This issue of Vanderbilt Magazine represents the last of its kind鈥攂ut by no means signals the end of Vanderbilt鈥檚 flagship publication. This year we are rethinking and redesigning the magazine, an undertaking I find both thrilling and humbling.
The current incarnation of Vanderbilt Magazine made its debut in 2002, and in terms of reader response has been a resounding success. So why are we reinventing the wheel?
Part of the answer is pretty obvious. Think how communications have proliferated during the past decade. Now, depending on your relationship with the university and your preferences, you may receive news not only through the magazine but also through email, e-newsletters, VUconnect, VUCast newscasts, Facebook, Twitter, and other ways, regardless of whether you live in Nashville or Nairobi.
Our research and your feedback tell us that a print magazine remains a vital means of communication鈥攊n some ways more than ever. Having so many tools at our fingertips not only has helped to diffuse communication鈥攂ut to distill it as well.
So the question we are asking as we undertake this redesign becomes: What is the essence of Vanderbilt?
As we embark on our magazine redesign, we are carefully thinking about what defines Vanderbilt as a community. As someone who has met thousands of alumni, students and faculty members during the past quarter-century, I would put these characteristics at the top of my list: civility, curiosity, inspired ambition, humor, generosity, and vision for a better world.
The focus on campus these days is less on Vanderbilt鈥檚 individual colleges and schools, and more on the university as a whole. The lines between the 鈥渦niversity side鈥� of Vanderbilt and the 鈥渕edical center side鈥� have blurred as the benefits of cross-disciplinary study and resource sharing become clear. You will see this 鈥渙ne Vanderbilt鈥� philosophy reflected in the new magazine, too.
What 飞辞苍鈥檛 change is our commitment to presenting an array of voices from the Vanderbilt community, bringing the university to life from the points of view of students, faculty members鈥攁nd especially alumni.
As we work through the process of reinventing Vanderbilt Magazine, we will continue to communicate with our readers electronically to update you on our plans. Expect to see the new Vanderbilt Magazine about the time students return to campus this fall.
I鈥檇 like to hear your thoughts on what you鈥檇 like to see in the new magazine. Email me at gaynelle.doll@vanderbilt.edu, or call me at (615) 322-1003.