Former premier Paula Cox will be granted an honorary degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in recognition of her contributions to Bermuda.

The Halifax-based university announced that Ms Cox would be honoured at the school’s spring convocation ceremonies on May 16, with the event to be livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook.

MSVU said in a statement: “The university honours worthy recipients who have contributed to the betterment of society and humanity in any field, but in particular, improvement of the status of women, contribution to higher education, humanitarian and social service, involvement with and fostering of culture and the arts, or leadership in a field of endeavour.

“The convocation at which the degree is awarded is greatly enriched by the presence of honorary graduands who share the joy of the occasion.”

Ms Cox, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McGill University and a postgraduate Diploma in International Law from Manchester University, was elected to office in Bermuda in 1996.

In 1998 she was re-elected and subsequently named as the Progressive Labour Party’s first Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety before tackling other roles including Minister of Education and Development and Minister of Finance.

She became Premier of Bermuda in October 2010 and served in that role until the party was defeated in the 2012 General Election.

MSVU noted that Ms Cox was named the “Most Effective Politician” in the Best of Bermuda Awards in 2001, 2003 and 2006, and is now the chairwoman of the African Diaspora Consortium and serves on the advisory board of the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute.