Magazine Takes Home Three Awards for Design and Content

Fall ’23 and Spring ’23 editions selected for excellence in higher education magazine production

Sacred Heart University’s division of marketing & communications recently received two awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for last year’s fall and spring magazine issues.

The global, nonprofit organization CASE recognizes and rewards advancement initiatives in higher education that are dedicated to positive and impactful community outreach.

For its work in achieving these goals, the University won a district one award (northeast region) in the category of four-year college and university magazines published twice a year.

In addition, the cover of the Spring 2023 edition, illustrated by Anna Parini, was recognized for best cover design in district one. Other Northeast regional winners included Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Boston College, Brown, Bryant, MIT, Bowdoin and more.

Following an overhaul in 2019, the University magazine began to take on an expansive, new life. The publication evolved as rapidly as the Park Avenue campus has, and it began to focus on different themes.

The University marketing team changed the magazine’s ethos and began reflecting SHU’s achievements, from its professors to its students. This new focus enabled the magazine staff to create content centered around the human experience, a concept that piqued the interest of both the SHU community and those at CASE.

Central to the magazine’s evolution was the idea that the periodical should feel like a letter from home. For alums, families and current students alike, SHU’s marketing & communications division wanted the magazine to embody the same welcoming feelings that the campus and University community evoke for all who experience it.

Crucial to this change was Deborah Chute, executive director of visual communications at SHU, who also serves as the magazine’s creative director.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this prestigious award for our magazine,” said Chute. “It’s a testament to the incredible hard work, creativity and collaboration of our entire team. This recognition inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of storytelling through design, ensuring every issue reflects our passion for excellence and innovation.”

Also vital to the magazine’s stylistic changes was Deborah Noack, executive director of communications at Sacred Heart, who is tasked with editing and selecting the stories published in each issue.

“We are especially proud that we produce this magazine in-house with the help of a few consultants/freelancers,” said Noack. “The University’s communication team does the bulk of the writing, and faculty and staff also contribute pieces.”