Alumni of the Year Awards

Each year, the University of Maryland College of Information Studies (INFO) awards one graduate and one undergraduate alumn who has made significant contributions to their field, has transformed lives through information and technology, and has been a role model of the college. Honorees are awarded at the University of Maryland Alumni Association Awards Gala and at the Annual INFO Alumni Awards Celebration.

Rising Terp Award Recipients (Undergraduate):

• 2023: Gabriel Cruz, InfoSci ’18, MIM ’21
  Engineering Manager, PARA Business Systems; Adjunct Lecturer INFO College

Distinguished Terrapin Award Recipients (Graduate):

• 2023: Wilda Logan, MLS ’78
  Supervisory Archives Specialist at National Archives and Records Administration
• 2022: Denise Davis, MLS ’75
  Director Emerita Cecil County Public Library
• 2021: Julius C. Jefferson Jr., MLS 2005
  President of the American Library Association (2020-2021)
• 2020: Jon Cawthorne, MLS 1993
  Dean of the Wayne State University Library System and the University’s School of Information Sciences
• 2019: Jamuna Sundararajan, MIM 2005
  President and CEO of Cyberbahn Federal Solutions LLC
• 2016: Joan Giesecke, MLS 1973
  Dean Emeritus University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 2015: Paul Wester, MLS, 1992
  Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library
• 2013: Maureen Sullivan, MLS, 1976
  President, American Library Association
• 2009: Nancy Roderer, MLS, 1973
  Director, Welch Medical Library and Division of Health Sciences Information, Johns Hopkins University
• 2008: Jane Kinney Meyers, MLS 1978
  Founder and President, Lubuto Library Partners
• 2007: Robyn C. Frank, MLS, 1972
  American Society for Information Science.
• 2005: Leslie Burger, MLS, 1974
  Executive Director, Princeton Public Library
• 2004: Susan Fifer Canby, MLS, 1974
  Manager, National Geographic Learning
• 2003: Betsy Humphreys, MLS, 1972
  Deputy Director, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• 2002: None presented
• 2001: Claudia J. Mills, MLS, 1988
  Children’s book author; Psychology professor
• 2000: Jane B. Robbins, Ph. D., 1972
  Dean, Florida State University School of Information Studies.
• 1999: James C. Welbourne, MLS, 1970
  City Librarian, New Haven, CT; Deputy Director, Enoch Pratt Free Library
• 1998: Kay Rader, MLS, 1974
  Regional Librarian for Coastal Libraries
• 1997: Amado “Sonny” Narvaez, MLS, 1976
  Media specialist at Montgomery Knolls Elementary School
• 1996: Esther Herman, MLS, 1968
  Coordinator of publications and alumni relations, College of Library and Information Studies, University of Maryland
• 1995: Cecilia L. Keller, MLS, 1973
  System Director, Chester County Library System; President, Maryland Library Association, 1990-1991
• 1994: Sybille A Jagusch, MLS, 1969, Ph. D., 1990
  Chief, Children’s Literature Center at the Library of Congress.
• 1993: Leslie A. Kulp, MLS 1974
  Chief of Collection Development, National Agriculture Library
• 1992: Carol K. DiPrete, MLS,1981
  Dean of Academic Services, Roger Williams University
• 1991: Eleanor “Joey” Rodger, MLS, 1979
  Executive Director, Urban Libraries Council.
• 1990: Richard H. Lytle, Ph. D.,1976
  Dean, College of Information Science and Technology, Drexel University
• 1989: Carolyn P. Brown, MLS, 1968
  Chief of Information Services, National Standards Bureau (NIST)
• 1988: J. Linda Williams, 1977
  Coordinator of library media services, Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
• 1987: Alice L. Hagemeyer, MLS, 1976
  Founder, Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action
• 1986: Hans H. Wellisch, MLS, 1972, Ph.D., 1975
  Professor Emeritus, UMD’s iSchool
• 1985: Katherine “Kitty” Hurrey, MLS, 1967
  Director, Southern Maryland Regional Library; President, Maryland Library Association, 1979-1980
• 1984: Anne S. MacLeod, MLS, 1966, Ph D,1973
  Professor Emerita, UMD College of Information Studies