University of Toronto Communications

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U of T Blue Book, Media Inquiries

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U of T appoints Christine Szustaczek vice-president, communications

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 15:23:11 +0000

U of T appoints Christine Szustaczek vice-president, communications

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 04/03/2023 - 11:23

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Christine Szustaczek, an award-winning public relations and communications leader, has been appointed U of T's vice-president, communications for a five-year term (supplied image)

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University of Toronto Communications

Meric Gertler

UTC

The University of Toronto has appointed Christine Szustaczek, an award-winning public relations and communications leader, as vice-president, communications for a five-year term.

Szustaczek’s appointment, which takes effect May 15, 2023 through June 30, 2028, was recently approved by the university’s Governing Council following a comprehensive international search. As head of University of Toronto Communications (UTC), Szustaczek will be charged with enhancing internal communications and sharing U of T’s story – including the wide-ranging impact of its world-leading research and scholarship – with a global audience.

An alumna and former U of T administrator, Szustaczek currently serves as vice-president, external relations at Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, where she is responsible for strategic communications, public relations, institutional events, marketing, brand strategy, government relations, community engagement, advancement and alumni relations.

“On behalf of the entire University of Toronto community, I am delighted to welcome Christine Szustaczek to the senior leadership team,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “As leader of the tri-campus University of Toronto Communications, Ms. Szustaczek will play a critical role in advancing strategic external and internal communications and public engagement for the university.

“She brings to this important position a communications approach that combines academic rigour with real-world practice – and a remarkable record of leadership and accomplishment in higher education and the broader public sector.”

A trusted adviser to Sheridan’s president and vice-presidential colleagues, board of governors and deans and directors, Szustaczek previously held the position of chief communications officer at the college. During that period, she advanced internal communications, guided the institution through multiple complex issues and oversaw an important rebranding effort. Prior to that, she served as Sheridan’s associate vice-president, communications, public affairs and marketing, where she integrated the three distinct teams to advance institutional objectives. She began her time at Sheridan in the newly created position of director of corporate communications and external relations.

“I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of vice-president, communications at the University of Toronto, one of the world’s top-ranked public universities,” said Szustaczek. “The opportunity to return to U of T and help lead an institution that fuels individual, economic, and societal transformation is both humbling and exhilarating. I look forward to working across the three campuses to serve our constituents and stakeholders, showcase people’s inspiring and game-changing work, and to explain to the public how U of T continually lives up to its character and delivers on the promise of its Defy Gravity brand.”

Szustaczek is widely regarded as an agile and collaborative leader who is highly skilled in managing relationships and developing people. Her work has been recognized by her peers with more than 50 prestigious awards, including the Heather Pullen Memorial Award for Ethical Public Relations and multiple awards from the Canadian Public Relations Society, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. She has also published in the Journal of Education Advancement and Marketing and the Journal of Professional Communication.

Before joining Sheridan, Szustaczek spent eight years running her own consultancy, helping a range of broader public sector agencies – including many colleges and universities – share their unique stories and communicate their impact.

She also spent six years working at U of T – first as a senior development officer and senior donor relations officer in the division of university relations and the Rotman School of Management, and then as director of communications and associate director of development in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. She also served as U of T Engineering’s acting executive director of advancement.

Szustaczek holds an honours bachelor of arts degree in international relations and a minor in economics from U of T, and a master’s degree in communications management from McMaster University. She is accredited in public relations by the Canadian Public Relations Society and is a member of the board of directors of the Alice and Murray Maitland Foundation and Sheridan College’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre at Pinewood Studios in Toronto.

President Gertler thanked the advisory committee for its advice and guidance. He also thanked David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president, advancement, who has served so ably as interim vice-president, communications since Oct. 1, 2022.

U of T communications win rare ‘grand gold’ recognition at CASE District II awards

sungjimi — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 15:10:02 +0000

U of T communications win rare ‘grand gold’ recognition at CASE District II awards sungjimi Thu, 01/28/2021 - 10:10

University of Toronto communicators were recognized with 29 awards and three rare ‘grand gold’ wins this year from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II competition – nearly double the achievements of last year.

Judges praised U of T’s expert handling of communications during challenging times, calling the work “current yet optimistic,” and “compassionate and very effective.”

“In 2020, we worked with our communications colleagues across the university to tell our pandemic story in an easy to understand and engaging way,” said David Estok, U of T’s vice-president of communications. “We succeeded thanks to the breadth of our team’s expertise, talent and commitment. Everyone was called upon to think differently during an incredibly challenging time. I’m immensely proud of what we collectively accomplished.”

