SFU will confer an honorary degree on former president Andrew Petter

Andrew Petter has done many notable things in his life.

He held several cabinet posts in the B.C. government of the 1990s. As the dean of law at the University of Victoria, he blazed new trails in making his school more accessible to Indigenous students.

Then as the longtime president of Simon Fraser University, he helped make it the most community-engaged research institution in the country.

But in spite of all these accomplishments, he could never call himself "Dr. Petter", unlike so many other university presidents who have PhDs.

But that will change at 9:45 a.m. on June 7 when Petter will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from SFU.

He's one of seven people being feted with honorary degrees at the spring convocation ceremonies next week.

The others are:

• Humanitarian Dr. James Chi Ming Pau, June 7 (2:30 p.m.)
• Author and former BC Bookworld publisher Alan Twigg, June 8 (9:45 a.m.)
• Conservationists/photographers Christina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen, June 9 (9:45 a.m.)
• Health care leader and former B.C. deputy health minister Dr. Penny Ballem, June 9 (2:30 p.m.)
• Heritage consultant and B.C. transportation historian Robert Turner, June 10 (2:30 p.m.)

It will all take place in Convocation Mall at SFU's Burnaby campus, which will also feature graduates led in processions by the SFU Pipe Band.