Wednesday 11 December 2019 5:07pm
The late Mike Wright will graduate posthumously with a Doctorate of Education degree on Saturday.
Former University of Otago Chaplain Mike Wright will graduate posthumously this weekend with a Doctorate of Education, following the completion of his thesis by his supervisor Associate Professor Jacques van der Meer.
Mike died suddenly two years ago, when he was well through his PhD examining students’ perceptions of spirituality, their spirituality-related experiences, and how these related to their overall holistic wellbeing.
On Saturday, his widow Sheryl will cross the stage at the Dunedin Town Hall and accept his degree.
"He put his heart and soul into this piece of work so to have it completed by his supervisor and friend Jacques is a true honour to him as a person and to us as a family."
“Albeit a sad occasion to accept this award on his behalf, it will also be one of great honour and pride knowing what it meant to him and how passionate he was about all he offered to the learning community.”
She says Mike held graduation ceremonies in high esteem and fully embraced them every year. They were a “highlight on his calendar to robe up for!”
Associate Professor van der Meer, an academic at the College of Education and an academic leader in the Office of Student Success, says there were many reasons he wanted to complete Mike’s work.
“First of all I felt it would pay tribute to, and remind us at Otago of his role and dedication in supporting students and his ongoing interest in making things better for students,” he explains.
“I also felt it might be nice for his family to have a tangible reminder of his wonderful career; and also they had been living with him and his work on the thesis for a very long time (because he worked full-time, he studied part-time).
“Lastly, I felt it might help me to deal with my personal grief. We met nearly every week and over time our relationship developed from ‘just’ a supervisory relationship to a real collegial friendship. We also were sometimes each other’s ‘confidant’ and at times we supported the same student with psychological problems.”
Sheryl says her late husband’s PhD meant the world to him.
"I think he would be very happy that his work would be completed so that we could consider possible future interventions that would support students."
“His heart for students was immense and his desire for knowledge equalled this,” she says.
“To put a project together which encompassed the two was the perfect combination for him. He put his heart and soul into this piece of work so to have it completed by his supervisor and friend Jacques is a true honour to him as a person and to us as a family.”
Associate Professor van der Meer says Mike was making great progress on his PhD. Just before he died he had completed most of the data analysis and writing up of the results, and the two had started to explore how to put the discussion and conclusion chapters together.
“We had many conversations and we were excited that he had reached that stage. So to finish the thesis, I had to reconsider the findings, write the last few chapters, and make some adjustments to the literature review chapters as the discussion chapter was written. My co-supervisors (Drs Keryn Pratt and Hugh Morrison) provided support with formatting the thesis and proof-reading, and also with addressing the issues that some of the examiners wanted to be addressed in the thesis.
Associate Professor van der Meer says Mike was dedicated to his work and to making things better for students – especially their overall wellbeing.
“I think he would be very happy that his work would be completed so that we could consider possible future interventions that would support students.”