2012 Recipients
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Dr. Nyameko Barney Pityana
On Thursday, June 7, 2012 an Honorary Doctor of Laws was conferred on Dr. Nyameko Barney Pityana in recognition of his ongoing commitment to human rights. Dr. Pityana served as Chairman of the South African Human Rights Commission from 1995 to 2001 and also served on the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at the Organisation of African Unity in 1997. His work in human rights has been widely recognized, and in December 2002, he was awarded an Honourable Mention of the 2002 UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education.
Honorary Doctor of Laws
John (Jack) Brink
On Friday, June 8, 2012 an Honorary Doctor of Laws was conferred on John (Jack) Brink in recognition of his contributions to the field of archaeology, specifically Precontact Archaeology of Alberta and the Northern Plains of North America. Jack Brink has published extensively, principally concerning Plains archaeology and specifically that of Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump, but also about the Arctic. His book “Imagining Head Smashed In: Aboriginal Buffalo Hunting on the Northern Plains”, published by Athabasca University Press, won the second annual Felicia A. Holton Book Award from the Archaeological Institute of America in 2011. He has mentored many students, and has served as the President of the Canadian Archaeological Association and the Plains Anthropological Association. He has tirelessly worked towards the development and ongoing promotion of the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and the Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park.
Honorary Doctor of Athabasca University
Dr. John Willinsky
On Saturday, June 9, 2012 an Honorary Doctor of Athabasca University was conferred on Dr. John Willinsky in recognition of his advocacy of open access, particularly the free and widespread dissemination of knowledge through Open Educational Resources. Dr. Willinsky has published extensively and has actively advocated for the Open Access Community at numerous scholarly conferences. He has distinguished himself throughout his career, attaining appointments at Stanford University’s School of Education; as Pacific Press Professor Literacy and Technology and Distinguished University Scholar at the University of British Columbia. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his scholarly work, including awards from the American Education Research Society; the History of Education Society, and the 2006 Blackwell’s Scholarship Award.
Updated August 09, 2024 by Digital & Web Operations, University Relations (web_services@athabascau.ca)