Professor Bonnie Hufford has made a name for herself in the infamous blue ink of her editing pen, and any student who has visited the College of Communication and Information has likely seen her energetically greeting students and faculty alike.
However, many students may not know about the popular journalism professor’s ongoing battle with chronic myelogenous leukemia and myeloma and her recent bestowal of the “Volunteer of the Year” award for 2011-2012 by the American Cancer Society (ACS).
As one of four award winners in Tennessee, Hufford was honored for her commitment to ACS projects and efforts to enable others in their fight with cancer. Members of ACS’ Mid-South Division presented Hufford with the award at Tin Roof bar on Tuesday, Feb. 5, which coincidentally is Hufford’s birthday.
Lauren Hensley, the community representative of ACS’ Mid-South Division and one of Hufford’s former students, said that Hufford is a big advocate for ACS.
“Everything Bonnie’s done has just been incredible,” Hensely said. “She’s been an office volunteer … she’s supported every event we’ve had, she’s personally been to every one of my events. She’ll just show up and say ‘What do you need me to do?’”
Hufford was also selected as an ACS Hero of Hope for 2012 and spent the year traveling and speaking about her own story with cancer. She has been ACS’ UT faculty advisor for campus Relay for Life teams since 2005.
After a chronic myelogenous leukemia diagnosis at age 27 and subsequent terminal Stage 3 myeloma in 2009, Hufford has experienced chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a stem cell transplant. The myeloma tumor in her back grew so large that it fractured three vertebrae. She currently needs a cane to walk, but it hardly slows her down.
“I’m really a young person trapped in this beat-up body … I need to be able to keep chasing people around Circle Park for Relay and beat up students in editing lab,” Hufford joked.
Though aggressive treatment plans have sometimes forced her to stop teaching for periods of time, Hufford said the one thing that keeps her going is her yearning to return to the classroom.
“The 15 months I was off was probably the hardest part. I really did miss it when I was gone,” Hufford said. “That’s what I was fighting to get back for, fighting to get back to UT.”
Hensley said that in her work with ACS, Hufford exudes the same energy she displays in the classroom. Her attitude is one of the main reasons she was awarded “Volunteer of the Year.”
“She obviously made an impact on me as a professor because four to five years later when I met her through this, she’s been a great support for me when I started this position,” Hensley said.
Hensley chuckled as she reminisced on one memorable Bonnie Hufford moment when the professor arrived late to a committee meeting.
“She comes in and says ‘Sorry, I was late. I was at the hospital getting a blood transfusion.’ She made it seem like she was coming back from the grocery store … All she wants to know is what she can do for others,” Hensley said.
Despite her struggles with the disease for much of her life, Hufford said her love of teaching and her ACS work is what helps keep her going day-to-day. She also credited her faith for much of the strength she’s drawn on in her struggles.
“I just figure somebody upstairs is looking out for me, and there’s a reason I’m still around … Someone has guided me down this path through this whole experience. You have to (have faith),” she said.
For Hufford, the key to beating cancer is simple.
“The first thing I would say would be have hope,” Hufford said. “The scientific discoveries and treatments are coming faster and faster all the time. Ever since we’re able to map the human genome, we know much more about what’s going on. I know how hard (doctors) are working to try to find a cure, and in the 30-plus years I’ve seen cancers that used to be fatal turn completely around.”
To learn more about the American Cancer Society, individuals can visit the organization’s website at cancer.org, call anytime at 800-227-2345 or visit their local Knoxville office on Weisgarber Road.
