SACKVILLE, NB — Approximately 470 students will graduate from ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Allison during the University’s Spring Convocation ceremonies being held on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Convocation Hall (37 York St.).

Commerce and Science students will receive their degrees during the morning ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and Arts, Fine Arts, and Music degrees will be conferred during the afternoon ceremony at 2:30 p.m.    

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Allison University Chancellor Lynn Loewen and President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Ian Sutherland will preside over the ceremonies. This will be Loewen’s final Convocation as Chancellor, closing two terms of remarkable leadership. This will also mark Sutherland’s first Convocation as President and Vice- Chancellor.

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Allison will also confer five honorary degrees to a list of accomplished women from a vast collection of experiences and backgrounds. This year’s honorary degree recipients are:  

• Judy Bragg — Canadian Business leader and philanthropist  
• Dr. Nancy Grant (’69), O.N.B. — Mayor of Rothesay, NB, philanthropist, and retired radiation oncologist
• Dr. Sheila Brown — Educational leader, former ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Allison VP Academic and Interim President, and a key figure in establishing the Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU) Faculty Development Committee
• Sylvia D. Hamilton, C.M., O.N.S. — Canadian filmmaker, artist, writer, and Inglis Professor Emeritus, University of King's College.
• Dr. Christl Verduyn, C.M., FRSC — Scholar in English, Canadian, and Women’s Studies, ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Allison professor emeritus, and 3M National Teaching Fellow

Grant will deliver the Convocation Address at the morning ceremony and Hamilton will speak in the afternoon. For biographies of this year’s honorary degree recipients, visit mta.ca/honorarydegrees.

Honours sociology graduate Emma Etheridge of Riverview, NB will address the Class of 2025 as Valedictorian. Selected by her peers for the role, Etheridge considers being named Valedictorian one of the greatest honours of her life.  

Several faculty members will be recognized for their achievements during Convocation. Psychology Professor Dr. Geneviève Desmarais is the recipient of the Tucker Teaching Award, the University’s highest teaching honour, while Psychology Professor Dr. Gene Ouellette will receive the 2025 Paul Paré Medal of Excellence for outstanding teaching, research, scholarship, and/or creative activities.

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Allison will also hold several events on campus for graduates and their families over the weekend, including the annual tradition of a Friday night East Coast Kitchen Party with Signal Hill at Jennings Hall to kick off the weekend celebrations, alumni reunion events, and more.  

For more information about Convocation, please visit mta.ca/convocation.