Media Releases and Opportunities

April 30, 2025 (HALIFAX, N.S.) – Convocation is one of the most exciting times of year at Dalhousie University. While it’s a time to recognize the incredible achievements of our students, it’s also a time to honour extraordinary individuals who’ve demonstrated service to society, made significant contributions to their field or have made significant contributions to the university, through the awarding of honorary degrees. During this year’s spring convocation ceremonies, Dalhousie will present honorary degrees to three extraordinary individuals.

Candidates for honorary degrees are reviewed and recommended by the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee and approved by the university Senate.

Dalhousie is pleased to recognize this year’s honorary degree recipients:

Dr. Franklin Sim 
Medical innovator, teacher, humanitarian 
Friday, May 30, 10 a.m. ceremony

When Dr. Franklin Sim's team at the Mayo Clinic devised a new form of treatment for musculoskeletal tumours in the 1970s, surgeons from around the world flocked to Rochester, Minnesota to learn techniques that could spare patients amputation and death. The Nova Scotian-born Dal alum (MD'65) forged a path as a world-renowned pioneer in the rapidly growing field of orthopedic oncology while balancing a thriving clinical and surgical practice and vigorous research and teaching career in the U.S. and abroad. Regularly ranked as one of America’s top doctors, Dr. Sim has trained more than 50 cancer-focused orthopedic surgeons globally, helped countries including Singapore, China, and Taiwan develop programs for musculoskeletal tumours, and authored more than 500 scientific citations, 200 book chapters, and eight books. An Emeritus Professor at the Mayo Clinic, his honours include the top service awards from both the American and Canadian Orthopedic Associations and, in 2012, the AAOS Diversity Award for his support for women and racialized groups in a field long dominated by men. 

Paul Gauthier 
Entrepreneur, digital thought-leader, environmental champion 
Wednesday, June 18, 9 a.m. ceremony

Many in our newest class of graduates have never known a world without the internet —which means their world has been forever shaped by the work of entrepreneur Paul Gauthier. A Dalhousie Computer Science graduate (BSc’94) who grew up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Gauthier’s PhD research at UC Berkley on computer clustering turned into Inktomi, a company that went on to provide the back-end support for every leading search engine of its time, from Yahoo to AOL. He later went on to become chief technology officer at Groupon, is currently founder and CEO of software engineering firm Aider AI, and continues to invest in and support emerging startups and technology companies to this day.  Back home in Nova Scotia, he’s remained a vital benefactor to many local causes including launching the Cole Harbour Foundation, which supports children and youth in the community, and instigating the 100 Wild Islands campaign to protect the natural beauty of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore.  

Karen Hudson 
Educator, community leader and advocate for Africentric learning in Nova Scotia 
Wednesday, June 18, 4 p.m. ceremony

The greatest educators not only shape lives but help forge new pathways for learners now and into the future. As a teacher, principal, and community advocate, Karen Hudson has been forging paths for Nova Scotia learners for nearly three decades. Currently principal of Auburn Drive High School in Cole Harbour, she made history by establishing the province’s first Africentric Math Cohort. Her commitment to community is showcased in countless ways, including as interim president of the Black Educators Association and as member on the advisory committee of the Indigenous Blacks & Mi’kmaq Initiative in Dal’s Schulich School of Law. A Dalhousie alum (MES’01) whose thesis work focused on environmental racism in the Preston area, her many awards and honours include a 100 Accomplished Black Canadian (ABC) Woman Award in 2024 and being named one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals in 2019. 
 

More information on Dalhousie University’s Honorary Degree recipients may be found on Dal News.


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Media Contact:

Lindsay Dowling-Savelle

Media Relations Manager

Dalhousie University

C: (902)-222-8810
E: lindsay.savelle@dal.ca

Mike Fleury
Senior Manager - Strategic Communications & Media Relations
C: 902-237-0312
E: mike.fleury@dal.ca