Three UNBC professors have been granted the title Professor Emeritus for their outstanding careers at UNBC.
Dr. Hugues Massicotte, Dr. Ross Hoffman, and Dr. Henry Harder are being recognized for their titles during the University’s virtual convocation on June 25th.
Professor Emeritus titles are an honorary rank and are awarded to outstanding professors who have retired.
Dr.Henry Harder worked in the Health Sciences department for 20 years at UNBC before retiring in 2020.
He played an instrumental role in the success and expansion of the department and helped create one of Canada’s first and only Disability Management programs.
Dr.Harder continues to serve UNBC as Vice Provost, Indigenous Initiatives, and continues to address social inequities.
“It has been a wonderful experience working at UNBC,” Dr. Harder says. “I have had the opportunity to work with brilliant students and exceptional faculty and staff. I have also had the great honour of working with many First Nations communities over the years. Thank you, everyone.”
Meanwhile, Dr.Ross Hoffman served as Chair of the First Nations Studies Department for six years after starting at UNBC in 2005.
He developed many new courses and served on more than 40 graduate student committees.
Dr. Hoffman established academic and cultural relationships across the world.
During his career, he became co-director of the Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network nationally and the Cross-Cultural Indigenous Knowledge Exchange program between Maori universities in New Zealand and UNBC.
“This honour means a great deal to me. I came to northern B.C. in 1981 to teach at the elementary school level and to pursue my interest in working with First Nations communities,” Dr. Hoffman says. “Becoming a professor at UNBC, provided me with the opportunity to remain in the north and work with many amazing people – students, colleagues, and community members. Being Professor Emeritus enhances my ability to continue to strengthen these relationships and support the great work of UNBC graduates throughout northern B.C. and beyond.”
Dr. Hugues Massicotte worked in Ecosystem Science and Management at UNBC.
In 1994 he became a founding member of the Forestry faculty and has been an integral part of the Ecosystem Science and Management program for the next 26 years.
His scientific focus was in the study of the structure and cytology of symbiotic fungal-root plant associations.
During his career, Dr.Massicotte ran a successful research program on how forest disturbance can impact soil microbial processes, the ecology of forest soils, and plant growth.
He assisted with securing more than $2.5 million in research grants and was the recipient of many awards including the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) Lifetime Achievement Award.
“It is a great honour and delight to be recognized this way, especially alongside my celebrated colleagues, Ross and Henry!” Dr. Massicotte says. “I am forever grateful to UNBC for putting its trust in me in 1994 when I was just starting my career as an educator and research scientist. I have enjoyed the support, friendship and collegiality of so many colleagues, both at UNBC and beyond. These folks became an integral part of my life, and I cannot imagine my career without them and their kindness and generosity.”