Dalhousie is presenting eight outstanding individuals with honorary degrees during Spring Convocation ceremonies in May and June. Honorary degrees are awarded to individuals across a wide range of disciplines and achievements. They recognize people who have shown inspirational leadership; outstanding contributions to a field or discipline of study or a non‐academic area of achievement; and/or outstanding achievement at or contributions to Dalhousie. Candidates are reviewed and recommended by the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee and approved by the university Senate. The 2022 honorary degree cohort consists of five people who are already alumni and three more who soon become alumni (as all honorary degree recipients officially join our alumni community if they’re not a member already). They represent Dal’s supporters and friends, and we are grateful in the Office of Advancement for the many ways they enrich our community.

Honoring Ruma Bose, Inspirational Entrepreneur

Dal’s honorary degree recipient, Ruma Bose, Spring Convocation 2022

The life and career of Quebec-born Ruma Bose (MBA’99) has been shaped by several transformative experiences, perhaps none more so than the eight months of her early 20s she spent volunteering with Mother Theresa and her Missionaries of Charity in India.

Ever since, the Dalhousie MBA graduate has strived to find ways to link business and entrepreneurship with social impact. This was true from the very first company she founded: a floor-finishing business that sought to make tangible improvements in the lives of its largely immigrant workforce. And it’s continued to hold true as she’s helped national and international companies discover the positive change they can make on the world around them.

“As I look back at my life after Dalhousie, I only wish I had realized earlier how big of a difference each one of our voices can make when we speak up for something we believe in.”—Ruma Bose, speaking to Faculty of Management students in 2021

Ruma Bose: Recognized for ethical leadership

Bose is currently co-founder and managing partner of Humanitarian Ventures, an investment fund linking high-growth technology companies with opportunities to benefit the humanitarian sector. Earlier in her career, she helped top-selling Greek yogurt brand Chobani expand its social mission with Chobani Ventures and the Tent Foundation, which works to respond to the global refugee crisis. In 2017, Bose co-founded and launched the Canadian Entrepreneurship Initiative with Sir Richard Branson and authored its flagship report Entrepreneurship: Canada’s Golden Opportunity.

An in-demand speaker who’s been featured in the world’s top business publications, Bose’s awards and honours include the 2020 Dalhousie Scotiabank Ethical Leadership Award.