Talk about being left holding the bag. The magazine's new associate editor, Catherine Pierre, came on the job just three days before I left on maternity leave for the summer. Catherine stepped up to the challenge beautifully, sailing through her crash course on the idiosyncrasies of Johns Hopkins (never forget the s!) and quickly learning the go-to people for all manner of subjects. (Need an expert on civility? Call professor P. M. Forni, scholarly minder of p's and q's — "The Big Question,". Want background on the Baltimore Free University? Legendary chaplain Chester Wickwire is your man.)

Catherine, who holds a master's degree in English from Indiana University, comes to us from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, where she headed the public relations office. Prior to that she served as arts editor for Baltimore magazine. Her competent editorial touch can be felt throughout the pages of this issue, and I'm confident that you'll look forward to seeing her byline in issues to come.

This issue also marks the debut of our new senior writer, Maria Blackburn, who began work in July. Maria was formerly a reporter and assistant editor for The Baltimore Sun, and before that covered features for The Burlington Free Press. Maria, too, has been a quick study, ably finding her way around this far-flung institution, from the animal research labs in East Baltimore ("Keeping Animals Safe and Research Sound,") to the Bunting-Meyerhoff Interfaith and Community Service Center at Homewood ("Retiring Rabbi Leaves Legacy").

I am grateful to Catherine and Maria, and to longtime senior writer Dale Keiger, art director Shaul Tsemach, and the Alumni Magazine Consortium's Pam Li and Kathy Vitarelli, for pulling together so cheerfully to produce this issue in my absence. While they were proofing copy and setting up photo shoots, I was home experiencing anew the joys of mothering an infant. Daniel Paul Musachio arrived on June 8 and has quickly — and completely — stolen the hearts of big brothers Ben, 8, and Matthew, 5, as well as his doting mom and dad.

I'm also pleased to share with you that Johns Hopkins Magazine garnered two honors in the annual contest sponsored by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The magazine's writers brought home a silver medal in the "staff writing" category. And in the "best articles" category, Dale Keiger earned a silver medal for last February's "Alternatively Yours," a profile of Russ Smith '77, founder of the New York Press.

-Sue De Pasquale

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