Back to Staff Pages

Susan White
Graphic Design and Marketing Specialist

As Graphic Design and Marketing Specialist, I create various materials such as brochures, fact sheets, annual reports and displays for the program's four subject areas. I serve on the Web design committee and am responsible for the publications and products section information. In addition to design duties, I develop marketing strategies and promotions.

I enjoy the variety of projects that I work on. Recently the Sea Grant Wheel of Information was created by the communications team. This game wheel resulted in a fun method to learn about the various Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant subject areas. I designed this colorful wheel with interchangeable pieces so it can be adapted to different venues such as the College of ACES Open House, the Indiana State Fair and Farm Progress Show.

I also designed a display which represented recent fisheries and invasive species research in the Great Lakes region. This was a coordinated effort by communicators in the Great Lakes region for display at the International Association of Great Lakes Research meeting in Chicago.

I work with the Sea Grant specialists to create promotion flyers, signs, posters, can cozies, pens, pencils, sponges, postcards, CD labels, note pads, Directory of Resources, displays and book marks. Together we consider the best promotion tactics for specific audiences. We also look for methods to boost visibility of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant program.

My professional membership includes the Association for Communications Excellence (ACE). I am in three Special Interest Groups--publications, marketing and graphic design.

Recently I've earned the following awards:

• 2002 ACE Gold Award for a Non-Credit Educational Project
• 2002 ACE Gold Award for Outstanding Professional Skill Award for Distance Education and Instructional Design.
• 2001 Sea Grant Week People's Choice Award for Curriculum/Classroom Products
• 2001 Sea Grant Week Blue Ribbon Award for Curriculum/Classroom Products

EDUCATION

• B.S. 1974, Home Economics in Business, Eastern Illinois University.

• 1975, Graduate level courses at Eastern Illinois University.

• 1990, A.A.S., Communications--Visual Arts, Parkland College.

POSITIONS

• 2000-present.  Media/Communications Specialist, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program, University of Illinois.

• 1997-2000.  Production and Marketing Assistant, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program, University of Illinois.

• 1995-1997.  Clerical Substitute, Champaign Unit 4 Schools, Champaign, Illinois.

• 1993-1994.  Publications Specialist, First Presbyterian Church, Champaign, Illinois.

• 1990-1995.  Graphic Designer, practicum for Parkland College and freelance, WICD-TV, NBC Channel 15, Champaign, Illinois.

• 1990.  Assistant Graphic Designer, practicum for Parkland College, American Oil Chemists Society, Champaign, Illinois.

• "Sea Grant's Wheel of Information" display.  2003.

• "Recent Research on Native and Nonnative Species in the Great Lakes Region" display.  2003.

• "Arrest that Invader!" display.  2002.

• "Directory of Resources" brochures.  2002.

• IISG Annual Report.  2001.

• "Stop Ballast Water Invasions" brochure adaptation.  2001.

• "Fishing for Answers" display.  2001.
  "ESCAPE" Compendium.  2000.

• "Graduate Fellowships," brochure. 2000.

• "Exotics Aquatics on the Move," brochure. 2000.

• "Lake Links for Teachers," display and bookmarks.  1999

• "Closing the Gates on Exotic Species," display design, October 1999.

• "Daphnia Lumholtzi: The Next Great Lakes Exotic?" fact sheet layout/design.  1999.

• "Directory of Resources," brochure,  1997 and 1999.

• "Exploring Science Writing," layout/design.  December 1998.

• "Water Quality Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing --Proceedings."  May 1997.

• Southern Lake Michigan Sustainable Coastal Development Workshop--Proceedings." June 1997.

• Coastal Zone 1997 Exhibit, three posters. July 1997.

• Zebra Mussels--Lessons Learned in the Great Lakes Region" National Satellite Videoconference, marketing campaign. September 1997.

• Satellite Videoconference, marketing campaign.  1997.

AWARDS

• 2003.  ACE Critique and Awards Program, Bronze Award --Educational Project, non-credit

• 2002.  ACE Critique and Awards Program, Gold Award--Educational Project, non-credit

• 2002.  ACE Gold Award for Outstanding Professional Skill--Distance Education and Instructional Design

• 2001.  Sea Grant Week Blue Ribbon Award for Curriculum/Classroom Products

• 2001.  Sea Grant Week People's Choice Award for Curriculum/Classroom Products

• 1999.  ACE Critique and Awards Program, Bronze Award--Graphic Design