Honorary Degrees
Honorary Degrees 1990 - Present
Please note: this list of honorary degrees is periodically updated. Additional information on degree recipients can be found in our convocation programs, which are scanned and available online at http://library2.smu.ca/handle/01/24829 and are also available in the University Archives.
Spring 2026
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Sanjeev Chowdhury | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Spring 2025
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Joyce Carter | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Rhonda Y. Britton | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| The Hon. Deborah Gass | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Paul Davidson | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Spring 2024
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Karen Darcell Hudson | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Hon. Kevin S. Murphy | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Lawrence A. Freeman | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Donica Susan Pottie | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Winter 2024
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Ailan Fu | Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Mingyuan Zhan | Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. David Lane | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
Fall 2023
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Kim Thùy | Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa |
Spring 2023
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Bob Dawson | Doctor Of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Winter 2023
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Stan Hartling | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
Spring 2022
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. James Curleigh | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Roger Lewis | Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Bill Linton | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Karen Oldfield, QC | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
Fall 2021
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Michael McCain | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
Winter 2020
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Gerry Mills | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Fall 2019
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. John A. Young | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Gloria J. Borden | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Spring 2019
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Al MacPhee | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Senator Dan Christmas | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Her Excellency Lady Sandra Williams | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Padraig O’Malley | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Winter 2019
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Scott Armour McCrea | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Hope Swinimer | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
Fall 2018
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Rustum Southwell | Doctor Of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
Spring 2018
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Dominic Barton | Doctor Of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Bernie Francis | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Paul Gauthier | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Robert (Rob) G. Steele | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
Winter 2018
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Judith Dietz | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Melvin (Mel) Boutlier | Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa |
September 2017
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Heather J. Armstrong (Commander) (Retired) | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Ian G. McKay |
Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa |
May 2017
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. William Ritchie | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Louise Bradley | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Joseph Jabbra | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. John Fitzpatrick | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Donald Julien | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
October 2016
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Joelle (Joey) Berdugo Adler | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Thomas (Tim) Moore | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
May 2016
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Douglas McGregor | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Bassam Nahas | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Kim Phuc Phan Thi | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Maureen Reid | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Pauline Scott | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Annette Verschuren | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
January 2016
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. John Richard Bond | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Colleen Mary Johnston | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
October 2015
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Jean Paul Deveau | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. A. Wayne MacKay | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Brian O’Brien | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
May 2015
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Taleb Abidali | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Monique Leroux | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. John McArthur | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Terry O’Reilly | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. John Sullivan | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Julie Toskan-Casale | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
January 2015
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. C. Mark Cleary | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Claire Miller | Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Gerry Pond | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Michele Wood-Tweel, F.C.A. | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
