Nancy Smithers

Nancy Smithers

Doctor of Civil Law

Nancy Smithers will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law at the morning ceremony. Smithers is an entrepreneur and community service volunteer with more than 25 years of business experience in financial management, accounting, personnel management, marketing, strategic planning and international trade development. She is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Naturally Nova Scotia Health Products Limited, an organic herb farm and manufacturing facility. The company employs 30 people and supplies herb products and nutraceuticals to retailers across Canada and Japan. She leads all aspects of the company?s operations, including research and product development, market development, promotion, human resources and financial development. She has received several grants from the National Research Council?s Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) to study the active ingredients of herbs and the stability of vitamins and minerals, as well as optimal extraction and production methods. She also co-sponsors NSERC-funded research. In 2004, she earned a Premier?s Commendation recognizing leadership in Quality Management Practice, and in 2007, she won a Nova Scotia Women of Excellence Award. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Coalition for Health, Freedom and Citizens for Choice in Health Care, a member of the Natural Health Product Directorate?s Management Advisory Committee on Natural Health Products, and a member of the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association advisory board. She is also a director of the Dartmouth General Hospital Charitable Foundation and the Dalhousie University Art Gallery, and sits on the Dalhousie University Faculty of Management advisory board. She has studied natural health through Alberta?s Wild Rose College since 1995, completing diploma courses in herbology, pharmacology and vitamins and minerals. She has also completed course work in Japanese at Saint Mary?s, as well as other course work in economics, computer science and liberal arts at Dalhousie University. This Honorary Doctorate recognizes the value Nancy Smithers provides as a role model for entrepreneurial students and her ongoing support for academic research.