2025 Recipients
Rev. Dr. Gordon J. Oaks, DMin, BDiv, BA
Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa)
Rev. Dr. Gordon J. Oaks is recognized with the honorary Doctor of Divinity for his longstanding service to St. Stephen’s College and to faith communities in western Canada and beyond.
Dr. Oaks hails from Calgary, Alberta. After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology at the 雅伎著, Dr. Oaks pursued a career in ministry by first obtaining a Testamur (1966) from St. Stephen’s College and then a Bachelor of Divinity (1968) from the 雅伎著/St. Stephen’s College. During these years, Dr. Oaks lived in residence at St. Stephen’s College, he served as President of the SSC Student Council (1964–1965), and on the morning of February 15, 1965, he had the honour of running up the St. Stephen’s flagpole (along with Dean Charles Johnston) the first Canadian flag to fly over the 雅伎著 campus.
After completing placements as a student minister in Rocky Mountain House (AB) and Normal Wells (NWT), Dr. Oaks spent four years as minister in Fort Nelson (BC). In 1970, he returned to Edmonton where he served as minister of Robertson-Wesley United Church, St. Stephen’s United Church, and St. Paul’s United Church. During this 32-year period, Dr. Oaks also spent time in Australia and Zimbabwe on ministry exchanges with the Uniting and Methodist churches in each of those countries (respectively). Ever the thirsty mind, Dr. Oaks expanded his ministry competencies by pursuing studies in Pastoral Counselling at Andover Newton (Boston, Mass.), graduating with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1984. Upon his formal retirement in 2002, Dr. Oaks took up part-time ministerial duties in Pastoral Care at McDougall United (Edmonton).
Throughout his life, Dr. Oaks has contributed to the life and work of St. Stephen’s College in deep and meaningful ways. He served over 25 years on the St. Stephen’s Doctor of Ministry Program Committee, working closely with doctoral students to help them craft and deepen their research and ministry practice. From 2007–2010, he was the fifth Chancellor of St. Stephen’s College; during these three years, Dr. Oaks championed fundraising efforts to renovate the ground floor and west entrance to increase campus accessibility. One of Dr. Oaks’s enduring legacies at St. Stephen’s was the inauguration of the Chancellor’s Gala; between the years of 2008–2019, the College held 10 Gala events, which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the College’s educational programming.
Beyond the UCC and St. Stephen’s College, Dr. Oaks served as chairperson of the Bissell Centre Capital Campaign (2004–2006), and he provided leadership to educational programming delivered by the Personal Development Centre, the Family Life Educational Council (Edmonton), and the Family Life Educational Centre (Zimbabwe). He has contributed as either facilitator or participant to multiple workshops, conferences, and/or study tours. More recently, Dr. Oaks also co-chaired the board of YEGO Canada, a not-for-profit organization that supports those working with genocide survivors and vulnerable youth in Rwanda. An avid golfer, curler, swimmer, and cyclist, Dr. Oaks also sings in the Edmonton Metropolitan Community Chorus and is Social Convener for the Edmonton Seniors Alpine Ski Club.
Dr. Kathleen Neufeld, DMin, MTh, MEd, BEd
Doctor of Sacred Letters (honoris causa)
Dr. Kathleen Neufeld is recognized with the honorary Doctor of Sacred Letters for her longstanding service to the public education system, faith communities, not-for-profit organizations, and to post-secondary education.
Dr. Neufeld’s resume is as diverse as her character is deep. She was born in Manitoba where, after taking courses in psychology, geography, sociology, English literature, and German at the University of Manitoba, she taught as a classroom teacher for seven years. After a decade working as a stay-at-home mom, she completed a Diploma in Early Childhood Education (1981) at the University of Manitoba, followed by a Bachelor of Education (1981) and a Master of Education (1985) at the 雅伎著. Over the next twenty years, she worked as a classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, and then school principal with Edmonton Public Schools. During this time, Dr. Neufeld also taught sessionally in the Faculty of Education at the 雅伎著, and ran a teacher training program in Thailand for the Private Schools Teachers Association.
Throughout her life, Dr. Neufeld has been active in her faith community in both official and volunteer capacities. She spent six years in pastoral ministry at Lendrum Mennonite Church, where she also has served on multiple committees and as Moderator of the Board. More broadly within her Mennonite community, Dr. Neufeld served as a Board Member of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (Fresno, California) and eight years as Chair of that Board’s Academic Committee. She has worked as a member of the Pastoral Care Team at the South Park Extended Care Facility, and served five years on the board (two as chair) of Riseup Ministries, which provides support for women dealing with domestic violence. Since 2010, Dr. Neufeld has chaired the Edmonton Mennonite–Catholic Dialogue, and in 2012 she was awarded the Kevin Carr Award from Newman Theological College.
Dr. Neufeld has been an active member of the St. Stephen’s College learning community for over twenty years, having completed her Doctor of Ministry (2010) and Master of Theology (2013) at the College. She has held several positions at St. Stephen’s, including three years as Chair of the Doctor of Ministry program (2010–2013), Interim Principal and Dean (2017–2018), Chair of the Academic Senate (2019–2022), member of the Board of Governors (2019–2022), and a member of the College’s ATS Accreditation Committee (2020–2023).
Outside of education, Dr. Neufeld has offered distinguished service in many not-for-profit organizations. She is a past Executive Director of Wellspring Edmonton (2021–2022), past Chair of the Board for the Centre for Newcomers, and past Interim Director of the Mennonite Central Committee prison ministry, M2W2 (2005–2006). From 2015–2022, she worked closely with the YEGO Rwanda Project, serving on their board and traveling each year to Rwanda to facilitate healing retreats and other programs for women and youth affected by trauma and intergenerational trauma as a result of the 1994 genocide. She has volunteered with organizations such as the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, at men’s and women’s prisons, and she has worked as a facilitator of AVPs (Alternatives to Violence Projects) in the community and in prisons in Edmonton, Drumheller and Bowden. Dr. Neufeld has also been active in the Toastmasters Club of Edmonton, having received both the Toastmaster of the Year and Toastmaster’s H.E.A.R.T. Awards.