Vanity Fair's Chris Dixon
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volume 25, no. 1 spring/summer 2013 The University of Regina Magazine Vanity Fair’s Chris Dixon While most prairie residents were cursing the harsh winter this year, some University of Regina international students from warmer climates were enjoying their first experience in the cold and snow. The Dr. Lloyd Barber Academic Green was actually very white in early March when students (left to right) Precious Onungwe from Nigeria, Penghui Dai from China and Debora Sakano from Brazil braved the cold to build their first snowman. There are about 1,500 international undergraduate and graduate students attending the U of R from more than 60 countries around the world. Photo by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department. Degrees | spring/summer 2013 1 Welcome to the spring ’13 During his time at Adbusters, days at the U of R had on him Charrier admits his impressions edition of Degrees, the Dixon was responsible for beginning on page 28. of North Central were shaped magazine of the University the redesign and conceptual We also have the compelling by crime statistics and media of Regina. We have oodles of development of the magazine. story of alumna Denise Batters, reports, what he found was interesting and entertaining Twyla Smith of Adbusters says a recently appointed Canadian a people-centered, balanced stories shoehorned into this that when Dixon signed on in senator whose husband took community that bore little issue for your reading pleasure. 1997 that “he breathed life his own life in 2009. Batters is resemblance to the media- As the editor of Degrees I am into the design side of the a tireless advocate for mental constructed image of the area. fortunate to hear my share of magazine.” Dixon’s work at health research and treatment There’s also our regular wrap engaging tales about people Adbusters influenced scores and is using her national profile up of campus news, class notes associated with the U of R. It of designers around North to advance awareness of mental and so much more. never ceases to amaze me – America; it also set the stage for health issues in Canada. Her Remember, you’ll also find the incredible stories of the his ascent to the top of his field. story starts on page 22. Degrees posted on our website men and women who study, I must confess that email sat This issue also has a profile at: www.uregina.ca/external/ teach, and graduate from the in my story file for some years. of arts administrator Marian communications/publications/ University of Regina. Periodically I would revisit the Donnelly, an alumna who is degrees/index.html. If you This job is a dream come idea of pursuing the story but at the helm of a popular arts would prefer to view Degrees true for those of us who like to for one reason or another, ink centre in downtown Regina. She online rather than receive it in spend most of our professional never met page on the Chris also ran for mayor of Regina the mail, please contact us at lives chasing down stories that Dixon story. in 2012. In “Drive for five,” [email protected], or call we hope will inform, engage, That was until I checked you’ll read a remarkable story us at 306-585-4112 or toll-free entertain and resonate with up on the aforementioned about Chris Gbekorbu, who at 877-779-4723 and we will readers. As a coworker of mine Mr. Dixon last fall. Turns out will, yet again, walk across the remove you from the mailing used to say when I first stepped he was carving out quite the convocation stage this spring list. into the employ of the U of R, career for himself. So what was and receive his fifth University Please, keep your emails “There is no shortage of great any self-respecting magazine of Regina degree. That story and letters coming. Tell us stories around here.” editor to do? It was time to start begins on page 26. what we are doing right and let One of the great stories spreading the news. You see, it We’ve also got a story on us know where we can make that you’ll find in this edition turns out that Chris Dixon, class the Community Research improvements. Send us your of Degrees first came to my of 1991, can make it anywhere. Unit and the work the unit story ideas or just drop us a attention a number of years After all, he wakes up in that does in Regina’s North note and tell us what you’ve ago when I received an email city that never sleeps. By all Central neighbourhood, a been up to lately. You’ll find all from Michael Simons, a U of R accounts, he’s king of the hill, neighbourhood that was called our contact information on the graduate who suggested his top of the list, and even, head