October 2014
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Don Connolly | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Rania Llewellyn | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Fred MacGillivray | Doctor of Commerce, Honoris Causa |
May 2014
| Name: | Degree: |
| Bonnie Brooks | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Major-General Blaise Cathcart | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Judith Irving | Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Ivar Mendez | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
| Dr. Neil Turok | Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa |
January 2014
| Name: | Degree: |
| Flemming, Brian | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Lecker, Sheri | Doctor of Civil Law |
October 2013
| Name: | Degree: |
| Toney-Shay Knockwood, Isabelle | Doctor of Civil Law |
| MacDonald, Colin | Doctor of Commerce |
| Mercer, Terry | Doctor of Civil Law |
May 2013
| Name: | Degree: |
| Beker, Jeanne | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Robertson, Heather | Doctor of Commerce |
| Oliver, Donald | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Allan, Elyse | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| Medjuck, Ralph | Doctor of Civil Law |
January 2013
| Name: | Degree: |
| Chris Power | Doctor of Civil Law |
| George Han Hwa Kwan | Doctor of Civil Law |
October 2012
| Name: | Degree: |
| Besim Halef | Honorary Doctorate of Commerce |
| Gloria McCluskey | Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law |
| Edward McBride | Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law |
| Fred Smithers | Honorary Doctorate of Commerce |
May 2012
| Name: | Degree: |
| Robert Pace | Honorary Doctorate of Commerce |
| Dennis Deters | Honorary Doctor of Civil Law |
| Arlene Dickinson | Honorary Doctorate of Commerce |
| Mayann E. Francis | Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law |
| Jim Lotz | Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law |
| Stuart McLean | Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law |
January 2012
| Name: | Degree: |
| Hayes, Lawrence (Larry) J. | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Riteman, Philip | Doctor of Civil Law |
October 2011
| Name: | Degree: |
| George, Fred | Doctor of Commerce |
| Godsoe, Dale | Doctor of Civil Law |
| McCarthy, Danny | Doctor of Commerce |
May 2011
| Name: | Degree: |
| Aucoin, Peter | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Dennis, Sarah | Doctor of Commerce |
| Gillis, Helen | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Hardy, Leica | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| Savoie, Donald | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Sobey, Paul D. | Doctor of Commerce |
October 2010
| Name: | Degree: |
| Bennet, James | Honoris Causa |
| Moore, Jeff and Debra | Doctor of Civil Law |
May 2010
<
| Name: | Degree: |
| Durland, J. Michael | Doctor of Commerce |
| Dyer, Paul | Doctor of Commerce |
| Gilfoy, Neville | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Irving, Sandra | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Mongeau, Claude | Doctor of Commerce |
| Rowe, Patricia | Doctor of Science |
October 2009
| Name: | Degree: |
| Dr. Frederic Wien | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Bernard Riordon | Doctor of Civil Law |
May 2009
| Name: | Degree: |
| Armitage, Steve | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Fares, Wadih | Doctor of Commerce |
| Kinnear, James | Doctor of Commerce |
| Moore, Sister Dorothy | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Nutt, Samantha | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Swinemar, Dianne | Doctor of Civil Law |
October 2008
| Name: | Degree: |
| Clarke, George Elliott | Doctor of Letters |
| de Chastelain, General John | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Young, Carol D. | Doctor of Civil Law |
May 2008
| Name: | Degree: |
| Badawi, Jamal | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Donahoe, Arthur Richard | Doctor of Laws |
| Mooney, Gary | Doctor of Commerce |
| Smithers, Nancy | Doctor of Civil Law |
October 2007
| Name: | Degree: |
| Borden, Walter | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Fairfax, Reverend Donald | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Moore, Hon. Wilfred P. | Doctor of Laws |
May 2007
| Name: | Degree: |
| Duckworth, Muriel | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Freeman, Hon. Myra | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Grace, David | Doctor of Commerce |
| Hope, David | Doctor of Commerce |
| Leahey, Stephen | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Rae, Capt. Andrew | Doctor of Civil Law |
October 2006
| Name: | Degree: |
| Chard, Elizabeth A. | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Deveau, Louis E. | Doctor of Commerce |
| McCreath, Hon. Peter L. | Doctor of Civil Law |
May 2006
| Name: | Degree: |
| Belliveau, Robert G. | Doctor of Laws |
| Connolly, Patrick J. | Doctor of Civil Law |
| de Nerciat , Baroness May Man-Yue Sun | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Kennedy, Joseph P. | Doctor of Laws |
| MacDonald, Marjorie-Anne | Doctor of Letters |
| Roche, Douglas | Doctor of Civil Law |
October 2005
| Name: | Degree: |
| MacDonald, Michael | Doctor of Commerce |
| Pobihushchy, Sid | Doctor of Civil Law |
| van Gurp, Hendrika M. | Doctor of Civil Law |
May 2005
| Name: | Degree: |
| Clarke, Lorne O. | Doctor of Laws |
| Homburg, Richard | Doctor of Commerce |
| West, Anne | Doctor of Letters |
| Luckett, Pete | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Moorehead, Colleen | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Perinbam, Lewis | Doctor of Civil Law |
November 14, 2004
| Name: | Degree: |
| F. Wayne Adams | Doctor of Civil Law |
| George L. Barron | Doctor of Science |
| Janet F. Kitz | Doctor of Letters |
| Chief Lawrence Paul | Doctor of Civil Law |
March 28, 2004
| Name: | Degree: |
| Ken Dryden | Doctor of Civil Law |
May 21, 2004
| Name: | Degree: |
| Sara H. Basson | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Daniel M. Brownlow | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Burris Devanney | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Graham W. Dennis | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Frank J. Hayden | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Marjorie M. Scardino | Doctor of Commerce |
