Humanitarian Lindhout to receive Honorary Degree

trevor.kenney — Fri, 09 May 2014 16:33:23 +0000

Acclaimed journalist, author and humanitarian, Amanda Lindhout, will receive an Honorary degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge at its Spring Convocation ceremony.

In her courage, compassion, resolve and dedication, Amanda Lindhout is an inspiration, and she embodies the philosophy and values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

“We are very excited that Amanda has accepted our offer of an Honorary Degree,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan. “Her story is one of incredible perseverance and compassion. To be able to use the traumatic ordeal she experienced as the impetus to effect change is incredible. Her attitude embodies the ideals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

The U of L will present Lindhout with the degree of Doctor of Laws, honouris causa, at the Spring 2014 Convocation Ceremony III on Friday, May 30 at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Lindhout will also participate in a book signing (A House in the Sky) at 12:30 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Bookstore.

She is the fourth Honorary Degree recipient to be named this spring, along with Dr. Barbara Hohn, Dr. Seamus O'Shea and Dr. Austin Mardon.

Amanda Lindhout

Journalist, author, and humanitarian Amanda Lindhout is the founder of the Global Enrichment Foundation and has devoted her life to social responsibility.

Amanda Lindhout was born in Red Deer, Alta., and at the age of 24 became a journalist, travelling to various conflict zones. In 2008, she and a freelance photojournalist went to Mogadishu, Somalia. Two days after arriving, they were both kidnapped by religious extremists and held in captivity for 463 days. During this time she was repeatedly tortured and assaulted by her captors. After her release, she chose to become a champion for underprivileged people in Somalia.

In 2010, she founded the Global Enrichment Foundation, which aims to provide education, counselling and community programs in Somalia. This foundation has raised millions of dollars to develop programming that empowers Somalians to create a better future.

Since her ordeal, Lindhout has gone to great lengths to share her story, through speaking engagements, a book (A House in the Sky) and other activities. She has participated in a Bill Clinton Global Initiative panel, has given an address to the United Nations Associate in Ottawa, and has moderated a panel of former extremists for the Google Ideas Summit Against Violent Extremism.

In her courage, compassion, resolve and dedication, Lindhout is an inspiration, and she embodies the philosophy and values of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Her overcoming of adversity speaks to deep strength, purpose and compassion, and she exemplifies the notion of engaged citizenry.

In recognition of Amanda Lindhout’s courage, humanitarian contributions and advocacy for peace and empowerment, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge confers upon her the degree of Doctor of Laws, honouris causa.

Pioneering scientist Dr. Barbara Hohn to receive honorary degree

trevor.kenney — Mon, 05 May 2014 16:26:46 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Senate is pleased to announce the third of its distinguished 2014 Honorary Degree recipients – pioneering scientist in plant biotechnology and epigenetics, Dr. Barbara Hohn.

An influential and celebrated scientist, Professor Dr. Barbara Hohn is a pioneer in plant biotechnology and plant epigenetics.

“Dr. Hohn’s influential work in epigenetics and biotechnology is especially significant to the ongoing research pursuits here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and we’re thrilled that she has accepted our offer of an Honorary Degree,” says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor, Dr. Shirley McClellan.

The U of L will present Hohn with the degree of Doctor of Science, honouris causa at the Spring 2014 Convocation Ceremony I on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 9:30 a.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness.

Dr. Barbara Hohn

An influential and celebrated scientist, Professor Dr. Barbara Hohn is a pioneer in plant biotechnology and plant epigenetics as well as an exceptional mentor for future generations of scholars.

In a time when society did not expect or encourage women to become scientists or biochemists, Hohn defied those expectations. She received a degree in biochemistry from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Tübingen, Germany, one of Europe’s oldest universities, and completed her post-doctoral studies at Yale and Stanford universities. She went on to establish a laboratory at the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research in Switzerland.

Hohn’s contributions to scientific research are significant and wide-ranging, and have opened new directions in science. She has published research articles in high-ranking journals such as Cell, Nature, Nature Biotechnology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Plant Cell, the EMBO Journal, among others.

As an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization, a founding member of Academia Europaea, a member of the Swiss National Research Council and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and a Foreign Member of the Royal Society, Hohn’s scientific achievements have been widely recognized. The results of her work have been applied across the globe, and many of the researchers Hohn has trained are now world leaders in various areas in the life sciences.

UNews - Barbara Hohn

Humanitarian Lindhout to receive Honorary Degree

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Pioneering scientist Dr. Barbara Hohn to receive honorary degree

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