CONVOCATION AWARDS

Martha Piper, President of the University of British Columbia and a nationally respected advocate for higher education, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Born in Ohio, Piper holds degrees in Physical Therapy, Child Development, and epidemiology and Biostatistics from the Universities of Michigan, Connecticut and McGill University respectively. She was appointed president of UBC in 1997 after a number of years teaching and administration at McGill and the University of Alberta. Praised for providing unprecedented leadership at UBC, Piper has been a strong voice supporting programs like the Canada Research Chair, as well as federal support for the social sciences.

Ding-Yu Peng
Earned Doctor of Science Degree

A professor of Chemical Engineering at the U of S and a specialist in developing reliable models and algorithms for predicting the phase and volumetric behaviour of petroleum systems, Ding-Yu Peng will received an Earned Doctor of Science degree.

Born in China and raised in Taiwan, Peng earned an engineering degree from the National Taiwan University before fulfilling his military service obligation in China’s armed forces. He moved to the U.S. and earned a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri at Columbia. While at the U of A, Peng and colleague D.B. Robinson developed the Peng-Robinson equation of state that is consistently used in the petroleum industry worldwide and is included in most chemical engineering thermodynamics textbooks.

Karen Chad
Master Teacher Award

Karen Chad’s devotion to teaching and scholarship has earned her this year’s Master Teacher Award.

A full professor in the College of Kinesiology since 2002 and just recently appointed Associate Vice-President of Research, Chad grew up in Prince Albert and earned both a BSc and BEd degree from the U of S before traveling to the University of Queensland for her MA and PhD. Students consistently praise Chad’s mastery of her subject, enthusiasm and concern for their educational wellbeing. Describing her approach to education, Chad said, “I embrace teaching as an opportunity to inspire and empower”.

Bryan Harvey
Alumni Award of Achievement

Internationally renowned scientist, academic, administrator and public servant, Bryan Harvey will receive the Alumni Award of Achievement.

Associated with the U of S since 1980, Harvey earned three degrees from the institution – a BSA in 1960, and MSc in 1961 and a PhD in 1964. Focusing on malting barley breeding, Harvey is credited with changing malting and brewing around the world as well as attracting hundreds of million of dollars to the industry in Canada. Along with a deep commitment to teaching, he was also successful in developing a national accreditation program for Canadian baccalaureate programs in agrology. Harvey is also noted for his resolve to increase research intensity to serve Canada and the world.

Jim Greer
Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award

Jim Greer, former head of the Department of Computer Science, has supervised five PhD and 23 MSc students to the completion of their degrees and currently supervises five, making him an ideal recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award.

Greer came to the U of S as an assistant professor in 1989 after earning a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin. Much of his research is aimed at developing and improving learning and teaching, with a focus on activities related to mentorship, collaborative learning and project-based learning. Having co-written many papers and shared many awards with grad students, Greer has seen former students go on to careers with organizations such as Mircosoft, IBM, SED Systems, General Electric and five Canadian universities.

Norma McBain
President’s Service Award

This year’s President’s Service Award will be presented to Norma McBain in recognition of her 26 years of service to the University of Saskatchewan, most recently as administrative assistant in the University Secretary’s office.

Over her career, McBain’s work for various University secretaries has meant close dealings with the Chancellor, Board of Governors, Senate, University Council and student government representatives. Those who work with McBain, who was born and raised in Shellbrook, comment on her dedication, attention to detail and helpful disposition and many across campus know her to be a solid, dependable authority with a vast amount of corporate memory about the institution, its traditions and its official policies and procedures.

Lingyun (Lily) Wu
Distinguished Researcher Award

Lingyun (Lily) Wu, associate professor of Pharmacology in the College of Medicine, will receive this year’s Distringuished Researcher Award, an honour that recognizes a faculty member’s contribution to scholarship through the creation, expansion and critique of knowledge.

After practicing medicine in China, Wu came to Canada where she earned an MSc in Physiology at the U of A and a PhD from the Université de Montréal in 1999. She joined the U of S in that year, initially to do post-doctoral training in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. The author of 61 papers, four book chapters and 97 abstracts, Wu’s research focuses on the causes and treatment of cardiovascular diseases with particular emphasis recently on insulin resistance syndrome including diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Ernest Walker
Outreach and Public Service Award

Earnest Walker’s research interests in the Great Plains and its people, along with his interest in human remains and forensic science that recently earned him the special recognition as a Special Constable with the RCMP, are recognized with this year’s Outreach and Public Service Award.

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Walker is a graduate of the U of S and the University of Texas at Austin, and is professor and head of the Department of Archaeology. He also has associate membership in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology in the College of Medicine, the College of Dentistry and Geological Sciences in the College of Arts and Science. A strong proponent for the establishment of Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Walker is a spokesperson for Aboriginal interests in archaeological sites around the province. He has also been called upon for his forensic expertise in cases of homicide and suspicious death across the country for the past 25 years.

Jeremy Haigh
J.W. George Ivany Internationalization Award

A career-long emphasis on internternationalization in teaching, research and practice earned Dr. Jeremy Haigh, professor of large animal clinical sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine this year’s J.W. George Ivany Internationalization Award.

Dr. Haigh, a native of Scotland, joined the WCVM in 1975 and has focused his academic research on zoo and wild animal medicine with a particular interest in bison, deer, elk and polar bears as well as elephants and rhinos. He helped developed a course called Uganda Wildlife Rotation which gives WCVM students the opportunity to work and study in that country. Dr. Haigh also works closely with producer communities, including those in rural Mongolia, to ensure education and information about animal care and her managements is shared across borders.