Tippie Magazine is the flagship alumni publication at the Tippie College of Business, covering all six academic departments. In 2020, we moved to a mailing list based on a bespoke engagement score we created. Because our return on investment with this select group of 16,000 is excellent (in the millions), it’s our job to keep that engagement high through creative storytelling and excellent imagery. In 2024, we significantly amped up our alumni notes section—because we all know they love to read it! We started the section with a full-page photo and introduced three new serial mini features: “Time Machine,” where we ask readers if they could go back to college for a day, what day they would pick, “How Did It Feel?” a first-person account of a pivotal or fun moment in an alumnus’s life, and “What the Hawk?” (our mascot is a hawk), a slightly irreverent look back at old yearbook photos—ones that are surprising and generally lack context or description. These fun features get readers thinking and provide authentic storytelling opportunities. We have seen a bump in engagement (responses to prompts) thanks to these additions.
From the Judges
We were really impressed by the magazine’s vibrant design, engaging content, and creative touches—especially the collectible multiple covers and the smartly designed homecoming guide insert. We loved the strong visual storytelling, bold layout, and thoughtful writing throughout, with standout features like "The COVID Class" and the well-done Class Notes.
