Associated Press Boss Receives RIT’s Prestigious NRS Award
The presentation of the 2005 NRS Award was made on July 14 during a ceremony on the RIT campus. The annual honor recognizes individuals who have contributed to the university’s advancement in an outstanding and significant manner.
Curley has long standing ties with RIT and the Rochester community. In 1972, he began working at one of the local newspapers, Gannett’s Times-Union, as a night city/suburban editor. He became director of information for Gannett in 1976 and began coordinating the company’s research projects. A year later, he earned his MBA from RIT’s College of Business.
In 1988, Curley joined RIT’s Board of Trustees. In addition to his current status as a vice chairman, he has served the board in a variety of committee assignments, which include executive, government relations, First in Class taskforce, education, and communication. He also serves as vice chairman of Powered by the Future, RIT’s capital campaign.
Curley has led The Associated Press, the world’s largest news organization, since 2003. Under Curley, AP is evolving from a wire service to an interactive global news network. Previously, he was president and publisher of USA Today, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. Along with Richard Rosett, former dean of RIT’s College of Business, Curley created the RIT-USA Today Quality Cup.
Curley’s career achievements resulted in another recent honor, the 2005 RIT Isaiah Thomas Award in Publishing, presented to him during a ceremony on campus in April.
The mission of the Nathaniel Rochester Society is to develop friends and ambassadors to promote and support RIT. The NRS Award was established in 1972 and has been permanently endowed through the generous gift of Mr. and Mrs. Marcus N. Barbour, charter members of the Society.
The NRS Award presentation piece is the creation of Leonard Urso, an internationally recognized, award-winning silversmith and the Mowris Mulligan Distinguished Professor in RIT’s School for American Crafts. The award, contemporary in design, embodies the timeless values of past, present and future.