John (Jack) Little (MA'70, DLitt'25), was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters at Convocation in Fredericton.

One of the most productive and imaginative Canadian historians of his generation, John earned a bachelor of arts degree from Bishop's University in 1968, followed by a master of arts degree from UNB. He completed his PhD in history at the University of Ottawa in 1977.

His distinguished career as a scholar and educator spans more than four decades, primarily at Simon Fraser University (SFU) where he is now a professor emeritus.

His research interests are diverse, encompassing social, cultural, political, and environmental history. His prolific contributions to Canadian history include 13 books, approximately 100 scholarly articles, and many book reviews. Quebec history lies at the heart of his scholarship, but he has also published on the history of the Maritime provinces, Ontario, British Columbia, and Canada as a whole.

Favouring a microhistorical approach, his work is renowned for its blend of archival research, thoughtful analysis and readability. His accolades include being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and awards from the Canadian Historical Association and the Institut d'histoire de l'Amérique française.

His impact on Canadian history extends beyond his publications. John's peers routinely seek his advice on matters relating to history in Canada, and he has delivered dozens of conference papers, as well as served as a member of national research and publication grants committees and several departmental review committees.

In addition to his scholarly achievements, he has been an exemplary mentor and colleague. He has served as chair of his department, supervised numerous graduate students, and been actively involved in community service and heritage preservation. His commitment to public engagement is evident through his community talks and contributions to environmental issues on the west coast.

Cherrill Edwina Shea (BA'69, LLB'72, LLD'25) was awarded an honorary doctor of laws at Fall Convocation in Saint John. She has dedicated her life to breaking barriers, advancing education, and for advocating human rights and civil liberties, and serving her community with distinction. She was born in Saint John and earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1969 and a bachelor of laws degree in 1972 from UNB. She was one of only five women in her law school class. She was called to the provincial bar as a barrister and solicitor in 1972, and 50 years later was designated as a life member of the Law Society of New Brunswick.

She began her legal career at a prominent law firm in Saint John (Stewart McKelvey) and quickly made a name for herself in litigation. Her career took her to New York City, where she worked at a firm (a predecessor of the current Dentons) and handled high-profile corporate cases and international disputes in London and Paris. She co-authored a pioneering multi-volume treatise on class actions and co-authored a monograph on utility deregulation in California.

Later, she transitioned into the telecommunications sector where she took on leadership roles in the emerging wireless telephone and mobile data industries and used her legal expertise to navigate this heavily regulated and evolving field in the United States, Europe, and Australia. She also co-founded a consulting firm focused on public safety communications.

Beyond her professional achievements, she has been a passionate philanthropist and advocate for education and human rights. She has been funding major scholarships for nursing and health sciences students, as well as law students at UNB, for more than a decade. She has also made provisions to ensure these scholarships are established in perpetuity after her lifetime and to provide major support to UNB and UNB Law School. Her legacy of leadership, mentorship, and giving back exemplifies her commitment to building a stronger community.

She currently serves on the Dean's Advisory Council at UNB Law School. She received the UNB Alumni Award of Distinction in 2022. For her groundbreaking career, tireless support of education, and dedication to her province, she was invested into the Order of New Brunswick, the province's highest honour, in November.

If you had told young Pascal Siakam (DLitt'25), who much preferred soccer, that basketball would be his life, I'm not sure he would have believed you. Yet, there was one person who would not have been surprised—his father, Tchamo. Pascal has been given many gifts in life, but perhaps the greatest of all is a father who allowed him to believe he could do anything.

Pascal received an honorary doctor of letters at a special ceremony in September on the Fredericton campus.

Pascal was born to a family of six siblings in Douala, Cameroon. When he was 11, his father enrolled him in a seminary in another town. Life there was hard work: waking up at 5:30a.m. to chop wood, wash dishes, and do laundry—followed by morning mass and then a full day of classes. The seminary had one basketball net—halfbroken, rusty, and mostly left unused during their one hour of recreation each day.

During holidays, Pascal would return home. It was during one of those visits that a friend invited him to attend a local basketball camp. He went on to take part in Basketball Without Borders—an instructional camp organized by the NBA. After finishing grade 12, with the guidance and support of his father, Pascal enrolled in a prep school in the United States to further his academic and athletic development.

He had only just started playing organized basketball, but backed by his father's belief in his potential, Pascal put in the work and was later recruited to play for New Mexico State University. That first year, he was injured and redshirted the entire season. The next year, he came off the bench, worked his way to the starting line-up, and took home conference Freshman of the Year. The year after that, he kept learning and working and was unanimously awarded conference Player of the Year.

When the next door opened and Pascal was drafted to the Toronto Raptors, he worked harder than anyone else. In his eight years in Toronto, he helped lead the Raptors to their first NBA championship and was named the league's Most Improved Player along the way. He established himself as one of the best and most versatile defensive players in the NBA. In 2024, he joined the Indiana Pacers where his playing skill and ability to bring people together was instrumental in driving Indiana's best playoff run in franchise history.

This is an almost unimaginable success story. It's a testament to what is possible when ambition and self-belief are met in equal parts by hard work and dedication.

Because he was given the gift of a father who believed he could do anything, Pascal had the courage to walk through doors when they opened and the strength to meet the challenges along the way.

Tchamo Siakam passed away in 2014. But Pascal carries his father's spirit with him, believing in the potential of others and creating opportunities for them to do great things. He founded the PS43 Foundation, a not-for-profit that uses innovative approaches to empowering young people through education and mentorship.

At UNB, Pascal and the PS43 Foundation partnered with the River Philip Foundation to create The Pascal Siakam Scholarship, which awards $8,000 per year to a student from Cameroon who is enrolled in a technology-related program. The scholarship has supported three students so far: Cedrick Tahmo in computer science, Erick Mbianda in mechanical engineering, and this year's recipient, Jella Karen Fandio, an engineering student from Pascal's hometown of Douala.

The PS43 Foundation's guiding principle is "dream big." Set yourself a goal, regardless of obstacles and challenges, and put in the hard work. What could you do, if you started today? Who do you want to be?