The University of Dundee will celebrate the achievements of more than 1800 graduates this week at its Winter Graduation ceremonies. The ceremonies – taking place from November 20 to 22 – will also see the award of honorary degrees to three outstanding individuals who have made a great impact in their respective fields.
Professor Lee Parker, an alumnus of the University of Dundee who has made a global impact in accounting research. Mary Renfrew, Professor Emeritus at the University of Dundee and a world-renowned researcher and leader in the fields of maternal and new-born care, infant feeding, and midwifery
Dr Joe Morrow, an alumnus of the University of Dundee who is the Lord Lyon King of Arms. Professor Iain Gillespie, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, said, “We are looking forward to a great celebration for our Winter Graduations, marking the tremendous achievements of our Class of 2024 who will be joined by friends and family from around the world.
“Our honorary graduates reflect our core mission to transform lives locally and globally and stand as inspirational figures for our graduates, students, staff and our wider community.” The Graduation ceremonies take place in the Caird Hall in Dundee on Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 and Friday 22 November.
There will be photo opportunities before each ceremony in the Robing Room of the City Chambers on City Square. For morning ceremonies, photo opportunities from 9.15am with the ceremony to start at 10am. For afternoon ceremonies, photo opportunities from 1.45pm with the ceremony to start at 2.30pm. Professor Lee Parker will be honoured at the afternoon ceremony on Thursday 21 November.
Emeritus Professor Mary Renfrew will be honoured at the morning ceremony on Friday 22 November. Dr Joe Morrow will be honoured at the afternoon ceremony on Friday 22 November.
Honorary graduate bios:
Professor Lee Parker graduated from the University of Dundee in 1976. He has made an outstanding impact in accounting research, with more than 250 publications and citations in over 21,000 publications. He is Research Professor of Accounting at the University of Glasgow. His previous academic posts include the Universities of Glasgow, Dundee, Monash, Griffith, Flinders, Adelaide, South Australia, Royal Holloway University of London, RMIT University Melbourne, honorary professorship at the University of St Andrews, and visiting professorships in the USA, UK, Australasia, Asia and the Middle East.
Mary Renfrew, Professor Emeritus at the University of Dundee, is a world-renowned researcher and leader in the fields of maternal and new-born care, infant feeding, and midwifery. The first midwife in the UK to gain a PhD, she has been a pioneer in establishing midwifery as an academic discipline, and through her world-leading research and engagement work has made a global impact on policy and strategic developments relating to maternal and infant health.
Over a distinguished career spanning 45 years, Mary’s driving motivation has always been to generate and implement robust evidence to underpin policy and practice in maternal and infant health, and to ensure women’s voices are heard in policy debates. She was the first midwife to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and the first midwife or nurse to be appointed Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. She was also awarded an OBE in 2022 for her services to midwifery.
Dr Joseph John Morrow, a graduate of the University of Dundee, is the current Lord Lyon King of Arms. He was sworn in before the Lord President of the Court of Session in February 2014.
A member of the Faculty of Advocates, Dr Morrow took silk in September 2015. In 2008 he was appointed President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland a post from which he retired in 2019. He has previously served as Her Majesty’s Commissioner for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (1999-2006), as a First-tier Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) (2002-2013), and as President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (2010-2014).
In 2009 he was appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee, having served as a Labour councillor for the Maryfield ward until that year.
