UM honours Emeriti 2024

Every year, the University of Manitoba bestows the title of Emeritus on distinguished former and current members of the UM faculty and administration. It is one of the highest honours at the University, and individuals are selected based on their distinguished service to administrative leadership, teaching, research, creative and scholarly works, and service.

On November 21, UM honoured 24 exemplary individuals, which included a Vice-President Emerita and three Distinguished Professor Emeriti.

Dr. Catherine L. Cook, UM’s inaugural Vice-President (Indigenous), established the first portfolio of its kind among Canadian post-secondary institutions and fundamentally shifted UM’s trajectory for the better. As one of the first Indigenous physicians to graduate from UM and one of the first Métis women to earn her medical degree in Canada, Dr. Cook has dedicated over 40 years to addressing health disparities in Indigenous communities. For her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to Indigenous success and achievement, Dr. Cook was conferred the title of Vice-President Emerita.

A highly respected leader, researcher, and educator, Dr. Leigh Murphy has made tremendous contributions to the field of cancer biology research. Her discoveries have helped reshape breast cancer treatment, significantly improving patient outcomes, and earned numerous prestigious awards, such as the NCIC Scientist and MRC Scientist Awards. Throughout her career she has shown a deep commitment to the teaching and mentorship of students and junior faculty members and has served on numerous organizations and committees. The University of Manitoba was honoured to confer upon Dr. Murphy the title of Distinguished Professor Emerita.

Dr. Raymond Perry has made exceptional contributions to the fields of psychology, education and gerontology over his esteemed 53-year career. His groundbreaking work on human emotion, motivation treatment interventions and the stigmatization of marginalized groups has profoundly enhanced the well-being of those psychologically at risk. Dr. Perry’s publications in leading academic journals have earned him widespread recognition, including invited addresses and visiting scientist appointments at renowned institutions around the world. Along with many prestigious awards received throughout his career, the University of Manitoba was honoured to confer upon Dr. Perry the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

A prolific researcher, Dr. Grant Pierce has published over 250 peer-reviewed manuscripts and eight textbooks on ischemic heart disease, diabetes-related heart dysfunction and the cardiovascular benefits of flaxseed. His leadership and visionary contributions include the creation of the Canadian Centre for Agri-food Research in Health and Medicine, a unique collaboration of the Universities of Manitoba and Winnipeg, St. Boniface Hospital and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. His many accomplishments have been recognized by the Order of Canada, the Order of Manitoba, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, among other distinctions. For his extraordinary contributions to cardiovascular research, education and leadership, Dr. Pierce was conferred the title of Distinguished Professor Emeritus.

Congratulations to all the 2024 honorees: (alphabetical order)

• Sharon Maureen Alward, Professor Emerita 
• Subramaniam Balakrishnan, Professor Emeritus 
• Tapash Chakraborty, Professor Emeritus
• Maria Cheung, Professor Emeritus 
• Catherine L. Cook, Vice-President Emerita 
• Rob W. Currie, Professor Emeritus 
• Annette Aurélie Desmarais, Professor Emerita
• John (Jay) Doering, Professor Emeritus 
• Joan E. Durrant, Professor Emerita 
• Charlotte Johanna Enns, Professor Emerita 
• Ian J. Ferguson, Professor Emeritus 
• Bruce Austin Ford, Professor Emeritus 
• Gordon Giesbrecht, Professor Emeritus 
• Michael Elias Helewa, Professor Emeritus 
• Susan Elaine McClement, Professor Emerita 
• Verena Menec, Professor Emerit
• Margaret L. Morris, Professor Emerita 
• Leigh Murphy, Distinguished Professor Emerita 
• Luis Oppenheimer, Professor Emeritus
• Raymond Paul Perry, Distinguished Professor Emeritus 
• Grant N. Pierce, Distinguished Professor Emeritus 
• Janice Lynn Ristock, Professor Emeritus
• David Nicholas Rush, Professor Emeritus 
• Peter Zahradka, Professor Emeritus 

To read more about the 2024 Emeritus honourees, please click here to read their individual citations.

Emeriti titles are one of several awards given annually by the university in celebrating and recognizing the success of colleagues and other distinguished individuals. Learn about the university awards nomination process.