The university’s wins included three grand golds, eight gold, 10 silver, six bronze, as well as an honourable mention and a finalist position in platinum or “best in” categories. A grand gold is the highest level of recognition in the program, awarded to an entry that is extremely exceptional or “game-changing.” They are rarely awarded and only one may be given in a category.

U of T Communications (UTC), which received 23 of the 29 awards, was recognized with a grand gold for the “This is U of T” video in the News and Research Videos category. The video featured President Meric Gertler and highlighted the university’s historical accomplishments and work under COVID-19.

As one judge wrote, “This inspiring, beautiful video is all the more notable for managing to convey carefully crafted messaging in the midst of a crisis.”

The second grand gold was awarded to a U of T News story about students offering to help busy front-line workers with their domestic chores. The final grand gold was for ��Ƶ2020, an innovative and comprehensive communications effort that supported the university’s pandemic response and helped to encourage and build U of T’s “caring community.”

The CASE awards recognize outstanding work in news and feature writing, photography, best practices in diversity, media relations, strategic communications and brand marketing.

The awards showcase innovative work at institutions in the largest of CASE’s eight districts, including schools like New York University and Johns Hopkins University.

The following are the awards won by communications staff from across the university:

U of T Communications:

Platinum category

Best Practices in Communications and Marketing: Honorable mention – ��Ƶ2020: Building U of T’s “caring community”
Best in Photography: Finalist – Meet Anne Dale, Dentistry’s Unofficial Historian

Communications

Communications Pivot: Grand Gold – ��Ƶ2020: Building U of T’s “caring community”
Communications Pivot: Gold – 3 Qs at the U
Media Relations: Gold – Media relations and the Flight PS752 tragedy
Media Relations: Silver – Increased performance for the Breaking News Experts
Communications Pivot: Bronze – This Is U of T

Digital Communications:

Social Media: Silver – 3 Qs at the U
Websites (Micro-site): Bronze – ��Ƶ2020: COVID-19 recovery micro-site

Magazines

General Interest: Silver – University of Toronto Magazine (Autumn 2019 and Spring 2020 issues)

Writing

General News: Grand Gold – “COVID-19: Students offer health-care workers help on the home front” by Geoffrey Vendeville
General News: Gold – “U of T physician builds virtual ER system” by Rahul Kalvapalle
Feature: Gold – “The Power of Good Intentions” Autumn 2019 issue, by John Lorinc
Feature: Silver – "The Truth Saved My Life" Spring 2020, by Rahul Kalvapalle
Research, Medicine and Science News: Silver – “U of T, Sunnybrook develop tools to combat coronavirus” by Geoffrey Vendeville
Profile: Bronze – “The value of education: ‘I had to fight for it’” by Rahul Kalvapalle

Photography

Series of Photographs: Gold – “Taking a Stand,” Spring 2020 University of Toronto Magazine Spring, by Luis Mora
Series of Photographs: Gold – Remembering the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 by Nick Iwanyshyn
Individual Photographs: Silver – U of T physician builds virtual ER system by Johnny Guatto
Individual Photographs: Bronze – Twin sisters Mikhaela and Nakeisha Ekwandja’s portrait by Nick Iwanyshyn
Series of Photographs: Bronze – “The Power of Good Intentions,” Autumn 2019 University of Toronto Magazine, by Brett Gundlock

Video

News and Research Videos: Grand Gold – “This Is U of T”
General Information: Gold – “This Is U of T”

Other U of T awards:

Advancement services

Donor Relations & Stewardship: Silver – Clark Report, University College

Marketing

Marketing Improvement: Bronze – Virtual Convocation Promotion, Faculty of Arts & Science

Publications

Student Recruitment – Publications Packages: Gold – University of Toronto Viewbook Overhaul, Student Recruitment
Student Recruitment – Individual Publication: Silver – Within Reach: How to Finance Your University of Toronto Experience, Student Recruitment
Publications Pivot: Silver – University College Perspectives on COVID-19, University College

Special events

Special Events Pivot: Silver – Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too, University College

U of T communications win rare ‘grand gold’ recognition at CASE District II awards

��Ƶ2020: Building U of T’s “caring community” was recognized with a grand gold award.

Jenny Rodrigues

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U of T communications staff win 16 CASE awards

sungjimi — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:29:28 +0000

U of T communications staff win 16 CASE awards sungjimi Mon, 01/27/2020 - 15:29

In recognition of the excellent work in telling the stories of students, faculty and staff, the University of Toronto has earned 16 awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in its 2020 District II Accolades competition.

