Every year, the University of Richmond awards hundreds of degrees to graduates who start new lives across the country and the globe. As they build careers and families, University of Richmond Magazine helps to keep them connected with former classmates and their alma mater. Editor Matthew Dewald leads the team behind the triannual magazine’s stories that highlight student accomplishments, campus updates, and alum reflections.

Q: What attracted you to work on the University of Richmond Magazine?

Matt: I was working in another state, editing another university’s magazines when I learned about the opening at UR. I had been aware of Spider athletics for a decade because Richmond was in the Atlantic 10 Conference, just like the university where I worked, but that was really all I knew about UR. I learned that it wanted its magazine redesigned, and I’d just led a similar project.

When I came to campus the night before my interview, I stayed at the Bottomley House. I remember thinking, Wow, this place is beautiful. But it’s more than that. The university’s resources, the opportunities it provides students, and the fact that it is a small, liberal arts school are all super-attractive. I really want to be part of this place. I was having the same experience that a lot of prospective students do when they make their first visit.

Q: Why is the magazine important to the university community?

Matt: It keeps people connected. When we share a story about a Spider doing something remarkable, it gives readers reason to have pride in being part of this community. These stories can help motivate readers to contribute in ways that help current students. They may reach out to career services to become mentors or offer philanthropic support.

This University is a great institution because Spiders have been helping each other succeed for as long as the school has existed. The magazine contributes to a culture in which that continues.

Q: What are some of the magazine's major successes? What are future plans for the publication?

Matt: The magazine has received several national awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. But that’s not ultimately what we focus on.

With every issue, we receive questions about the university. We can often answer them by directing readers to previous articles. To me, these interactions are a measure of the magazine’s success. Readers remain engaged with the University, and the magazine nurtures that relationship by appearing three times a year in mailboxes and reminding Spiders that this is still their home.

We’re also developing a digital strategy that increases the volume of our storytelling. Digital-first features are now released online once a month between print issues, along with additional alumni profiles and other stories.

Q: What’s one of your favorite stories?

Matt: We did a story a few years ago called “Yes, I’ve done that. Really.”

It contains seven vignettes of alumni who have done some really cool things. One hit a home run in the World Series. One argued a case at the Supreme Court. Another made her Broadway debut. An alum who treated ER patients told us what it was like to not know what life-threatening emergency might walk through his door. We also interviewed a couple who found love and married in their 70s and a diplomat who endured a bombardment. I liked this story because it asks the question every good magazine profile does: What's it like to be this person doing this thing?

Q: Reflecting on your 13 years at UR, what challenges you the most?

Matt: At a place like Richmond, the opportunity to share stories far exceeds our capacity to tell them.

I could walk over to the library right now, approach a random student, and uncover an amazing story with just a little conversation. There are so many interesting people and ideas and experiences here that we will never get to share. I love telling others about this community and why I’m so glad to be part of it.