Post published:December 31, 2019

MSU College of Arts & Letters Marketing Team Wins 10 National Awards

The MSU College of Arts & Letters Marketing Office has earned 10 national awards as well as a local American Advertising Award (ADDY) over the past year for their work as it relates to digital storytelling and donor experiences. The awards honor excellence and best practices in higher education marketing and communications. The award-winning team includes Ryan Kilcoyne (Marketing Director), Joshua Morey (Senior Graphic Designer), Kim Popiolek (Senior Editor), Ben Tobey (Web Manager), Ryan Frederick (Videographer), and Peter Johnston (Film Production Specialist).

“It speaks volumes to the talent and creativity we have on the team to develop memorable experiences for our audiences,” said Ryan Kilcoyne, Director of Marketing for the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University. “Our mission in the office has always been to develop a culture where individuals can collaborate and do meaningful work. I am proud not only by our team, but how our stakeholders have engaged with, shared, and advocated for the stories of the amazing faculty, students, and alumni we have in the College.”

It speaks volumes to the talent and creativity we have on the team to develop memorable experiences for our audiences.
RYAN KILCOYNE, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Seven of the ten awards went to the Dean’s Report – Resilience. The College of Arts & Letters has published an annual Dean’s Report since 2014 that features stories of current students, faculty, and alumni. In 2018, the theme of the report was “Resilience” as demonstrated by College of Arts & Letters students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have triumphed over adversity to create a more just and meaningful world. The Dean’s Report was a digital experience for audiences, showcasing six extraordinary stories of determination and courage.

“The national awards the College of Arts & Letters Marketing Team has won are an eloquent testimony to the world-class work they do,” said Christopher P. Long, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University. “Their creativity and the high production value of their work are self-evident, but what truly sets them apart is the ethical approach they take to everything they do. They always put the people whose stories they tell first, and this is what makes their stories of the transformative power of the liberal arts at Michigan State University so authentic and compelling.”

Two awards went to a video about Kathryn Bailey, who graduated in December 2018 with an undergraduate degree in Studio Art and a concentration in Painting and Graphic Design. Bailey was born with quadrilateral limb deficiency, a condition where she has no hands and missing her big toes and supporting bones on each foot.

The most recent award was received at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District V Annual Conference for a Gold Award for Excellence in Design, Specialty Pieces. The product was a custom box featuring campus images and containing a Morrill Hall Brick that was mailed to donors.