November 9, 2003
| Name: | Degree: |
| Krishna Ahooja-Patel | Doctor of Letters |
| Malachi C. Jones | Doctor of Laws |
| Kenneth F. Moore | Doctor of Civil Laws |
June 5, 2003
| Name: | Degree: |
| Mary Robinson | Doctor of Civil Laws |
May 23, 2003
| Name: | Degree: |
| Harold G. Coward | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Flora Isabel MacDonald | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Carloyn S. Shoemaker | Doctor of Science |
| Luca Codignola | Doctor of Letters |
| J. Chalmers Doane | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| Nancy L. Knowlton | Doctor of Commerce |
May 24, 2002
| Name: | Degree: |
| William J. Bryson SJ | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| John Savage | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Simon Spatz | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Phyllis Grosskurth | Doctor of Letters |
| Terence Kelly | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| James J. “Skip” Oliver | Doctor of Laws |
| Mansfield (Jim) Brock | Doctor of Commerce |
October 27, 2002
| Name: | Degree: |
| Hon. Alan Rockwell Abraham | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Anne M. Fawcett | Doctor of Commerce |
| Daniele Sauvageau | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Austin Willis | Doctor of Fine Arts |
October 21, 2001
| Name: | Degree: |
| Cora de Jong Greenaway | Doctor of Fine Arts |
| John George Flemming | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Paul M. Tellier | Doctor of Civil Laws |
October 4, 2001
| Name: | Degree: |
| Jean Beliveau | Doctor of Civil Laws |
May 15, 2001
| Name: | Degree: |
| Mary Ashworth | Doctor of Education |
| Terence Richard Boyd Donahoe | Doctor of Laws |
| Sara Lee Lewis | Doctor of Letters |
| Garnet Brown | Doctor of Commerce |
| E. Leo Kolber | Doctor of Laws |
| David Palmer Petrie | Doctor of Science |
October 22, 2000
| Name: | Degree: |
| Elizabeth Ann Duggan | Doctor of Sciences |
| Constance R. Glube | Doctor of Laws |
| Hanan Mikhail-Ashrawi | Doctor of Civil Laws |
May 12, 2000
| Name: | Degree: |
| Guy L. Noel | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Terrance Michael Punch | Doctor of Letters |
| Bruce S. C. Oland | Doctor of Letters |
October 17, 1999
| Name: | Degree: |
| A. Kevin Francis | Doctor of Commerce |
| Richard E. Franklin | Doctor of Commerce |
| Eligio M. Gaudio | Doctor of Commerce |
| Gao Shan | Doctor of Commerce |
| Irwin D. Simon | Doctor of Commerce |
| Grace White | Doctor of Commerce |
May 13, 1999
| Name: | Degree: |
| Scott D. Tremaine | Doctor of Science |
| C. William Eliot | Doctor of Letters |
| Doane Hallett | Doctor of Laws |
| Martha L. Jodrey | Doctor of Education |
October 25, 1998
| Name: | Degree: |
| Tadashi Okudaira | Doctor of Education |
October 9, 1998
| Name: | Degree: |
| Mary McAleese | Doctor of Civil Laws |
May 11, 1998
| Name: | Degree: |
| Edward John Flinn | Doctor of Laws |
| Linda Carvery | Doctor of Letters |
| Sheree Lynn Fitch | Doctor of Letters |
| Sherman Hines | Doctor of Letters |
| John G. Keith | Doctor of Commerce |
October 19, 1997
| Name: | Degree: |
| John Amagoalik | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Jack Buckley | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Diane Marie Francis | Doctor of Commerce |
| Linda Moore | Doctor of Letters |
May 12, 1997
| Name: | Degree: |
| I. King Jordan | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Robert P. Kelly | Doctor of Commerce |
| Tomas B. Berry | Doctor of Letters |
| Douglas Fetherling | Doctor of Letters |
October 20, 1996
| Name: | Degree: |
| P. Michael Maher | Doctor of Commerce |
| Diane E. McGarry | Doctor of Commerce |
| J. Phillip Vaughan | Doctor of Science |
May 15, 1996
| Name: | Degree: |
| J. Bruce MacKinnon | Doctor of Letters |
| Donald Graham Tremaine | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Louis R. Comeau | Doctor of Commerce |
| Vigdis Finnbogadottir | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Leo Margolis | Doctor of Science |
October 22, 1995
| Name: | Degree: |
| R. Irene d’Entremont | Doctor of Commerce |
| Ron Wallace | Doctor of Civil Laws |
May 12, 1995
| Name: | Degree: |
| Sylvia D. Hamilton | Doctor of Letters |
| Frank Stronach | Doctor of Commerce |
| R. David Thomas | Doctor of Commerce |
| Sidney van den Bergh | Doctor of Sciences |
| V. Maureen Kempston Darkes | Doctor of Commerce |
| Hector Jacques | Doctor of Commerce |
October 23, 1994
| Name: | Degree: |
| William Sefton Fyfe | Doctor of Science |
| Bridglal Pachai | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Denis Joseph Patrick Ryan | Doctor of Laws |
| Judith Mary Sapp | Doctor of Civil Laws |
May 9, 1994
| Name: | Degree: |
| Sister Evelyn Rae Purdy Pollard | Doctor of Letters |
| Ronald Wan Hay Wong | Doctor of Civil Law |
| Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow | Doctor of Laws |
October 24, 1993
| Name: | Degree: |
| Louise Frechette | Doctor of Laws |
| Lewis Whaeton MacKenzie | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Margaret Elizabeth McCully | Doctor of Sciences |
| Surendra J. Patel | Doctor of Laws |
May 12, 1993
| Name: | Degree: |
| Cheung Tsang Chung | Doctor of Commerce |
| Richard Marvin Hansen | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Ron V. Joyce | Doctor of Commerce |
| Jane Shaw Law | Doctor of Letters |
| Louise Lore | Doctor of Letters |
October 25, 1992
| Name: | Degree: |
| Philip Alfred Buckner | Doctor of Letters |
| Ovide W. Mercredi | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Eric Peter Milledge | Doctor of Commerce |
| Jeannine Guillevin Wood | Doctor of Commerce |
May 11, 1992
| Name: | Degree: |
| Matthew William Barrett | Doctor of Commerce |
| Roberta Lynn Bondar | Doctor of Sciences |
| Nelly Beveridge Gray | Doctor of Letters |
| Anna Porter | Doctor of Letters |
October 20, 1991
| Name: | Degree: |
| William Andrew Dimma | Doctor of Commerce |
| Lydia Pauline Makhubu | Doctor of Laws |
| Patrick G. Malone | Doctor of Laws |
May 13, 1991
| Name: | Degree: |
| Frank Baldwin | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Naomi Hersom | Doctor of Civil Laws |
| Gerhard Herzberg | Doctor of Science |
| David F. Sobey | Doctor of Commerce |