Reporter Volume 25, No.26 April 28, 1994 By MARY BETH SPINA News Bureau Staff Former SUNY Chancellor D. Bruce Johnstone will receive the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, UB's highest tribute, during the university's 148th general commencement ceremony, to be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 15, in Alumni Arena on the North Campus. Approximately 6,500 students will be candidates for degrees from UB to be awarded during 14 separate commencement ceremonies to be held May 13-15. At the general commencement ceremony, UB President William R. Greiner will confer degrees on graduating seniors from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Faculty of Arts and Letters and the Faculty of Social Sciences. President Greiner and student Karen L. Adelman of Buffalo will address the graduates. The recipients of the three Dean's Awards will be Thomas E. Sharp, social sciences; Mark E. Burkard, natural sciences and mathematics, and William D. Scott, arts and letters. Richard L. Weber of Buffalo will receive the leadership award. The President's Medal will be presented to Robert H. Rossberg, UB distinguished service professor. In addition, honorary degrees will be conferred on Burt P. Flickinger Jr., Western New York business leader and chair of the 1993 World University Games; Robert V. Pound, a UB graduate and pioneer in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and acclaimed Buffalo photographer and adjunct UB faculty member Milton Rogovin. Johnstone, SUNY chancellor from 1988 until his resignation earlier this year for health reasons, will receive the prestigious Chancellor Norton Medal from Philip B. Wels, M.D., chair of the University Council. The Norton Medal is presented annually in public recognition of a person who has, in Norton's words, "performed some great thing which is identified with Buffalo I a great civic or political act, a great book, a great work of art, a great scientific achievement, or any other thing which in itself is truly great and ennobling and which dignifies the performer and Buffalo in the eyes of the world." As chancellor, Johnstone was credited with innovative strategies for increasing SUNY's effectiveness in educating and serving the citizens of New York State. A farsighted, deeply committed leader whose extraordinary efforts benefited Buffalo, Western New York and New York State, he has worked vigorously to maintain the SUNY system's strength. A former president of the State University College at Buffalo, he was the first SUNY campus president to head the system. The President's Medal will be presented to Rossberg by Greiner. First presented in 1990, it is given in recognition of "signal and extraordinary service to the university. It is presented for outstanding scholarly or artistic achievements, humanitarian acts, contributions of time or treasure, exemplary leadership or any other major contribution to the development of the University at Buffalo and the quality of life in the UB community. Rossberg, a professor of counseling and educational psychology, has been on the UB faculty for nearly 40 years. During that time, he has held a number of administrative posts, including associate dean and dean of the Graduate School of Education, vice president for academic affairs, interim dean of the School of Health Related Professions and acting dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters. In addition to his duties at UB, Rossberg has been a consultant to a number of federal agencies and institutions, including the U.S. Civil Service commission, U.S. Office of Education, U.S. District Court and the City University of New York. The weekend of graduation ceremonies will begin when the UB Graduate School holds its commencement at 2 p.m. on May 13 in Alumni Arena. The speaker will be astronaut Ellen Shulman Baker, a UB alumna. President Greiner will confer degrees. Eight divisional commencements will be held on Saturday, May 14. They are: n School of Health Related Professions: 9 a.m., Alumni Arena. Douglas Usiak, executive director of the Independent Living Center of Western New York, Inc., will speak. Provost Aaron N. Bloch will confer degrees. n School of Nursing: 9 a.m., Slee Concert Hall, North Campus. Terry T. Fulmer, Anna C. Maxwell professor of nursing and associate dean for research at Columbia University, will address graduates. Dean Mecca S. Cranley will confer degrees. n School of Information and Library Studies: 10 a.m., Student Union Theater, North Campus. The speaker will be Joan Connell, vice president for academic affairs at Canisius College. President Greiner will confer degrees. n School of Engineering and Applied Sciences: 1 p.m., Alumni Arena. President Greiner will confer degrees. n School of Pharmacy: 1 p.m., Slee Hall. Dean David J. Triggle will deliver the address. Provost Bloch will confer degrees. n School of Architecture and Planning: 2 p.m., lawn of Hayes Hall, UB South Campus. Buffalo Mayor Anthony M. Masiello will address graduates. Dean Bruno B. Freschi will confer degrees. n School of Management: 5 p.m., Alumni Arena. Frank J. Colantuono, president and chief executive officer of Independent Health Association, Inc., who received his MBA from UB in 1977, will speak. President Greiner will confer degrees. n School of Graduate Education: 5 p.m., Slee Hall. Mayor Masiello will speak and Provost Bloch will confer degrees. In addition to the general commencement, ceremonies to be held on Sunday, May 15 are: n School of Law: 2 p.m., Alumni Arena. David A. Paterson, senator representing New York's 29th District, will address graduates. Provost Bloch will confer degrees. n School of Dental Medicine: 2 p.m., Slee Hall. Allan J. Formicola, dean of Columbia University's School of Dental and Oral Surgery, will deliver the address. President Greiner will confer degrees. n School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: 6 p.m., Alumni Arena. Neil B. Shulman, associate professor in the Division of Hypertension in the Emory University School of Medicine, will address graduates. Provost Bloch will confer degrees. n School of Social Work: 7 p.m., Slee Hall. Ellen Grant Bishop, Erie County mental health commissioner, will speak. Dean Fredrick W. Seidl will confer degrees.