Sewanee Magazine

This issue explores the search for the right college, with Dean of Admission Alan Ramirez and alumni college counselors helping families to look beyond rankings and rethink a process that has changed considerably since today’s parents were applying. From finding the right fit to navigating financial aid, the message is that admission isn’t a prize to be won, but a match to be made. Other features take readers to Armistead, a farm-centered community being developed by Craige Hoover, C’98, south of Nashville, and to Guatemala, where Rachel Hall-Clifford, C’01, is rethinking maternal healthcare through more than two decades of community-based work. Also inside: student-athlete Jacorin Thomas, C’27, takes readers inside Sewanee’s new Center for Sports Medicine; Professor of Biology Kristen Cecala studies tiny amphibians to better understand the effects of climate change; and Margaret Wentz, C’22, is building a women’s golf apparel brand inspired by what she wanted to find in the pro shop.

In this edition, you’ll find features that move from a bee-saving business in Savannah to a cancer institute in Charlotte and a tough-tech incubator at MIT, along with stories from the Domain at the Split Creek Environmental Observatory, LUNCH, and the Tennessee Williams Center costume shop.

The Fall 2025 issue of Sewanee magazine brings together stories of alumni and students whose experiences reflect the many sides of Sewanee life. The cover story, “Music of the Mountain,” shares alumni memories of the songs and concerts that shaped their college years. Other features include Frances Lumpkin Webster, C’95, on her career in advertising; Douglas Watters, C’05, whose Manhattan shop is redefining social drinking; and a Sewanee team investigating the life and legacy of writer Ely Green.

A chance remark sent Annie Armour Morgret, C’77, and her daughter, Sarah Campbell, C’11, on an unexpected journey—one that led from a Sewanee to Antiques Roadshow and the discovery that their family’s paintings were original Winslow Homers. Mercedes Abramo, C’92, is reshaping the world of luxury at Ralph Lauren, while Michael Waldrum, C’84, is tackling healthcare gaps in rural America. And for those curious about the country’s fastest-growing sport, Eric Roddy, C’16, breaks down the pickleball phenomenon.

Micah Nicholas, C’17, is leading disaster preparedness efforts in Louisiana, helping communities brace for a more active hurricane season. Sewanee alumni are harnessing AI to tackle big challenges, from fighting homelessness to advancing medical treatments. Graduates share unforgettable moments from their Sewanee classrooms—some funny, some profound. And in Shakerag Hollow, a tiny purple bloom is making big botanical news as North America’s newest discovered flower species.