Food as a reflection of who we are

American Studies Professor Marcie Cohen Ferris writes in her book The Edible South: The Power of Food and the Making of an American Region (UNC Press, 2014): “Food reflects both our national and our regional culture as surely as do art, literature, music, politics and religion.”

Ferris is co-chair of the committee responsible for Carolina’s new two-year academic theme, “Food for All: Local and Global Perspectives.” We devote the fall 2015 issue of Carolina Arts & Sciences to an in-depth exploration of the impact of food on our culture, with stories on the interdisciplinary work that faculty, students, alumni and staff are doing in this area in the College of Arts and Sciences. Look for the “Food for All” banner at the top of the stories for more content.

Food is a great conversation starter, and we hope you’ll join us in the discussion about the role food plays in our lives.

You may also notice some design changes with this issue. We have freshened our look in response to feedback from our readers, including an easier-to-read typeface, more white space and photos, and shorter features. You can learn more about the redesign here, and enjoy a look back at 10 years of magazine covers.

The search committee for the next dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is continuing its work as I prepare to return to teaching and research in the department of psychology and neuroscience. An announcement is expected later this fall. For updates on the search and the finalists, visit college.unc.edu/about-us/dean-search.

As I come close to the end of my tenure, I want to extend my deepest thanks to the many people who have made my time as dean so fulfilling and have made the College a greater place.

Best wishes,