At this morning's Arts convocation ceremony, 602 undergraduates, 95 masters' students, and 14 PhD candidates crossed the stage and received their degrees in Accounting & Financial Management, Anthropology, Arabic Language, Chinese Language, Classical Studies, Economics, English Language and Literature, Fine Arts, French Studies, German, Global Business and Digital Arts, Global Experience, Global Governance, History, Human Resources Management, Japanese Language, Korean Language, Medieval Studies, Music, Speech Communication, and Theatre and Performance.
Bearing the mace was John North, a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature.
UWaterloo staff member Julie-Anne Desrochers sang the national anthem.
Catherine Vendryes delivered the morning's valedictory address. Vendryes is graduating with a degree in English-Literature and Rhetoric, Honours, Arts and Business Co-operative Program.
Patricia O’Malley received an Honorary Doctor of Laws and addressed Convocation. O’Malley is a prominent member of the Canadian accounting profession and has had a significant influence over its development and financial regulation in Canada, and she is leader in the development of international financial reporting standards.
She has made numerous and significant contributions to her profession, the global financial community, the Canadian financial community, the academic community, the advancement of women and gender equality, and charitable endeavours. Her work has contributed strongly to the development and global acceptance of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). For many years she was active in the Canadian Academic Accounting Association in a number of capacities, including serving as president in 1993. She has provided advice and guidance at both the University of Alberta and the University of Waterloo. She has been active in governance as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, and has been a speaker at professional and academic conferences and seminars. She is the author of academic and practice works and for many years she was on the editorial board of Corporate Finance. Her contribution to practice extends beyond her own profession and she has been a member of the Actuarial Standards Oversight Council which oversees the activities of the Actuarial Standards Board.
She is part of a small, select group of women who were pioneers in the profession both in Canada and internationally who broke down barriers and achieved the highest levels of success. Having broken gender barriers herself, she became a strong advocate for permanently dismantling gender barriers in the accounting profession and mentored many women who followed her path.
Jee-Hae Lim, an associate professor in the School of Accounting and Finance, will receive the Distinguished Teacher Award. Since she joined the University in June 2006, Lim has been credited for taking a course that students approached with trepidation and turning it into a course that students love. She is known for establishing a personal connection with students, even in large classes – by learning names, doing homework checks in the classroom, and offering career advice during her office hours. One undergraduate described Lim as “dynamic in the classroom, supportive during office hours (regular and extended), and overall a great instructor and person to interact with.” Lim’s innovative assignments are designed to get students to extend their knowledge beyond the classroom and the textbook. An alumna commented that, “Jee-Hae is like an invisible hand, gently pushing from behind, [and] encouraging people to accomplish that which at first seems impossible, pausing and applauding as each milestone is reached before gently pushing again towards an even higher goal.” One of Lim’s colleagues wrote that, “She brings the same analytical and comprehensive approach to delivering her courses that she brings to developing her research. In both cases, her performance is exemplary.”
In the afternoon ceremony,591 undergraduates, 77 masters' students, and 16 PhD candidates received their degrees. They come from St. Jerome's University, Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, and School of Social Work, along with students enrolled directly at the University. Programs celebrated at the ceremony include Arabic Language, Chinese Language, Global Experience, Independent Studies, Japanese Language, Legal Studies, Liberal Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Service, Religious Studies, Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies, Social Development Studies, Sociology, Spanish and Latin American Studies, and Women's Studies.
Bearing the mace was Associate University Secretary & Senior Legal Counsel Sian Williams.
Prateeksha Ravi delivered the afternoon's valedictory address. Ravi is graduating with a degree in Legal Studies, Honours, Arts and Business Co-operative Program, with a Human Resources Management Minor.
Paul Seli, Psychology PhD 2015, was the Governor General’s Gold Medal winner; and Katelyn Rowe received the Alumni Gold Medal.
Alexander Neve was granted an Honorary Doctor of Laws and addressed Convocation. Neve currently serves as the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada and he has had a long and distinguished career as an advocate of human rights.
Neve's distinctive contribution to the advancement and defense of human rights in Canada and abroad is nothing short of outstanding, and since becoming the public face of international and domestic human rights in Canada he has helped to establish Amnesty International Canada as the premier human rights organization in the country. He has spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at advancing human rights in areas related to Canadian anti-terrorism and refugee policies, including being the principal lead in the campaign Maher Arar returned to Canada and pressuring the Canadian government into opening a public inquiry into its involvement in Arar's rendition and treatment abroad. He has engaged in consultations with Canada's business leaders to promote corporate social responsibility and greater "human-rights sensitive" business practices, and he has worked closely with indigenous groups to encourage reforms aimed at remedying the ongoing problem of widespread violence against indigenous women in Canada. In 2007 he was named a Trudeau Foundation Mentor and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
He is a frequent visitor to Waterloo and he has spoken at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and in Wilfrid Laurier's International Human Rights Lecture Series. Amnesty International Canada has hosted student interns from Waterloo’s MA in Global Governance program. In addition, he has participated in the research of some of our graduate students in History and Political Science.
Professor David DeVidi received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision. Professor DeVidi has been a faculty member in the Department of Philosophy for 19 years and has served the university in many ways, including as Associate Chair, Graduate Studies and currently as department Chair. What distinguishes Professor DeVidi is the time and attention he gives to each student. Despite his deep involvement in university, professional, and community service, Professor DeVidi is fully committed to mentoring students as scholars and as people. He works closely with students to clarify their thinking, to help them structure their research projects, to hone their communication skills, all while insisting in the highest standard of intellectual rigour. If students are struggling, Professor DeVidi has the patience and empathy to ignite their confidence and lead them to success. Colleagues also note that he has mentored them as supervisors.
Professor DeVidi has played a pivotal role in graduate education in Philosophy at Waterloo. While serving as Graduate Chair, he revised the graduate curriculum to reflect developments in the discipline and the expertise of faculty, to enhance the recruitment of female students, to aid students’ progress through their degrees, and to mentor them as they transition to diverse careers, both academic and non-academic. One supporter described Dr. DeVidi’s impact on the graduate program as “incandescent.” His former students emphasize their great respect for him and their gratitude for the attention he paid them. They also note that he taught them how to use Philosophy both in their lives and in their careers in transformative ways.
Story originally published in the Daily Bulletin.