John ApSimon was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the
5:15 p.m. ceremony on Monday, June 20, “in recognition of his outstanding contributions both to Organic Chemistry and to the functioning and development of Carleton University.”
ApSimon is a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. He joined Carleton in 1962 after studying in Liverpool, U.K. and a postdoctoral period at the National Research Council of Canada.
ApSimon established a successful research and teaching program in the field of the synthesis and structure of natural products. During his chemistry career, he supervised many postgraduate students and around 200 publications. He taught at all levels of organic chemistry. Throughout this time, he collaborated and lectured widely with research groups in academe and industry – both nationally and worldwide. He was also the Editor of the Canadian Journal of Chemistry.
He migrated slowly into Carleton’s administration, starting with the Chair of Chemistry, followed by Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Vice-President (Academic) and Vice-President (Research and External).
Following his initial retirement, mandatory at the time, he was a Special Advisor to the Deputy Minister of the Environment, Executive Director of the Canada Research Chairs program and the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies. In the latter role, he oversaw the establishment of the Ontario Quality Council.
Returning to Carleton as interim Dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs, he worked with University Advancement on a corporate strategy. This was followed by advisory roles to the Vice-President (Research and International), the Dean of Science and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design. ApSimon retired in 2022.