Four outstanding Santamarians will be honoured with honorary degrees at May convocation ceremonies, with recipients reflecting leadership in North American business and significant contributions to Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities.
"In each of these honorary degree recipients, our students can see the dedication, passion and commitment to excellence that leads to success," says President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. "All of our recipients came to Saint Mary's University for their studies, and we are thankful for their continued dedication to our university. With great pleasure, we bestow our highest honour on these four accomplished alumni."
Saint Mary's University is proud to recognize the achievements of:
Karen Oldfield BA’82, Q.C., ICD.D
After serving for more than 18 years as President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority, Karen was recently named the Interim President and CEO of Nova Scotia Health (NSH). While seconded to Nova Scotia Health, she has also been appointed Deputy Minister of Priorities and Planning for the Government of Nova Scotia, a role fundamental to the strategic priorities of the province. Karen also previously served as Chair of the Saint Mary’s University Board of Governors.
Roger J. Lewis BA’01
Roger, a member of the Sɨkɨpne'katik First Nation, is currently the Curator of Mi'kmaq Culture and Heritage with the Nova Scotia Museum. For the past two decades, he has been working closely with Mi'kmaw communities to record important ethnographic information and stories. He is regularly invited to advise educators and to speak within the provincial school system about Treaty Rights and Mi'kmaw history.
James “JC” Curleigh BComm’89
JC is Gibson Guitar's President and Chief Executive Officer, where he leads the Gibson senior team of proven executives with broad experience in global brand building, finance and product development. Prior to joining Gibson, JC served as the President of the Levi’s brand at Levi Strauss & Co., and earlier with Keen footwear and Saloman brands. JC is a guitar enthusiast and has been a proud owner of both Gibson and Epiphone guitars over the years, including his latest addition – a Gibson 1960’s J-45 acoustic guitar.
William (Bill) Linton BComm’75
Bill is a corporate director, philanthropist, and investor with over 30 years of business experience. He comes from a family with a strong tradition of business excellence and giving back to their community through a commitment to volunteerism and philanthropy. Bill is a member of the Board of Directors of Empire Company Limited and serves as a director of Deveron UAS Corp. and TMX Group Limited, as well as a number of private companies. Over his career, Bill has held various senior executive-level positions, including Executive Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer at Rogers Communications Inc.
About Saint Mary’s University
Saint Mary’s University is one of Canada’s top primarily undergraduate universities known for its international collaborations, leadership in entrepreneurship, and research that benefits local and global communities. Our programs in Arts, Science, Graduate Studies and the Sobey School of Business are among Canada’s best and feature professors who are committed to the success of their students. Saint Mary’s provides our more than 6,600 students with a place that fosters possibility, excellent research opportunities, and distinguished graduate and professional programs combined with a caring community. Nestled in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada’s east coast, Saint Mary’s University is marked by iconic buildings, green spaces and fresh ocean air. The Saint Mary’s University community is committed to a prosperous future for the world—a World without limits.