PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) today announced that Barry Melnkovic ‘81, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of U.S. Steel, will serve as the 2018 Convocation Speaker. Melnkovic will address the School’s nearly 1,000 degree candidates and their families on Saturday, May 12.
“I am honored to be a part of this year’s Convocation,” Melnkovic said. “My education at Rutgers played a critical role in my professional career, and I hope to inspire members of the class of 2018 as they enter the international corporate landscape.”
A Pennsylvania native, Melnkovic earned a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Rutgers SMLR in 1981. Over the next three decades, he held leadership positions at PPG, Ashland, Cummins, Lilly Industries, Motor Coach Industries, Holland America Line, Owens Corning, and Alistar before joining Amtrak in 2011.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Human Capital Officer, he played a key role in delivering record revenue, ridership, customer satisfaction and savings while helping Amtrak to a spot on the Forbes Best Employers list. In recognition of his success, Melnkovic received Evanta’s HR Breakaway Leaders Award in 2015. One year later, Human Resource Executive Magazine named him the HR Executive of the Year, and the HR Leadership Awards of Greater Washington, D.C. named him Chief Human Resources Officer of the Year in the large company category.
Today Melnkovic oversees global human resources and labor relations strategies for U.S. Steel, an integrated steel producer with close to 30,000 employees in North America and Central Europe.
“Barry is an accomplished human resources professional and a distinguished alumnus of our School,” said Rutgers SMLR Interim Dean and Professor Adrienne Eaton. “We are proud to welcome him back to campus to share his valuable insights with our graduates.”
Rutgers SMLR offers one of the nation’s top Human Resource Management (HRM) programs, with alumni working at the highest levels of HR in Fortune 500 companies and other leading firms worldwide. The School offers a Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in HRM, as well as a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations and Human Resources.
The 2018 Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations Convocation will take place at the Louis Brown Athletic Center (RAC) at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, one day before Rutgers University Commencement at High Point Solutions Stadium.
Press Contact
Steve Flamisch, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations
848.252.9011 (cell), steve.flamisch@smlr.rutgers.edu
About Us
The Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations is the world’s leading source of expertise on managing and representing workers, designing effective organizations, and building strong employment relationships.
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View Convocation details for attendees.
View Convocation information for the Class of 2018.
