Office of Creative Services established at William & Mary
Creative Services The Web Communications team in Information Technology and the Office of Publications have merged and have become the College's Office of Creative Services. Photo by Stephen Salpukas
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Creative Services will report to Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Jim Golden, who also oversees the College’s University Relations, Economic Development and Government Relations offices. Led by Susan T. Evans, Creative Services will undertake a variety of university communication projects and initiatives using creative elements like photos, language and graphics.
“Effective communications on campus and off play a significant role in William & Mary’s success. This reorganization will help us be more efficient and responsive, as well as more creative, in telling the College’s story,” said William & Mary President Taylor Reveley. “We plan over time to grow our internal expertise, lessen our dependence on expensive outsourcing, take full advantage of new, less costly ways of being in touch, and reduce the duplication of effort identified during a recent communications review.”
A comprehensive review of communications strategy at William & Mary was one of 10 early priorities of the strategic planning process. The review highlighted the advantages of including capabilities in complementary communications formats – print publications, Web, and multimedia – in one organization.
“We are confident that the new organization, operating within existing budgets, will allow us to take better advantage of new technologies, increase quality and better serve customers across the campus,” said Golden, adding that Cindy Baker, who has served as director of publications for the past nine years, will play a key role in the new organization and has helped plan the transition.
“We’re very fortunate to have such a strong and vital partnership between Cindy and Susan as we build the new organization,” Golden said. “This is an exciting opportunity to blend the capabilities we have in Publications and the Web Team and encourage even more innovation.”
Creative services units are widely used on other campuses and in industry to increase efficiency and help build consistent images and messages across organizations.
“There is huge potential,” Evans said. “This new operation could be an engine of creativity, a place where talented people who love the College use multiple forms of communication to tell the William & Mary story.”
Evans has been at William & Mary since 1989, serving the past eight as director of web and communication services for the IT Web Team. Recently, she oversaw the implementation of the College’s new Web site design.
“Today's culture of communication is rapidly evolving, and keeping up can be a challenge,” she said. “William & Mary’s Office of Creative Services will help position us to enhance our communications with all members of the W&M community.”
More information about the new Office of Creative Services is available at their website.