of Canada’s worst in a 2007 facing page. We look forward to friend and colleague, Chris the heap. Maclean’s magazine article. hearing from you and trust you Dixon, would make for a Dixon is the design director Accompanying the story are will enjoy reading this issue of worthy alumnus profile. Dixon of Vanity Fair, a magazine some of the photographs taken Degrees. had been the art director at with a global reputation and a by history professor Philip Adbusters, the influential circulation of nearly 1.2 million. Charrier who took his camera Greg Campbell Canadian anti-consumerism, You can read Dixon’s story and into the community in an effort Editor pro-environmental magazine. find out about the impact his to get to know it better. While 2 Degrees | spring/summer 2013 Editor Greg Campbell BFA’85, BJ’95 Director, Communications and Marketing Anna Willey CPR’96 Alumni Association Board 2012-13: Gwen Keith BEd’74, MEd’77, PGDEA’83, MEd’84 President Richard Kies BAdmin’93, CPR’03 Past President Jeff Maystruck BBA’08 First Vice President Linda Dewhirst BA’75, MVTEd’04 The University of Regina Magazine Second Vice President spring/summer 2013 Margaret Dagenais CVTEd’87, BVTEd’91, Med’97, PHD’11 volume 25, no. 1 U of R Senate representative Lisa King Bed’78, MAdmin’11 U of S Senate representative On the cover: U of R alumnus Chris Dixon BA’91 has one of the most prestigious Greg Swanson BAdmin’76 jobs in the magazine industry – he’s the design director of Vanity Fair magazine, Past-President Council representative the New York headquartered magazine with almost 1.2 million subscribers. Nathan Sgrazzutti Photo by Don Hall, University of Regina Photography Department. URSU Representative Kaytlyn Barber BBA’12 Don Burns BA’97, MPA’05 Scott Cheston CA’05, DIPBA’06, BBA’08, MCert’10 Bob Friedrich BA’76, CPSTST’07 Brian Hillier DDA’04, BA’04, MBA’09, MHRM’11 Jay Kirkland BA(Hons)’99 Curt Schroeder CA’96, CCS’03 George Smadu BEd’74, BA’80, PGDEA’88, Med’91, PhD’08 Contributors Terina Abrahamson Bill Armstrong 8 22 28 Sabrina Cataldo BA’97, BJ’99, CPR’04 Philip Charrier Emily Eaton Features Drive for five 26 Raquel Fletcher BA’12 Christopher Gbekorbu BA’01, Don Hall Trilby Henderson BAJ’05 The fine art of the BA(Hons)’01, MA’05, BSC’11 will BD Miller BA(Hons)’89, BJ’95 walk across this year’s spring Diane Mullan business of arts 8 Dianne Olmstead After a lifetime of practical convocation stage to receive his experience in the arts and a fifth degree or diploma from the All photos by The University of Regina University of Regina. And he has Photography Department unless U of R executive MBA, alumna otherwise noted. Original design and Marian Donnelly MBA’08 finds his eyes on a sixth. layout by Bradbury Branding and Design. herself right where she wants to Designs on a career Degrees is published twice a year by be – in the centre of the Regina External Relations at the University arts and culture scene. in New York 28 of Regina. The magazine is mailed to Vanity Fair’s design director alumni and friends of the University. Ideas and opinions published in Degrees The class of 2013 12 credits his U of R arts degree do not necessarily reflect those of the Meet this year’s honorary degree as one of his springboards to editor, the Alumni Association or the success. University of Regina. Letters and editorial recipients: Frank Flaman, Art contributions are welcome. Advertising Opseth and Linda Rankin BA’68. inquiries are invited. To reach us: Community connections 16 departments The Faculty of Art’s Community Editorial/Advertising/Letters Feed Back 2 Degrees, External Relations Research Unit is taking the 210 North Residence, University of Regina University’s expertise to 3737 Wascana Parkway President’s Note 4 Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Regina communities. Regina’s Ph: (306) 585-4402 Fax: (306) 585-4997 North Central neighbourhood, Around Campus 5 E-mail: [email protected] once called Canada’s worst Spot Light 15 Address Change/Alumni Relations neighbourhood in a 2007 210 North Residence, University of Regina Maclean’s magazine article, has Focal Point 18 3737 Wascana Parkway been a major focus of the unit’s Regina, SK S4S 0A2 Ph: (306) 585-4112 Fax: (306) 585-4997 work. Alumni President E-mail: [email protected] Message 31 Toll-free: 877-779-4723 (GRAD) Never lose hope 22 (in Canada and the U.S.) 360 Degrees 32 In January, alumna Denise University of Regina homepage Batters BA’91 realized a lifetime www.uregina.ca Class Notes 36 ambition when she was Publication Mail Agreement Number appointed to the Canadian 40065347 Return undeliverable magazines to: Senate by Prime Minister External Relations Stephen Harper.