For a lot of people, most people, possibly, the season of renewal is spring. The flowers bloom, the weather warms, the air becomes fragrant. But for me, the season that best conveys new beginnings is fall.
Granted, this may be because I’ve worked in higher education for 30 years. There is a natural rhythm to the academic calendar that seeps into your bloodstream. The students return, and with them comes a palpable energy, a vibration across the campus that makes even a guy like me, pushing 60, feel young again. (One of the realities of this business is that you keep getting older and the students are always the same age.)
September, more than any other month, is of two minds. It sort of wants to be summer, and if you’ve ever sat on the sunny side of Stanford Stadium during an early-season football game, you know what I mean. But September softens as it ages, right around the time the fall quarter begins and October hovers over your shoulder, portending pristine afternoons and languorous early evenings in an amber glow. Care for a walk to the Dish?
So many things can obscure our view of simple pleasures; occasionally, we need a nudge to shrug off our cynicism. I’ve met many alumni over the years who have expressed a similar sentiment when they returned to campus for Reunion Homecoming. As they meander through the plazas and courtyards, saturated by the sun, their hearts fill with gratitude for the people and the place they knew back when they were making a new version of themselves. Those of us lucky enough to work here can touch that feeling, too, when we slow down enough to notice.
Autumn on the Farm. Even the words evoke a smile, am I right?
Hope to see you here soon.
This is my 105th installment of First Impressions and it will be my last. I’m not going anywhere—my new role will involve oversight of an expanding editorial operation—but my 18 years as editor of Stanford end with this issue. Stepping into the shoes, I’m happy to report, is a woman whose skill, experience and Stanford connections make her almost uniquely suited to the role—Kathy Zonana, ’93, JD ’96.
Kathy has been part of the magazine team for 14 years, and since 2017 has served as deputy editor. In addition to her two Stanford degrees, Kathy has broad experience throughout the university, having worked at the CFO’s office, the Bill Lane Center for the American West and the Medical School. It is her name you will see at the top of this column beginning with the December issue. And there will be more changes in the next few months as we upgrade the print magazine and launch a new, more robust website.
It has been a distinct pleasure for me to speak with you in this space for the past 18 years. But you’ve heard enough from me. I hope you will welcome Kathy and wish us luck as we embark on an exciting new chapter for the magazine.