U of T won the most awards of any institution in the group, which is the largest of CASE’s eight districts and includes schools like New York University and Johns Hopkins University.

It’s the second straight year that U of T has won 16 awards in the international competition.

“U of T’s communications staff have proven for the second year in a row that our creative and diverse storytelling is making an impact,” said David Estok, U of T’s vice-president of communications.

“From writing to photography and digital design, the talent at the university is exceptional.”

U of T’s 16 awards included four gold, four silver and four bronze medals, as well as four honourable mentions in platinum or “best in” categories.

U of T News won a gold medal for excellence in news writing for a series of stories that celebrated resilience. University of Toronto Magazine, meanwhile, won a gold medal for digital issues from Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019.

The CASE awards recognize outstanding work in news and feature writing, photography, best practices in diversity, media relations, strategic communications and brand marketing.

The following are the awards won by communications staff from across the university:

U of T Communications

Platinum category

Best Article of the Year: Honorable Mention – University of Toronto Magazine, “Doing the Devil’s Work” by Stacey Gibson
Best Practices in Diversity Programming: Honorable Mention – The Bulletin Brief, Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day 2019
Excellence in Photography: Honorable Mention – When students were soldiers: Remembering U of T’s war effort by Nick Iwanyshyn

Traditional categories

Excellence in News Writing (General): Gold – Celebrating resilience at the University of Toronto
Excellence in News Writing (General): Silver – Celebrating diversity at the University of Toronto
Excellence in News Writing (General): Bronze – The past, present and future is female: telling the stories of inspiring women
Excellence in News Writing (Research, medicine, science news): Bronze – From AI to genetics: University of Toronto researchers are making waves
Staff Writing: Bronze – Stacey Gibson
Individual Special Public Relations Projects: Silver – Convocation 2019: Celebrating Our Diverse Graduates
Individual Special Public Relations Projects: Silver – Back-to-School 2018 Campaign
Institutional Media Relations Programs: Silver – Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre: Attention, influence and impact
Institutional Marketing and Identity/Branding Programs: Bronze – This is The Place 2019 Entrepreneurship Campaign
Magazines – Online/Digital: Gold – University of Toronto Magazine, Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019 issues

Other U of T awards

Platinum category

Best Practices in Communications and Marketing: Honorable Mention – Sidney Smith Commons, University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Science

Traditional categories

Web Site: Individual Sub-Websites: Gold – Sidney Smith Commons, University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Science
Recruitment Videos: Gold – Access, Inclusion and the Road Ahead: U of T Students Find Community, University of Toronto, Office of Student Recruitment

U of T communications staff win 16 CASE awards

This composite image of University College in 2018 and 1918 was one of the photos that earned an honorable mention for Excellence in Photography (composite by Nick Iwanyshyn, including a U of T Archives photograph)

Staff

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University of Toronto Magazine takes home 2019 National Magazine Award

sungjimi — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 15:36:43 +0000

University of Toronto Magazine takes home 2019 National Magazine Award sungjimi Tue, 06/04/2019 - 11:36

University of Toronto Magazine took home the silver medal in this year’s National Magazine Awards in the category of best editorial package, for its Autumn 2018 issue, The Cities We Need.

It’s the first win in 25 years for the magazine in the prestigious competition.

“We overhauled the magazine last year to really focus on ideas from faculty, students and alumni, and brought in a great design team to update the look,” said Scott Anderson, the magazine’s editor. “Winning for an issue all about cities, where U of T demonstrates real strength, is especially gratifying.”

U of T Med Magazine, published by the Faculty of Medicine, was also nominated in the best editorial package category, for its issue, Cannabis is Coming. The gold medal in that category went to Maclean’s magazine for its WWI commemorative issue.

University of Toronto Magazine’s Autumn 2018 issue received a total of four nominations, including for Issue Grand Prix, Art Direction Grand Prix and best photojournalism/photo essay – for the article “The Cities We Need Are Sustainable.”

U of T Med Magazine was also nominated for best magazine, special interest – and received an honourable mention in the category.

David Estok, vice-president of communications at U of T, congratulated all the nominees.

“The University of Toronto is home to some of the world’s most creative and innovative thinkers and problem-solvers across its three campuses – and their important and compelling stories,” Estok said. “The teams who publish these magazines – the writers, photographers, editors and designers – know what a privilege it is to help tell those stories.

“It’s great to see their creativity and dedication recognized.”

