Honorary Degree Recipients
The University of Regina Act gives Senate the power to grant honorary degrees and Senate and Executive of Council joint authority to approve candidates. The Chancellor confers honorary degrees as recommended by the President who makes selections from the approved candidate list.
Past Honorary Degree Recipients (Chronologically) (454KB)
Fall 2022 Honorary Degree Recipient
![]() |
RACHEL MIELKE, BAdmin’03, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa Rachel is one of ours, having graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration in 2003. A notable alumni, she has continued to support the Faculty as a member of the Hill and Levene Schools’ Leaders Council, and the larger University of Regina community by generously funding several scholarships that empower young women, and through support of the University’s annual Inspiring Leadership Forum every year since its inception 13 years ago. Rachel’s generosity and activism extends far beyond the University, and she passionately works to recognize and empower women across Canada and around the world. Rachel is well known for her leadership and entrepreneurial achievement as Founder & CEO of Hillberg & Berk, maker of jewelry. The company started from her kitchen table and was named to honour her great-grandmother, Hilda Bergman, and her dog, Berkeley. With fourteen stores across Canada, and global Ecommerce operations, Rachel has grown the H&B brand that continues to attract international attention and demand. Rachel’s business successes have included a showing at The Oscars, a deal on Dragon’s Den, partnerships with Olympic ice dance champion Tessa Virtue as well as model and activist Ashley Callingbull, and two custom design commissions for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Rachel has built a successful national brand with purpose and impact baked into the DNA. Since inception, H&B has donated millions in financial and product contributions to partner organizations who share the company’s mission to connect women to their power. Rachel’s accolades and volunteer contributions over the years are impressive. Rachel was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her volunteer work in 2012, was named to the Ernst and Young Class of Winning Women in 2015, was named one of XL's Canada's Top 40 under 40 in 2017, was named one of Women’s Executive Network Canada's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2016 and 2017 and received the Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Celebration of Achievement Award in 2018. Rachel volunteers her time as an Honorary Captain of the Navy and on the national board of Dress for Success Canada. More recently, Rachel has been very open about her cervical cancer journey, in hopes that it might encourage other women to access healthcare and undergo regular pap testing. She further channels this passion into advocacy and philanthropy for medical innovation for women’s health through Women Leading Philanthropy in Saskatchewan. Rachel is married to her best friend, Zlatan, and is proud mom to three children. |
Spring 2022 Honorary Degree Recipients
![]() |
COLETTE BOURGONJE, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa Colette Bourgonje is a Canadian Paralympic athlete |
![]() |
BRIGITTE BAPTISTE, Doctor of Laws, honoris causa Whether Brigitte Baptiste is speaking on environmental issues and biodiversity, representing the transgender voice for the rights of sexuality and other minorities, or combining the two, she is a role
|
![]() |
DR. SAQIB SHAHAB, Doctor of Science, honoris causa Wide open spaces, a prairie relaxed pace, and clear blue skies greeted Dr. Saqib Shahab upon his arrival from Pakistan to Saskatchewan in 2001. Now a well-known figure as our provincial Chief Medical Health Officer, he has grown to love the warmth of Saskatchewan people and has made good use of his knit sweater vests and cardigans to brave the prairie cold. Graduating top of his class from Rawalpindi Medical College, he completed his internal medicine training in the United Kingdom. He is a Fellow in Public Health and Preventive Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, having completed his training at the University of Alberta, and received a Masters of Public Health from John Hopkins University. As one of Canada’s longest serving chief medical health officers, Dr. Shahab leads with calm and confidence, and has been an exceptional leader in Saskatchewan’s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic. |