Maureen Mancuso, provost and vice-president (academic), is among this year’s recipients of McMaster University’s most prestigious honour from its Alumni Association. She was inducted into the university’s Alumni Gallery Thursday night.

Known as the “alumni hall of fame,” the Alumni Gallery recognizes the contributions to society of some of McMaster’s most accomplished graduates.

Mancuso was among eight new members honoured. Others include Eugene Levy, an actor and Grammy-award winner; Nigel Fisher, president and CEO of UNICEF Canada; and Paula Rochon, vice-president of research at Women’s College Hospital.

Mancuso was recognized for her career of exemplary firsts, including the first woman to be appointed provost and vice-president; the first woman to chair U of G’s Department of Political Science; and the first woman to study political scandal, corruption and ethics in Canada. She was also honoured for being a mentor and role-model for students, and her efforts to improve education quality and productivity. As a professor, she has won teaching awards and been listed among the “most popular professors” by Maclean’s magazine.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from McMaster University, a master’s degree from Carleton University and a D.Phil. from Nuffield College at Oxford University, where she was a British Council Fellow.