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. Our 2026 honoree will be announced shortly.

S. Mitra Kalita Named 2026 Distinguished Alumni Honoree 

The Rutgers School of Communication & Information Alumni Association (SCIAA) has named S. Mitra Kalita SCI ’98 the recipient of its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award.  The event will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026 at The Rutgers Club. Ticket purchase information to come.  

After graduating from Rutgers in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in history and journalism, Kalita earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia in 2000. While juggling a multiphase career, she has also found time to dabble in seven languages, write three books dealing with migration and globalization, and raise two children Naya and Riya with her husband Nitin Mukul, a visual artist and animator. 

Kalita is the co-founder & CEO of URL Media, a growing network of media organizations serving Black and Brown communities that share content, distribution, and revenues to increase long-term sustainability.