McGill University will confer 10 honorary doctorates this spring, recognizing individuals who are leaders in their fields and whose work has had a significant impact in their communities and beyond.
Honorary doctorates are awarded to individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to improving lives through research, art, public service or philanthropy.
The honorees exemplify such qualities as creativity, compassion, dedication, service and innovation.
The degrees will be conferred at the Spring 2026 Convocation ceremonies, held from May 26 to June 4.
“McGill honorary doctorates are awarded to distinguished individuals whose accomplishments have had a significant impact in their fields and who reflect the University’s mission and core values,” said Deep Saini, President and Vice-Chancellor of McGill.
“This year’s recipients have each contributed in remarkable ways to the advancement of society. Their achievements encourage our graduates to think beyond traditional limits and highlight the powerful role that knowledge, creativity and service play in shaping the world. Through their leadership and generosity, they offer an inspiring example for others. We look forward to recognizing their achievements as our University’s highest honour is bestowed upon them.”
Thomas Hudson
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
Health Sciences ‘A’ Ceremony, May 26, 10 a.m.
Thomas Hudson, MD, is a pioneering genomic scientist whose work has advanced understanding of human genetics and disease. Raised in Quebec, he contributed to the Human Genome Project at MIT, helping map the human genome and develop technologies that accelerated DNA analysis. Recruited to McGill in 1996, he founded the McGill University and Génome Québec Innovation Centre and helped establish Genome Canada. His research has identified genes linked to cancer and complex diseases, while also addressing rare conditions affecting Quebec populations. He is a leader in academia and industry, and his career reflects major contributions to science, medicine and global health innovation.
Harley Finkelstein
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
Desautels Faculty of Management Ceremony, May 27, 10 a.m.
Harley Finkelstein has built a life around entrepreneurship, from selling T-shirts at university to helping lead Shopify. Born in Montreal, he studied economics before completing a law degree and MBA to strengthen his business skills. After meeting Shopify co-founder Tobias Lütke, he joined early and helped grow the company into a global commerce platform. Beyond Shopify, he has invested in over 45 startups and mentors emerging entrepreneurs. Finkelstein also supports education, health care and community initiatives through philanthropy. Recognized nationally and internationally, his career reflects a commitment to making entrepreneurship more accessible and impactful.
Madeleine Careau
Doctor of Music, honoris causa (D.Mus.)
Schulich School of Music Ceremony, May 27, 3 p.m.
Madeleine Careau has shaped Quebec’s cultural landscape through a distinguished 50-year career in arts administration, including over two decades as CEO of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Originally a student of political science at Université Laval, she discovered her passion for the arts while working with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. She went on to help found the Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque, du spectacle et de la vidéo (Adisq) – the Quebec association for the recording, concert and video industries – produce major cultural galas and lead the Just for Laughs Festival. As CEO of the MSO, Careau guided the organization through financial challenges, recruited key artistic leaders and oversaw major initiatives including the Maison symphonique. Her leadership strengthened the orchestra’s global reputation and impact.
Yves-Marie Morissette
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
Faculty of Law Ceremony, May 27, 3 p.m.
Yves-Marie Morissette is a distinguished legal scholar and judge whose career has deeply influenced McGill’s Faculty of Law and Canadian jurisprudence. Born in Quebec, he studied law at Université de Montréal before earning a doctorate at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He spent 25 years at McGill, teaching key areas of law and serving as Dean, where he helped lead major reforms including the trans-systemic program. Appointed to the Quebec Court of Appeal in 2002, he has since delivered widely respected judgments. His career reflects a sustained commitment to legal scholarship, institutional leadership and public service.
Rory Cooper
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
Faculty of Engineering ‘A’ Ceremony, May 28, 10 a.m.
Rory Cooper is a pioneer in rehabilitation engineering whose work has transformed mobility for people with disabilities. After a spinal cord injury during his service in the U.S. Army left him paralyzed from the waist down, he designed an ultralight wheelchair to navigate university life, launching his career. He went on to develop innovations such as the Ergonomic Dual Surface Wheelchair Pushrim and advanced control systems for powered wheelchairs, improving safety, comfort and independence for millions. A Paralympian medalist, Cooper also advanced adaptive sports technologies. As a professor and research leader, he has produced extensive scholarship and mentored future innovators, advancing inclusive design and accessibility worldwide.
Suzanne Fortier
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
Faculty of Science ‘B’ Ceremony, May 29, 3 p.m.
Suzanne Fortier (BSc’72, PhD’76) had a profound impact on higher education in Canada, most notably during her tenure as McGill University’s 17th Principal and Vice-Chancellor from 2013 to 2022. McGill’s first francophone Principal, Fortier led the University through a transformative decade, establishing major academic units such as the School of Population and Global Health, the Max Bell School of Public Policy and the Bensadoun School of Retail Management, while strengthening ties with francophone Quebec. Her leadership also marked McGill’s bicentennial and its most ambitious fundraising campaign. She is a McGill alumna and accomplished scientist. Her career reflects a deep commitment to research, education and institutional excellence.
Claudio Bussandri
Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LL.D.)
Faculty of Education Ceremony, June 1, 10 a.m.
Claudio Bussandri (BEng’69, MBA’76) built an outstanding career in business while dedicating himself to philanthropy and volunteerism. Born in Montreal, he overcame severe hearing loss through early intervention and determination, excelling academically and graduating with honours in mechanical engineering before earning an MBA. He held senior leadership roles at major companies, including serving as CEO of McKesson Canada, where he led a remarkable turnaround. Deeply committed to giving back, he supported major health institutions and founded World Wide Hearing, expanding access to hearing care. His legacy reflects resilience, leadership and a lifelong commitment to helping others overcome barriers.
Robert Engle
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
Faculty of Arts ‘B’ Ceremony, June 2, 10 a.m.
Robert F. Engle, co-recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Economics, is a leading expert in time series analysis and the creator of autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH), a method for the statistical modelling of time-varying volatility. His work revolutionized financial econometrics and is widely used in asset pricing and risk management. He is Co-Director of the NYU Stern Volatility Institute and co-founded the Society for Financial Econometrics. Educated at Williams College and Cornell University, he shifted from physics to economics – a fortuitous change resulting in a stellar career with contributions to the fields of economics, finance, statistics and most recently on the climate crisis with research on climate-related financial risk.
Shibl Mourad
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
School of Continuing Studies Ceremony, June 3, 10 a.m.
Shibl Mourad is a leader in artificial intelligence research who has helped establish Montreal as a global AI hub. Born in Syria and educated in engineering and science in London, he built a career combining entrepreneurship and applied data science before joining Google in 2011, where he led the growth of the Montreal office and later co-founded the Google DeepMind Montreal lab. His work focuses on AI, scientific discovery and responsible engineering that prioritizes safety and social benefit. He has also strengthened McGill’s AI programs through teaching and curriculum development while promoting equity and inclusion in technology.
Helmut Sies
Doctor of Science, honoris causa (D.Sc.)
Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences ‘A’ Ceremony, June 4, 10 a.m.
Helmut Sies is a pioneering scientist whose work transformed understanding of redox biology and oxidative stress. Raised in Germany, he developed an early interest in science and studied medicine in Tübingen, Paris and Munich, earning his MD in 1967. His research revealed that hydrogen peroxide plays a key role in cell biology and led to the concept of redox cycling. In 1985, Sies introduced “oxidative stress,” now central to fields such as medicine, nutrition and aging. He is a leading scholar at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf; his widely cited work on micronutrients and cellular processes has profoundly influenced modern life sciences and disease research.
Read the full citations for McGill’s 2026 Spring Convocation honorary degree recipients.