Cuisine for a Cure to honor UB educator

D. Bruce Johnstone, a widely recognized higher education professional and cancer survivor, will be honored by the American Cancer Society at its inaugural "Cuisine for a Cure" fundraiser at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Asbury Hall, located on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo.

Johnstone is distinguished service professor of Higher and Comparative Education Emeritus at the University at Buffalo. Retired from active teaching in 2006, he continues to direct doctoral dissertations and to direct the International Comparative Higher Education Finance and Accessibility Project at UB.

He has also held posts of vice president for administration at the University of Pennsylvania, president of UB, and chancellor of the State University of New York system.

While beginning his sixth year as SUNY chancellor in the late summer of 1993, Johnstone was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent a pancreatic resection. Shortly thereafter, he resigned from his chancellorship and returned to the Buffalo area, where he received chemotherapy and radiation treatments at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Dr. Johnstone describes the years since his diagnosis as somewhat unexpected but totally enjoyable and productive.

"I have had the good fortune of becoming one of the foremost scholars in the world on international comparative higher education finance and governance," he said. "It is an honor to be recognized by the American Cancer Society, as I am proof that we are slowly, but surely, winning the battle against cancer."

"Cuisine for a Cure" is sponsored by M&T Bank and features food from Italy, France, Chile and the United States. Tickets are $50 and are available by calling the American Cancer Society at 689-6982, ext. 116.