Creative Services loses director of two years

    The Griffin is here to stay, but the woman who helped bring him to the College of William and Mary is moving on. Director Susan Evans is leaving the Office of Creative Services Friday to share her communication and technology skills with campuses across the country.

    “I’ve had a wonderful, wonderful time here,” Evans said. “I’ve been really, really fortunate to be at William and Mary.”

    Spending time in the Human Resources and Information Technology offices before taking the helm of the new Office of Creative Services two years ago, Evans has worked at the College for more than two decades.

    She has overseen the redesign of the College website, the creation of smart phone applications and the communications strategy for the mascot search.

    “She led the creation of this organization that has put William and Mary at the cutting edge of university communications,” Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Jim Golden said.

    Creative Services was formed two years ago as a result of the merger between the publications office and the Information Technology web department. Golden said the Creative Services team members have had a dramatic impact on the College, citing their work making smart phone applications and December’s digital holiday greeting card. Evans, Golden said, has been indispensible.

    “She has been absolutely essential,” Golden said. “She is a brilliant leader. She has formed a very creative, innovative team, and they all think the world of her.”

    Evans will become the senior strategist for mStoner, a higher education marketing and communications firm based in Chicago. Although she and her husband, government professor Larry Evans, will continue to live in Williamsburg, she will travel several times a year to different universities.

    When asked to reflect on what Creative Services has accomplished, even Evans seemed surprised.

    “Wow, we’ve done a lot,” she said.

    Evans highlighted several projects. In March, Creative Services consolidated the College’s calendars into one master online events schedule. The team created a mobile website to allow people to view the College’s web page on their smart phones; the school now ranks among the 10 percent of universities in that have mobile websites.

    “I’m really proud of the launch of the Griffin as the new mascot of William and Mary,” Evans said. “I’m really proud of the Dress-The-Griffin app we developed a year ago.”

    Evans said future Creative Services projects will include updating the website and moving the course catalogue online. She and Golden expressed confidence in the continued excellence of the office.

    “They will continue to do the great things they’ve been doing under my leadership,” Evans said. “One person doesn’t make a whole team. There have been a lot of people doing a lot of great work for a long time, and I think that will continue.”

    Associate Director of Creative Services Tina Coleman has been named interim director while the College conducts a search for Evans’ replacement.

    “I am excited for this opportunity,” Coleman said in an email. “Susan has done so many great things for the Creative Services team and for William & Mary and I hope to continue the momentum we’ve created.”

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