Village of Williamsville resident to receive alumni achievement award from UB

The University at Buffalo Alumni Association will honor 12 individuals with achievement awards at a black-tie gala to be held April 20 in the Adam's Mark Hotel.

The awards are presented each spring to alumni and friends of UB for bringing distinction to themselves and the university through outstanding professional and personal achievement, loyal service to UB and exemplary service to their communities.

UB President John B. Simpson and UB Alumni Association President Charles Swanekamp will present the awards. Susan Banks, former news anchor for WKBW-TV, will emcee.

Four Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented in recognition of exceptional career accomplishments, community or university service, or research and scholarly activity. One of the recipients will be Stephen C. Dunnett of Williamsville.

Dunnett, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968 and a doctorate in 1977, is vice provost for international education at UB, professor of foreign language education in the Graduate School of Education and founder of the university's English Language Institute.

He was instrumental in securing last year's three-day visit to UB by the Dalai Lama. As vice provost, he has established key study-abroad and exchange programs between UB and universities in a host of countries. He is the chief university officer responsible for relationships with all UB overseas centers and has sponsored international development activities in training and research and study-abroad and exchange programs in more than 20 countries.

Dunnett also helped establish a UB Center in Beijing, the first-ever American university center in the People's Republic, created in cooperation with the Beijing Municipal System of Higher Education.

Also that evening, four students will be awarded J. Scott Fleming Scholarships.