College of Arts and Sciences Honors 14 Alumni

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Thursday evening honored 14 outstanding alumni and friends at its first alumni awards event, the Julian Park Society Dinner.

"We are proud to recognize and honor these individuals, who not only are leaders among our alumni, but truly are leaders in their professions, institutions and communities," said Uday P. Sukhatme, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "UB continues to be a university of opportunity as reflected by these award winners and our thousands of highly successful alumni."

Ashok G. Kaveeshwar, Ph.D. '69, who recently was confirmed as the first administrator of the federal government's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), received the CAS Medallion of Excellence for his notable and meritorious contributions to the school. Kaveeshwar lives in Bethesda, Md.

Retired social worker and currently a volunteer at the Salvation Army, Beuline Crawford of Buffalo, received a Distinguished Service Award.

Two young alumni received the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award. Parry A. Shen, B.S. '95, is a successful TV and film actor living in Agoura Hills, Calif. Elizabeth A. Kim, B.A. '87, J.D.'94, Ph.D. '97, of Washington, D.C., is a widely published expert with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Oceans and Coastal Protection Division.

Four individuals received the CAS Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes outstanding professional achievement, community or university service, or research and scholarly activity.

They are:

* Barry J. Glick, B.A. '74, Ph.D.'81, of Warren, Vt., nationally and internationally known for his technology and businesses built around geospatial, image and textual information products and services

* Louis P. Masur, B.A.'78, of Highland Park, N.J., a distinguished historian and scholar known for his expertise in 19th-century American society and culture

* Sebastian J. Rosica, Ed.M.'50, of Clarence, an expert in deafness, impedance, audiometry and cochlear implants who has served as a consulting audiologist to many businesses and agencies across the country

* Marjorie E. Winkler, B.A. '75, Ph.D. '80, of Burlingame, Calif., senior director of pharmaceutical and analytical development at Genetech, Inc., who has won international acclaim for her patents and published articles

Edward A. Lefrak, B.A. '65, of McLean, Va., received the CAS Distinguished Alumni Humanitarian Award. Lefrak is a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon whose career is highlighted by his dedicated medical care and rehabilitation service to residents in several Latin American countries.

Five alumni earned the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Award for their service to the college, particularly as members of the Dean's Advisory Council. They are: Kenneth R. Fuchs, M.A. '69, Ph.D. '74, of New York City, a senior vice president with Prudential Equity Group; Patrick A. Kennedy, B.A. '78, of Boulder, Colo., founder and CEO of Cellport Labs, Inc.; Edward J. Kikta, B.A. '70, Ph.D. '78, of Langhorne, Pa., a research fellow for FMC Corp.;Robert G. Morris, B.A. '67, of New York City, partner and chief investment officer for Lord Abbett; and Ronald M. Schreiber, B.A. '75, of Amherst, partner in Softbank Capital and managing partner of Seed Capital Partners.

The College of Arts and Sciences also welcomed members to the newly established Julian Park Society, which recognizes donors who give $1,000 or more annually to the school.

Roswell Park, IV, a grandson of Julian Park, the college's founder and first dean, was among those speaking at the awards dinner in the Jacobs Executive Development Center.