University of Toronto Magazine takes home 2019 National Magazine Award

Scott Anderson (left), the editor of University of Toronto Magazine, attended the National Magazine Awards presentation on May 31 with the creative team at Studio Wyse who design the publication: photo editor Della Rollins, art director Nicola Hamilton and creative director Vanessa Wyse (photo courtesy National Magazine Awards)

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Having a Field Day: U of T communicators explore storytelling at annual conference

sungjimi — Tue, 21 May 2019 18:05:44 +0000

Having a Field Day: U of T communicators explore storytelling at annual conference sungjimi Tue, 05/21/2019 - 14:05

At the University of Toronto, the job of a communicator doesn’t fit into a single box. From organizing events and publishing annual reports to handling media relations, U of T communications professionals perform many duties and are therefore constantly seeking to add to their skill set.

That is what U of T’s annual Field Day conference – sponsored by University of Toronto Communications – is all about.

Now in its third year, the May 15 event at the Rotman School of Management’s Desautels Hall boasted its highest-ever attendance, with more than 240 communicators representing all three U of T campuses sharing best practices and insights.

“Field Day has always been one of our favourite events as U of T communicators – it’s such a joy to be a part of,” said Larysa Woloszansky, a U of T media relations specialist who co-chaired this year’s Field Day alongside Jesse Carliner, a communications and user services librarian at U of T Libraries.

“I thought that this was a really good opportunity to make an impact on how we learn across the university.”

The pair added that the conference, which included keynote speakers and “caselet” presentations by U of T staff, is a chance to put names to faces of the many communications colleagues who may only know each other through email, while amplifying professional development within the university.

In his opening remarks, David Estok, vice-president of communications, noted the unique challenge and importance of communication in 2019.

“When ‘fake news,’ the ‘deep web,’ the fabrication of misinformation and the weaponization of content continues to grow, it is getting harder and harder to know what is actually true,” he said.

“That is just one reason why our institutions are so important, why content with a purpose matters, why we continue to learn, grow and evolve to respond to the historic shifts in understanding, communicating and working with stakeholders.

“No mission can be achieved until it is communicated, understood, challenged and accepted.”

This year’s theme focused on the many aspects of storytelling, including how we tell stories and how we build trust and cut through the noise.

Jodie Glean, the director of U of T’s Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, delivered a keynote talk on the importance of acknowledging our differences while maintaining a lens of inclusion.

“Every word, every photo that you use matters,” she said, stressing the importance of representation and the value of considering diversity, equity and inclusion during a project’s initial stages.

Journalists Elamin Abdelmahmoud from BuzzFeed Canada and Daniel Dale from the Toronto Star also delivered keynote talks – Abdelmahmoud on how to stand out in a crowded digital media environment and Dale on how to build trust in an era of fake news and misinformation.

Abdelmahmoud, who curates BuzzFeed’s daily newsletter, highlighted the importance of “taking the internet seriously” in order to rise to the top in what he called “the attention economy.” Dale, the Toronto Star’s Washington bureau chief, stressed the value of confronting dishonesty face-on to foster trust with readers.

“Truth is a story in itself,” said Dale.

Participants said they walked away from the conference with valuable insights and applications.

“I look forward to Field Day every year – the quality and the relevance of the sessions just get better and better, and the keynotes are so insightful,” said Nicolle Wahl, director of content at U of T Mississauga.

“At the same time, it’s also such a phenomenal opportunity to meet our colleagues in person – it reminds me of the scope of our community and refreshes my excitement about our role in U of T’s success.”

Carliner echoed the sentiment.

“David Estok’s goal was to get all of us together and to get us excited because we are such a large institution,” he said.

“Everyone is really excited about the work that we do as communicators and that’s what I think Field Day is all about.”

Having a Field Day: U of T communicators explore storytelling at annual conference

More than 240 U of T communications professionals participated in Field Day 2019 (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Jenny Rodrigues

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University of Toronto Communications

U of T Digital Media Bank

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U of T Blue Book, Media Inquiries

Tags

U of T appoints Christine Szustaczek vice-president, communications

U of T communications win rare ‘grand gold’ recognition at CASE District II awards

U of T Communications:

Platinum category

Communications

Digital Communications:

Magazines

Writing

Photography

Video

Other U of T awards:

Advancement services

Marketing

Publications

U of T communications staff win 16 CASE awards

U of T Communications

Platinum category

Traditional categories

Other U of T awards

Platinum category

Traditional categories

University of Toronto Magazine takes home 2019 National Magazine Award

Having a Field Day: U of T communicators explore storytelling at annual conference