Dear readers,

It’s hard to believe that two years ago, I was applying to the 40 acres from my kitchen table in Louisville, KY. Now, writing this letter from the air on my flight home for Thanksgiving feels nothing short of full circle. 

Over the summer, I came across a quote by William Faulkner: “Don’t be a writer, be writing.” 

As I entered my new role as editor, this quote guided my leadership throughout the semester. This fall, the Magazine Committee had a mix of veteran members and brand new faces. Synonymous with Faulkner’s quote, while everyone may not have been writers in the past, everyone wrote — some perfecting their craft and others stepping out of their comfort zone. 

This fusion is a perfect representation of Moody as a whole, a place for everyone to try anything. In this issue, What does Moody Mean to You?, we dive into the individual experiences that make Moody whole. 

These stories highlight the community within Moody, like the Kickoff Film Showcase led by Jet Sullivan and Maddox Stockton, and the inspiration beyond it, like Moody alumna Cassandra Jaramillo and her recent Pulitzer Prize win. 

This fall also marks the beginning of new Moody Magazine endeavors. 

We produced our first issue of While We Were Gone, a digital issue that covers everything Moody students need to know between our spring 2025 and fall 2025 print releases. Check it out on our website to read stories on Moody developments, Dear Moody Letters and our newest series, Hear from a Peer. Also included in our fall issue (page 20), Hear from a Peer aims to celebrate student successes by featuring words-of wisdom from one Moody student to another. 

In October, we hosted our first-ever Moody Magazine Student Film Competition to highlight one student made film in the print and digital versions of our magazine. Each submission was written and directed by Moody students and was 10 minutes or less. Flip to page 10 to read an interview with Sofia Alejandro, the writer and director of this semester’s winner, “Sombras.” Keep an eye out for our competition next semester!

It has been such an honor to see this issue come to life, from our pitch meeting to our final color scheme debates. A massive thank you to our Communication Council Advisor, Dean Kyle Clark, and Associate Director of the Moody Writing Center, Emily Quigley, for their continued support every step of the way. 

Enjoy reading, and follow @utmoodymag on Instagram for behind-the-scenes sneak peeks. 

Until the spring,

Sydney Webb