H. Leong, will be receiving honorary degrees from McGill on Nov. 9. Six faculty members will also be distinguished as emeritus professors, while 1,425 students are graduating. Convocation is at the Molson Centre (1260 De la Gauchetière St.) at 2:30 p.m.. Media wishing to attend should contact Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins, communications officer, at 514-398-6752.
David Johnston - Honorary Doctorate of Laws:
David Johnston is part of an elite group of Canadians who have headed multiple academic institutions. Currently president of the University of Waterloo, he was the 14th principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University from 1979 to 1994. After his tenure as principal, a period when he helped the University broaden its world renown, Johnston stayed on at McGill as law professor before heading to Waterloo. Johnston began his career teaching law at Queens University (1966-68) and the University of Toronto (1968-74) and was later dean of law at the University of Western Ontario (1974-79). A prolific writer, Johnston has penned countless articles on public policy, information technology law and copyright law. Two of the 10 books he authored or co-authored are Cyberlaw: What You Need to Know About Doing Business Online (Stoddart Press, 1997) and If Quebec Goes: The Real Cost of Separation (Stoddart Press 1995). He has served on multiple task forces to promote higher education and was president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and the Conférence des recteurs et principaux des universités du Québec between 1987-89. He has received honorary doctorates from 11 universities, was inducted into Harvards Sports Hall of Fame and is Officer and Companion of the Order of Canada.
Milton K.H. Leong - Honorary Doctorate of Science:
A pioneer in the development of in-vitro fertilization, Dr. Milton Leongs association to McGill has been ongoing for three decades. He first arrived at the University as a student, graduating with a B.Sc. in 1966 and M.D. in 1970. From 1975 to 1979, he returned to his alma mater as coordinator of student teaching for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as a specialist in diagnostic ultrasound, assistant obstetrician, gynaecologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital and Montreal Generals high-risk pregnancy unit. By 1980, he had returned to his native Hong Kong, where he worked on infertility treatments and was responsible for the Citys first in-vitro fertilized (IVF) baby in 1986. He is now director of the IVF Center at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital. Since 1996, he has been president of the McGill Society of Hong Kong, one of the Universitys most active alumni branches in the world. With his wife Susie, who holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from McGill, Dr. Leong gave to the Universitys 21st Century Fund an endowment for graduate fellowships that promote exchanges between Chinese and McGill students in health sciences. As well, he recently contributed a major gift to establish a chair in reproductive medicine bearing his name in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Below are the six McGill professors who are being promoted to emeritus status, the highest distinction bestowed upon academics. Short biographies on each are available at the McGill Reporter:
- Michael Barr: Redpath Emeritus Professor of Pure Mathematics
- Rabindra N. Kanungo:
Emeritus Professor of Management - Barid B. Mukherjee:
Emeritus Professor of Biology - Darko R. Suvin:
Emeritus Professor of English - Jeanne Mary Wolfe:
Emeritus Professor of Urban Planning - Martin Julius Zuckermann:
Macdonald Emeritus Professor of Physics.
