The next generation of leaders from disciplines ranging from business to fine art will cross the stage later this month for fall convocation ceremonies at the University of Guelph.

Ceremonies for nearly 650 graduands will take place Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre as follows:

  • College of Biological Science, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences – 10 a.m.
  • College of Arts, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, Ontario Agricultural College, Ontario Veterinary College – 2 p.m.

Four retired University of Guelph faculty members will be recognized at the ceremony for their teaching and research excellence.

Profs. Joseph Lam and Janet Wood, both from the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, will receive Medals of Merit. The awards recognize retired faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the University throughout their careers.

A faculty member at the University of Guelph since 1984, Lam is considered a preeminent leader in investigating microbial infections in humans.

Much of his research has focused on identifying new therapies for infections from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most important pathogen affecting people with cystic fibrosis. Lam’s research contributions to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation earned him the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.

Wood has pursued a distinguished career since joining the University in 1977 and has gained international recognition for her studies of bacterial systems that enable infectious microbes to adapt to environmental changes.

She was also the University’s founding employment equity officer, campaigning for University-wide policies and practices promoting gender equity, diversity and inclusion in education and employment.

Two U of G faculty members will also be named University Professors Emeriti: Prof. Hung Lee, School of Environmental Sciences, and Prof. Allan King, Department of Biomedical Sciences.

An internationally recognized environmental microbiologist, Lee has been with the University since 1986. His expertise in the physiology of microorganisms led him to study their potential uses in biofuels and in microbial treatment of environmental pollutants.

Lee earned the University of Guelph President’s Distinguished Professor Award and the Ontario Agricultural College Distinguished Researcher Award.

King is a world-class researcher who has helped lead national and international collaborations to improve food animal breeding and genetics.

He has served as co-principal investigator of a major project to study animal-human links in health science research.  A former Canada Research Chair in Animal Reproductive Biotechnology, King has made fundamental contributions to our understanding of genetics and has helped in commercialization of embryo technology to benefit Canadian livestock breeders.

All ceremonies may be viewed live online on the U of G convocation site.