From the Nominator

When the president of Howard University, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, announced his retirement last year, the community felt it was the end of an era. For Dr. Frederick, the era began the moment he set foot on Howard's campus as a freshman from Trinidad and Tobago, then spanned his time as a medical student, surgeon, professor of medicine, provost, and finally president. He started his presidency in 2014 when the university was plagued with financial distress, low enrollment, dire renovation needs, and personnel issues. He left Howard in secure financial health and with higher ratings and record enrollment. Dr. Frederick is highly regarded within the African American community and a national icon in his native Trinidad and Tobago. Because the magazine is one that the Howard community treasures, it was important to dedicate a special edition about Dr. Frederick's tenure at the university. We spent months interviewing key individuals and going through past photos. We also hired renowned White House photographer Pete Souza to capture intimate interactions similar to the ones he famously did for President Obama. We even traveled with Dr. Frederick to his home in Trinidad, meeting family and friends who shared stories about him. The magazine was a resounding success. People called and wrote about how it brought tears to their eyes when they opened it. Pete Souza captured Dr. Frederick's thoughtful and quiet personality warmly and accurately, and many organizations and institutions requested copies to distribute to their classrooms and groups, almost as a textbook.

From the Judges

Howard's special issue on President Wayne Frederick is surprising in its sustained variety, making the single-topic issue feel full and interesting. The photography was great, with high-quality imagery that added depth. Good writing, smart organization, and a crisp design made it truly fit for purpose. The continuity of design elements throughout was excellent, and we loved the organization of the chapters.