New Chancellor Noreen Taylor to greet UOIT’s class of 2016

Nearly 2,000 students will begin their post-university careers on June 9 and 10 at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s (UOIT) Convocation. This will be the first Convocation for the university's new Chancellor, Noreen Taylor, who was installed in early May.

Highlights of this year’s ceremonies include the conferring of four honorary degrees and the university’s first PhD in Modelling and Computational Science. The class of 2016 also includes the university’s first refugee student to graduate – Jean Nsanzeryaka.

In addition to conferring nearly 2,000 bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees, the university will present honorary Doctor of Laws degrees to:

• The Honourable Perrin Beatty. President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, for his distinguished career in public service, his executive leadership in the Canadian business community and his long-standing commitment to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology as Chancellor.

• Ms. Kathryn (Kate) Lines, former Chief Superintendent of the Ontario Provincial Police, for her career as a pioneer of women in the policing profession, her leadership in criminal profiling, her tireless efforts to promote diversity in the workplace and her capacity to drive organizational change.

• Mr. Neil Pasricha, an Oshawa-born author, speaker and award-winning blogger, for his internationally recognized efforts as a promoter of positive mental health, social advocacy, community wellness and youth literacy.

• Mr. Robert James Houle for his distinguished career as a Canadian artist, curator, critic and educator.

All ceremonies can be viewed live online at uoit.ca/convocationwebcast. The 2016 webcast recordings will be posted on uoit.ca in late June.

2016 Convocation schedule:

Thursday, June 9 – 9:30 a.m.

• Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science
• Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
• Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to the Honourable Perrin Beatty

Thursday, June 9 – 2 p.m.

• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to Mr. Neil Pasricha

Friday, June 10 – 9:30 a.m.

• Faculty of Business and Information Technology
• Faculty of Science
• Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to Ms. Kathryn (Kate) Lines

Friday, June 10 – 2 p.m.

• Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
• Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) to Mr. Robert James Houle

Where:
General Motors Centre
99 Athol Street East
Oshawa, Ontario

Media contact
Bryan Oliver
Communications and Marketing
University of Ontario Institute of Technology
905.721.8668 ext. 6709
289.928.3653
bryan.oliver@uoit.ca