Huntington University Confers Honorary Degree Upon Chancellor

Dr. Bela Ravi, a distinguished, dedicated and award-winning member of the Greater Sudbury community has been awarded an Honorary Degree from Huntington University.  The Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters is among one of the highest honours for achievement bestowed by the institution.


This prestigious accolade is being presented while Dr. Bela Ravi continues to proudly serve as Chancellor of Huntington University.  She was officially installed as Chancellor, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the university’s 60th anniversary year, during a private ceremony held on November 23, 2020.


“On behalf of the Board of Regents at Huntington, it is my distinct privilege to congratulate Dr. Bela Ravi today,” said Mrs. Mary-Liz Warwick, Chair of the Huntington University Board of Regents.  “In her role as Chancellor, Dr. Bela Ravi has served as an outstanding ambassador for our university during two very challenging years.  At this point in our history, Huntington University is in a transformative phase and Dr. Bela Ravi’s unwavering advocacy for our institution has inspired meaningful collaborations that will set the stage for new initiatives and opportunities for Huntington in the coming months.”


“I am extremely proud and humbled to accept this Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters from Huntington University, an institution I take immense pride in being affiliated with as Chancellor,” said Dr. Bela Ravi, Honorary Doctorate recipient. “I would like to sincerely thank the Board of Regents for this recognition, as well as Dr. Kevin McCormick for his inspiring and skillful leadership of Huntington University.  This institution, having just celebrated 60 years of academic excellence and civic leadership, is forging a new and revitalized path forward to see it through the next 60 years.  It’s exciting for me to be a part of this journey with Huntington University, and I look forward to seeing where it leads us.” 


“Dr. Bela Ravi is one of Greater Sudbury’s most influential and highly respected community leaders. For decades her name has been synonymous with philanthropy, community service, leadership, and education, which has earned her many distinguished accolades and awards at the local and national levels,” said Dr. Kevin McCormick, President and Vice-Chancellor of Huntington University. “Dr. Bela Ravi in her role of Chancellor has prioritized higher education in northern Ontario, and has been steadfast in her efforts to ensure the future prosperity of Huntington. More information about some of our future initiatives will be released publicly soon, but today we are thrilled to be celebrating Dr. Bela Ravi and her outstanding contributions to Greater Sudbury and Huntington University.”


The Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters will be conferred upon Dr. Bela Ravi on June 27, 2022 during an evening Convocation ceremony presented by Huntington University at the Caruso Club. The official conferral of the Honorary degree was conducted by Mrs. Mary-Liz Warwick, Chair of the Huntington University Board of Regents and Dr. Kevin McCormick, President and Vice-Chancellor of Huntington University.


ABOUT DR. BELA RAVI

Dr. Bela Ravi was born in Patiala, India and immigrated to Canada with her family in 1973.  She is married with three daughters and has been a member of the Greater Sudbury community for 25 years, making outstanding contributions to education, the arts, health and senior care, homelessness, multiculturalism and citizenship, and more.


At present, Dr. Ravi serves as President of the Sudbury Multicultural & Folk Arts Association, and sits as a board member for such organizations as the Local Immigration Partnership, and the India-Canada Association. She is also a member of the City of Greater Sudbury’s Senior Advisory Panel. Over the years she has dedicated much of her time and talent, in leadership roles, and is past president of both the India-Canada Association and Sudbury Prarthana Samaj, past co-chair of the Institute of Canadian Citizenship, past fundraising committee member for Elgin Street Mission, and a past board member of the Ontario Arts Council and the YMCA Northeastern Ontario-Fund Development Committee. She has involved herself in many educational leadership roles over the years, including as a former member of the Laurentian University Board of Governors, and as a supporter of the Rainbow Board through her role on the MacLeod Public School Parent Council and in raising funds to establish the Joan Mantle Music Trust.


For her dedicated community service, Dr. Ravi has been recognized with numerous accolades and honours including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Hall of Fame Community Builders Award of Excellence, Paul Harris Fellowship, just to name a few.


ABOUT HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY


Huntington University is a learning institute for higher education located in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. Over the past 60 years, Huntington University has made a name for itself by proudly partnering with many organizations, both national and international, to foster relations and build community. The university has also successfully established several Centres of Excellence, such as the first Teaching and Learning Centre in the north, the Peruvian Canadian Institute and the Canadian Finnish Institute, which have all enhanced northern Ontario’s academic landscape.


We are especially proud of our international work and are actively engaged in creating new opportunities for growth, with a plan of forging new relationships and partnerships with other countries, organizations, and students based on our shared values and goals.


Huntington University has a proud history and a bright future and has plans to further expand our global projects and higher education programming. We are leveraging the partnerships we have built over the years, and take pride in knowing our successful institutes and centres of excellence give us a strong foundation upon which to make our vision a reality.


As we embark upon this exciting next chapter, we remain focused on continuing to serve our communities through our programming, international institutes and commitment to civic leadership and service.


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