Dr. Rhonda Y. Britton, The Honourable Deborah Gass, Joyce Carter BComm’84 and Paul Davidson will receive honorary degrees from Saint Mary’s University at Spring Convocation in May
Saint Mary’s University will award honorary doctorates at the 2025 Spring Convocation to four distinguished individuals whose leadership, service and vision have made a lasting impact in Nova Scotia, across Canada and around the world.
Spring Convocation takes place from May 27-30, 2025, on Saint Mary’s campus. Visit the convocation webpage for ceremony details and links to the live stream.
Dr. Rhonda Y. Britton
Dr. Rhonda Y. Britton
Dr. Rhonda Y. Britton is a recently retired Baptist minister with a distinguished record of service to the community. After earning a Doctor of Ministry from Acadia Divinity College and degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Rutgers University, she transitioned from a corporate IT career to full-time ministry.
In 2007, she became the first female senior pastor of Halifax’s New Horizons Baptist Church, a historic institution rooted in the African Nova Scotian community. Her early years at the church saw the launch of parenting programs and "Save Our Sons, Save Our Sisters", a preventative initiative rooted in faith-based social action.
Her leadership in opposing the sale of public land in Halifax’s North End reflects a broader movement where faith leaders are stepping into the role of civic advocate for housing and urban equity. Through actions like renaming the church in recognition of Indigenous reconciliation and collaborating with Mi’kmaq historian Daniel Paul, Dr. Britton’s ministry weaves justice, historical awareness and a commitment to healing.
Dr. Britton will receive a Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa.
The Honourable Deborah Gass
The Honourable Deborah Gass
Justice Deborah Gass is a retired Supreme Court judge whose career helped reframe family law and access to justice in Atlantic Canada. A Mount Allison and Dalhousie graduate, she was called to the bar in two provinces and spent her early years leading legal aid programs focused on inmate and youth rights.
She served as a judge from 1991 to 2018, then as Deputy Judge with the Nunavut Court of Justice. In this role, she brought court proceedings to remote communities, where Inuit Elders could help shape sentencing with cultural context and community understanding.
Justice Gass’s work with the RCMP settlement class action and Nova Scotia’s first restorative justice programs placed her at the intersection of legal systems and social healing. As Canadian courts face renewed calls for reform and transparency, her career is a powerful example of how individuals can lead meaningful change from within.
Justice Gass will receive a Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa.
Joyce Carter BComm’84
Joyce Carter BComm’84
Joyce Carter is a distinguished Saint Mary’s alumna and one of the most influential figures in Canadian aviation. As President and CEO of Halifax Stanfield International Airport Authority, she has guided the airport through major disruptions while maintaining a focus on long-term growth, inclusion and regional impact.
A 1984 Bachelor of Commerce graduate, Joyce Carter has served on major aviation and aerospace boards and is a passionate advocate for gender diversity in leadership roles across the transportation and infrastructure sectors.
Her civic contributions include work with the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, Community Food Centres Canada, and the North American Indigenous Games. As an industry leader, her career shows that economic development can be a foundation for inclusion, resilience and shared prosperity.
Ms. Carter will receive a Doctor of Commerce, honoris causa.
Paul Davidson
Paul Davidson
Paul Davidson is one of Canada’s most respected post-secondary leaders. As President of Universities Canada from 2009 to 2023, he shaped national strategy on international education, research investment and equitable access to learning across 97 institutions.
With degrees from Trent and Queen’s Universities, his cross-sectoral experience spans government, health care, publishing, and global development. Under his leadership, programs like the Global Skills Opportunity reimagined international student exchanges—not only as travel abroad, but to build intercultural fluency and inclusive global engagement.
Though he has served as an advisor and advocate for nearly every university in Canada, this will be Paul Davidson’s first honorary degree. It comes at a time when universities are re-examining their roles in society, something he has long championed as essential to rebuilding public trust and strengthening democratic institutions.
Mr. Davidson will receive a Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa.