School of Communication & Information Distinguished Alumni Award

Each year, the School of Communication & Alumni Association hosts the Distinguished Alumni Annual Dinner to honor a notable alumnus with its Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes renowned contributors to the fields of communication, journalism, information technology and informatics, or library studies. This annual event is an opportunity to reconnect with former classmates, professors, and friends while exploring the changes to SC&I and learning about the school’s plans for the future.  In 2026, we will be honoring a distinguished alumnus from the journalism program.  Click here to submit a nomination for the 2026 honoree.

Andrew Medlar Named  2025 Distinguished Alumni Honoree 

The Rutgers School of Communication & Information Alumni Association (SCIAA) presented Andrew Medlar MLIS ‘96 with its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award on Thursday, October 16.  More information.

Medlar has served as the president and director of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh since May 2022. His career began as a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn NY in 1996. In 1997, he joined the Chicago Public Library as a librarian, rising to the role of Assistant Chief, Technology, Content & Innovation. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the Director of BookOps for the New York Public Library. Medlar received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Miami University and his master’s in Library & Information Science from Rutgers. Under his direction, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is the organizing partner of the Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books.