A New Chapter for Northwestern Magazine

Hello and Happy New Year! Have those words ever sounded so sweet? Welcome to 2021. It’s time for a fresh start! I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Sean Hargadon, and I am the new editor in chief of Northwestern Magazine.

Though I am new to the position, I am certainly not new to the magazine or the University. Since 2003 I have been part of the team that has brought you Northwestern as a print publication and, increasingly, via our digital magazine and email newsletter.

At its heart, an alumni magazine should continue your relationship with the university, while also educating, entertaining and building community. Our team strives to bring you outstanding content in a sophisticated design, addressing key national and global topics across all disciplines. Our goal is to create a magazine anyone would enjoy reading.

My vision is to welcome new voices into the magazine and to add diverse perspectives from across the University community while continuing to tell stories that endear and enlighten.    

In short, we want to bring you the best stories about the University and its people. And we want to bring those stories to you in the format that works best for you. In addition to producing three print issues per year, we will continue to make our digital magazine a place to see and hear more from the people who make Northwestern great.

And while we’re talking about people who make Northwestern great, I would like to recognize former executive editor Stephanie Russell for her three decades of outstanding service to the University and her leadership of, first, Northwestern Perspective and, for the last 20 years, Northwestern Magazine.

Stephanie loved sharing stories about the University and its people and bringing humanity to this institution. It’s been an honor to work with her, and we wish her all the best in retirement.

In closing, I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. I look forward to connecting with you via email at letters@northwestern.edu, across social media @NorthwesternU and, yes, via good, old-fashioned letters mailed to 1603 Orrington Ave., Suite 200, Evanston IL 60201.

I hope that you enjoy this issue of Northwestern Magazine.

Sincerely,
Sean Hargadon