Mr. Peter Freeman
Fr. James Mulligan
Fr. Thomas Mohan
Dr. John Thompson
Mr. Frank G. Upshaw
Dr. David Lawless
Mme Yolande Gagnon
Dr. Allan Markin
HONOURARY FELLOW PROFILES
The Honourary Fellow designation is an honour bestowed on distinguished contributors to the life and mission of St. Mary's University College. By naming honourary fellows, we honour individuals who have distinguished themselves by significant and sustained commitment to the building of the University College through teaching or research, distinguished service on the Board of Governors or Academic Council, or donations of major gifts.
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Mr. Peter L. Freeman, QC
2011 Honourary Fellow Recipient
Peter L. Freeman, QC, a visionary leader who guided St. Mary’s University College’s Board of Governors with integrity and wisdom in its formative years, was presented with the distinction of Honourary Fellow of St. Mary’s University College at Convocation 2011. Mr. Freeman was a member of the Board of Governors from 1996 to 2005, holding the position of Chairman of the Board from November 2002 to December 2005. His impressive credentials and many community contacts were of tremendous benefit during the years that St. Mary’s sought and obtained degree-granting status in the province of Alberta.
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Fr. James T. Mulligan 
2010 Honourary Fellow Recipient
Fr. James T. Mulligan, whose expertise in and passion for Catholic education
helped shape the Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree program, was named Honourary Fellow of
St. Mary’s University College at the historic 2010 convocation where the first BEd degrees were awarded.
Fr. Mulligan was recognized for his contributions to the development of the BEd program, which was introduced
at St. Mary’s in 2008 as the only education program in Canada specifically designed to prepare teachers for
Catholic school systems. Deliberations that led to the BEd degree program were informed by Fr. Mulligan’s
thesis that the appropriate formation of teachers is at “the heart of the matter” of a vibrant Catholic education
system.
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Fr. Thomas F. Mohan
2009 Honourary Fellow Recipient
Throughout his tenure as Associate Superintendent for the Calgary Catholic School District between 1981 and 1993, Fr. Thomas Mohan contributed substantially to formulating and realizing the vision of a Catholic university college in Calgary. St. Mary's University College came into being, in part, through the tenacity and wisdom Fr. Mohan brought to the committees of educators and community leaders who became devoted to the project.
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Dr. John Thompson
2008 Honourary Fellow Recipient
Dr. John Thompson, one of St. Mary's earliest supporters and interim president in its formative years, was invested with the title of Honourary Fellow at the 2008 Convocation. Dr. Thompson was recognized for his outstanding contributions to scholarship as interim president of what was then St. Mary's College from 1992 to 1994. Under his leadership, it was decided that St. Mary's would forego all further attempts to affiliate with the University of Calgary and become a free-standing institution, open to all, offering a liberal arts and sciences program and committed to the synthesis of faith and reason.
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Mr. Frank G. Upshaw
2007 Honourary Fellow Recipient
On June 30th, 2007, Mr. Frank G. Upshaw was invested with the title of Honourary Fellow in recognition of his years of service to the institution, its students, staff and faculty. Mr. Upshaw is living proof that good deeds are the best demonstration of our intentions. He reminds us that words come easy, but actions require a deeper commitment. For as long as St. Mary’s University College stands on this site, all who work, teach and study here will stand on the foundation he built. Mr. Upshaw is a man of faith, vision and passion whose example serves as a beacon of light to all who have the good fortune to know him.
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Dr. David Lawless
2005 Honourary Fellow Recipient
At its third convocation, St. Mary’s University College invested Dr. David Lawless with the title of Honourary Fellow in recognition of his pivotal role in establishing the institution and his contributions to post-secondary education in Canada. Dr. Lawless was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of St. Mary’s in 1996, opening the doors in 1997 to the first group of university-transfer students. His unflagging belief in the key role of the Catholic tradition of post-secondary education in Canada and the need to provide students with the opportunity for academic excellence, have become the cornerstones of the institution.
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Madame Yolande Gagnon
2005 Honourary Fellow Recipient
St. Mary’s University College invested Madame Yolande Gagnon with the title of Honourary Fellow in recognition of her faithful support of Catholic post-secondary education in southern Alberta. This honorific complements another title she has earned: Yolande Gagnon has been called, with justice, the “mother” of St. Mary’s University College.
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Dr. Allan Markin
2004 Honourary Fellow Recipient
At its first convocation, St. Mary's University College honoured one of its founders whose personal commitment substantially accounts for its genesis and growth. The University College recognized Dr. Allan Markin, who has contributed some ten million dollars and enormous personal energy to sustain its development from the beginning. Without Dr. Markin's generous devotion of time and treasure there would not be a St. Mary's University College.