Background
Sweet Briar College is a private women's liberal arts college located in Central Virginia and founded in 1901.
Challenge
Sweet Briar faced a dire funding situation in 2015 but were saved by a group of dedicated alumnae. (How Sweet Briar Defied the Odds of Closure, Inside Higher Ed)
In 2017, the new vice president of communications enlisted me and another former Virginia Tech designer for college-wide design support during the rebuild phase. This was an 8-year contract for all print and digital advertising, direct mail, brochures, admissions materials, magazine redesign, package design and production, and custom die-cut invitations.
OUTCOME
By 2019, Sweet Briar was firmly back on the map, listed as one of Forbes’ Top Colleges and Kiplinger’s Best College Values. In 2020, the Princeton Review listed it as one of the best colleges in the Southeastern Region.
In 2024, the Board of Directors approved a refreshed strategic plan, and Sweet Briar is gearing up for its 125th anniversary celebration in 2026. (Celebrating 10 Years of Prosperity)
