Degree from Wheelock College; Gold Medal from the Eire Society
May 13 will be a banner day in Boston for Mary Robinson, at right, the former president of the Republic of Ireland who has been a strident activist for human rights worldwide since her days as a young lawyer.

At 11 a.m. that Friday, she will be at Wheelock College where she will receive an honorary degree and speak to the Class of 2011 by addressing the school’s commencement theme, “Advocating on Behalf of Children: Inspiring a World of Good.”
Then, at 3 p.m. she will be at the Harbor View Ballroom at the World Trade Center for a reception, dinner, and awards ceremony sponsored by the Eire Society of Boston, which is honoring President Robinson with its 2001 Gold Medal for her “significant contributions to benefit society and her chosen field of expertise.”
Said Jackie Jenkins-Scott, president of Wheelock, which was founded in 1888: “Mary Robinson is an inspirational leader and role model who has dedicated her life and her career to improving human rights in her own country and across the globe, and giving voice to the least fortunate among us.”
Robinson served for some 20 years as a senator in the Irish Parliament before assuming the country’s presidency in 1990, the first woman to serve in the post. After she left office in 1997, she joined the United Nations organization as its High Commissioner for Human Rights. Numerous awards followed from around the earth, capped by her reception of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.