BRANDON, MB – Brandon University is pleased to announce that world renowned advocate and former U.N. Ambassador, Stephen Lewis will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate at the 99 th Spring Convocation in May.
A Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) will beconferred upon Mr. Lewis during the afternoon ceremony.
“Brandon University has a long standing tradition and commitment to social justice. It is fitting that Stephen Lewis, whose life work is social justice, is a recipient of an honorary Doctor of Laws at this year’s BU Convocation,” says Dr. Deborah Poff, President and Vice-Chancellor.
Lewis’ work with the United Nations spanned more than two decades. He was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from June 2001 until the end of 2006. From 1995 to 1999, Lewis was Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF at the organization’s global headquarters in New York. From 1984 through 1988, Lewis was Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
He is the author of the best-selling book, Race Against Time. He holds 30 honorary degrees from Canadian universities and is a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest honour for lifetime achievement. He was awarded the Pearson Peace Medal in 2004 by the United Nations Association in Canada; the award celebrates outstanding achievement in the field of international service and understanding. In 2007, the Kingdom of Lesotho (a small mountainous country in Southern Africa) invested Lewis as Knight Commander of the Most Dignified Order of Moshoeshoe. The order is named for the founder of Lesotho; the knighthood is the country’s highest honour.
Lewis is currently a Professor in Global Health in the Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University and Chair of the board of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (www.stephenlewisfoundation.org) which is dedicated to turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. In addition, he is Co-Director of AIDS-Free World in the United States and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Clinton Health Access Initiative and of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.
“Mr. Lewis’ contributions are something that all Canadians can take pride in. He is a man whose life is lived in the best of the “Tommy Douglas tradition”. It is fitting that an honorary doctorate from Brandon University be counted amongst his many accolades,” says Dr. Scott Grills, Vice-President (Academic and Research).
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For more information, please contact:
Kristen Fisher
President’s Office
Brandon University
P: (204) 727-9714
Contact
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- communications@brandonu.ca
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