Twice-Told Tales

When I joined the news services office at NC State in 2007, the university’s newsletter for faculty and staff, the Bulletin, had been a trusted source of campus news for over 70 years. To the consternation of some, we soon began the process of phasing out the print version of the publication in favor of an online platform. On Nov. 1, 2007, faculty and staff were treated to the first issue of the Bulletin e-newsletter, which included links to about a dozen articles.

The primary reason for discontinuing the printed version of the Bulletin was probably financial. But there were real benefits to moving to an online format. We could incorporate full-color photos, and even video and audio features, giving us new tools to engage our audience of 9,000 full-time employees.

Covering Campus

As the first editor of the new electronic version of the Bulletin, I had the opportunity to shape the publication’s voice, opting for a conversational, entertaining tone with a wry edge — especially when it came to headlines and teaser text.

For example, in 2009 I ran a feature on the Krispy Kreme Challenge under the headline “Running on Empty Calories.” And I once identified NC State’s administration building, where campus leaders often work long hours, as “the deceptively named Holladay Hall.”

You get the idea.

It hasn’t been all fun and games, of course. Over the years, the Bulletin has covered groundbreaking research advances in fields ranging from aseptic food processing to biomedical engineering. I once gowned up and looked on as surgeons repaired a horse’s deformed leg in the Veterinary Hospital. And the newsletter has helped unite the community in difficult times. I stood on the Brickyard on a frigid February night with thousands of others, the light from our candles defying a sharp wind, to mourn three members of our community whose lives had been cut short.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

To mark my upcoming retirement from NC State, I’ve spent the past month revisiting and updating some of the stories I’ve written over the years that reflect the spirit of NC State. Fresh-faced undergraduates I interviewed back in 2009 or 2010 are now facing the challenges of adulthood with an appreciation for the friends, mentors and experiences that shaped their journeys. The professors, alumni and staff members I profiled for their professional achievements now reflect on their work with fresh eyes and a better appreciation of its worth.

I enjoyed the chance to catch up with them all, to find out where life had taken them and learn whether their time at NC State still resonated. Whether you recall their stories or are meeting them for the first time, I hope you draw inspiration from these members of our Wolfpack community, who continue to live out NC State’s “Think and Do” philosophy.

This post was originally published in NC State News.