Upon UNB Senates and Board approval, at the UNB graduation ceremonies, prestigious awards will be presented to the following students:
The honorary rank of Professor Emeritus/Emerita is awarded, upon or after retirement from active academic duties, to such professors as have served the university with great distinction.
Dr. Allen Curry has been a dedicated member of the University of New Brunswick community for more than three decades, contributing to the department of biology and the faculty of forestry and environmental management.
A graduate of the University of Waterloo (BES’85, Hons.), Trent University (MSc’88), and the University of Guelph (PhD’93), Dr. Curry joined UNB in 1995 as a research associate, advancing to professor in 2006. In his retirement, he continues to serve as an honorary research professor and adjunct professor with the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health.
Dr. Curry’s teaching and mentorship have supported dozens of scientists. He supervised over 55 graduate students, guided 47 undergraduate theses and served on numerous doctoral and master’s committees. His courses spanned aquatic ecology, fisheries management and conservation science.
As founding member, then director of the Canadian Rivers Institute (2004–13) and current Science Fellow, Dr. Curry has been instrumental in advancing freshwater science and policy nationally and internationally. His research on hydro-ecological interactions and fisheries conservation has attracted over $25 million in funding and produced more than 150 peer-reviewed papers, two books, 100 reports and over 250 conference presentations.
Dr. Curry’s leadership on national advisory boards, in editorial roles and through keynote addresses reflects his enduring influence in aquatic science. His commitment to research, teaching and service leaves a lasting legacy at UNB and beyond.
Dr. Eric Hildebrand joined the University of New Brunswick in 1993 as an assistant professor, became an associate professor in 1999 and was promoted to professor in 2005. He retired in 2025 following 35 years of service with the department of civil engineering.
A graduate of UNB with a bachelor of science in engineering (1985) and master of science in engineering (1989), Dr. Hildebrand completed his PhD in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo (1998). During his tenure at UNB, he supervised 50 graduate students, served on numerous departmental and university committees, and received multiple awards recognizing excellence in teaching.
Dr. Hildebrand led the UNB/Transport Canada Collision Research Team for 30 years, the UNB Transportation Group for 22 years, and held an NSERC Discovery Grant throughout his career. He directed the National Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems Research Program and in the late 1990s played a pivotal role in introducing the Road Safety Audit process, which remains widely used by highway engineers today. His expertise continues to shape the field through his work as co-author of the forthcoming Road Safety Guide for Canada.
His leadership extended beyond UNB as president of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum and through his service on numerous national boards and advisory committees. Dr. Hildebrand’s contributions have been recognized with the Transportation Association of Canada’s Award of Academic Merit (2012), the Canadian Society of Civil Engineer’s Sir Stanford Fleming Award (2017) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals (2023).
Dr. Hildebrand has published 100 refereed papers, 67 major research reports and co-authored 10 national design guides, leaving a lasting legacy in transportation engineering.
Dr. Carmen Poulin (BA’80) joined the University of New Brunswick in 1991 as an assistant professor, became an associate professor in 1993 and was promoted to professor in 1999. She retired in 2025 after more than 34 years of service.
A graduate of UNB, Dr. Poulin earned her master of arts (1982) and PhD (1989) in psychology from Queen’s University. Her teaching and mentorship have shaped countless undergraduate and graduate students. She supervised 34 research students, 31 honours projects, eight masters students and 17 doctoral candidates, 14 of whom completed their degrees. Her supervisory and research activities are ongoing as Honorary Research Professor.
Dr. Poulin co-founded and co-directs the Psycho-Social Ethnography of the Commonplace research group, focusing on the examination of the experience of marginalized groups, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and mentoring emerging scholars. Her research is grounded in feminist epistemology and examines how social practices and ideologies shape the experiences of marginalized groups in hierarchical institutions. Through P-SEC, she advanced understanding of marginalized groups such as 90+ years old elders, women firefighters, LGBTQ2S+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and Métis individuals with ties to the east of the Manitoba-Ontario border.
In 2017, Dr. Poulin organized UNB’s first Queer Research Day, a landmark event promoting inclusivity and scholarly dialogue. At UNB, her leadership extended to roles such as coordinator of UNB’s gender and women’s studies program, director of the Honours Program in psychology, Director of the Graduate Studies in psychology, acting chair of the department of psychology, and associate dean of the faculty of arts. She also occupied the role of president of the Canadian Research Institute on Women and of the Section on feminist research of the Canadian Psychological Association.
Dr. Poulin was named a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association in 2024; received the Denmark-Gunvald Award for Feminist Research and Service from the International Council of Psychologists in 2018; was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the Leadership Institute of Women in Psychology of the American Psychological Association; and received the UNB Arts Faculty Teaching Award for full-time faculty members in 2012.
Her record includes 75 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, 18 research reports, 185 conference presentations, 77 invited keynote addresses, and 79 media appearances supported by nearly $2 million in research funding.
Dr. Huining Xiao joined the University of New Brunswick in 2001 as an associate professor, was promoted to professor in 2005 and retired in 2024 after 23 years of service. He continues to contribute as an honorary research professor.
Dr. Xiao earned a PhD in chemical engineering from McMaster University (1994), a master of science in engineering (1987) and a bachelor of engineering (1982) from Nanjing Tech University. At UNB, he taught chemical engineering and supervised 34 PhD students, 37 master’s students and 46 postdoctoral fellows or visiting scholars. Many of his trainees now hold leadership roles in industry or academia, including prestigious research chair positions.
His research focused on creating advanced materials with real-world benefits. He developed antimicrobial-modified cellulose for personal protective equipment, biodegradable food packaging with improved safety features and eco-friendly filters that purify water and restore soil. He also pioneered materials that slowly and efficiently release agricultural chemicals, reducing waste and environmental impact.
Internationally recognized as one of the top two per cent of researchers in his field, Dr. Xiao has received multiple awards for his contributions, including the Highly Cited Researcher Award and the designation as a Canadian leader in materials science in 2024. His record includes over 500 publications, significant research funding and presentations at major conferences worldwide. He was elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 2015.
Dr. Xiao’s work shows how chemical engineering can create sustainable materials that protect health, improve food safety and support environmental stewardship.
