Syracuse University Honors Dr. Robert Laubach

Dr. Robert Laubach founded ProLiteracy’s publishing division

Syracuse, New York
May 8, 2006

Syracuse University will honor Dr. Robert Laubach on June 2nd with the Melvin A. Eggers Alumni Award for his service to society and his alma mater.

Laubach used what he learned about adult literacy while working with his father, adult literacy pioneer Dr. Frank Laubach, to establish the literacy journalism program at Syracuse University in 1952. Later he founded New Readers Press (NRP), which publishes instructional materials for older teens and adults at basic literacy through GED levels, for those who have learning disabilities, and for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) students. NRP is the publishing house of ProLiteracy Worldwide, the largest organization of community-based adult literacy programs in the world. Laubach is a lifetime member of the ProLiteracy Worldwide board of directors.

“Dr. Laubach’s experiences traveling throughout the world with his father, Dr. Frank Laubach, allowed him to see first hand the benefits that literacy brings to those who live in developing communities,” said Robert Wedgeworth, president of ProLiteracy Worldwide. “His literacy journalism program was an extension of those experiences and influenced several generations of students to devote their lives to the cause of adult literacy.”

The Eggers Award was established by former Chancellor William P. Tolley in 1988 to commemorate Chancellor Eggers’ years at Syracuse University. Recipients demonstrate outstanding loyalty and service to the university or their communities and are selected by an SU Alumni Association committee.