Dunnett Receives Polish University¹S Top Award

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Stephen C. Dunnett, Ph.D., of Amherst, vice provost for international education at the University at Buffalo, has received the Merentibus Medal, the greatest distinction of merit conferred by Poland's Jagiellonian University. He accepted the award last month during ceremonies held in Kraków.

Dunnett, who is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of international education, was honored for his many contributions to the development of the extensive student, faculty and professional staff exchange programs between UB and the Jagiellonian.

He also was cited for creating many opportunities to move Polish faculty and students into the international arena and for promoting the Jagiellonian University abroad, particularly in the United States and in Japan, where Dunnett has established a number of education-exchange programs.

Past recipients of the medal have included major figures in the sphere of international education, many holding senior positions at major American universities. UB President William R. Greiner received the award last year.

A leader in the promotion and facilitation of international education, Dunnett has for 25 years headed UB¹s English Language Institute. Considered one of the best of its kind in the world, it has trained more than 18,000 students and professionals here and abroad.

In June, Dunnett received the Homer Higbee Award, one of the most distinguished honors in his field, from the Association of International Educators, the premiere professional association of international educators in the United States.

He recently was at the White House for ceremonies inaugurating a public-private humanitarian program in Bosnia involving the Buffalo General Health System, the Tuzla Clinical Center of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the UB English Language Institute.

The formal relationship between UB and the Jagiellonian University began in 1989 when Dunnett signed a letter of intent on behalf of UB with the Jagiellonian that placed special emphasis on the social sciences, law and the humanities. The first exchange activities began in 1990 when the Jagiellonian hosted 20 UB students in a summer program in Polish language and culture.

At UB, Dunnett helped organize the Committee for Cooperation with the Jagiellonian, which supervises the activities of the exchange. His office has provided administrative and financial support to various initiatives involving the two schools.

In the past four years, UB and the Jagiellonian have broadened and deepened their compact to allow the operation of joint programs involving students, professional staff and faculty members from many fields. Together, they have studied the economic, environmental, cultural and political issues confronting contemporary Poland and devised possible approaches to problem resolution.