A SENIOR aide to Senator George Mitchell during the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement is to be honoured by Ulster University.
Martha Pope is among 11 influential leaders in their fields that will be recognised by UU during summer graduations.
UU will acknowledge the outstanding contributions of educators, scientists, leaders, sportspeople and humanitarians by conferring honorary degrees.
They include HBO Senior Vice President Jay Roewe and Katie Mullan, a Coleraine camog who became Ireland's most successful hockey captain.
Community activist Eamon Baker, Suren Gupta and Michael Hutton are being recognised for their civic contributions along with Ms Pope who is being honoured for the time and expertise she gave to peace building.
Now a pastel artist living in Washington, DC, Ms Pope had a long public service career and was chief of staff to Senator Mitchell.
Lurgan astrophysicist Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who co-discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967, is to be honoured for her contribution to science.
For services to education Alan Logan is being recognised along with John Hunter for his distinguished services to UU as pro-chancellor.
Tony Macaulay is being honoured for his work as an author, peacebuilder, leadership consultant and suicide prevention advocate while Richard Parkes is being recognised for his contribution to music through his work with pipe bands.
UU Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon said the university had a long tradition of awarding individuals who distinguished themselves and "who, through creativity, talent and determination have made a meaningful contribution to society".
"We are proud to honour these individuals whose outstanding contributions to society represent the spirit and values of our university and who can only inspire our students as they begin to shape their own future paths and direction," he said.
