Dear Fellow Alumni,

On September 9, 1999, Sean Plottner walked into the offices of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine for the first time and, fortunately for all of us, these pages were never the same again. In his quarter century as editor of DAM, Sean developed this magazine into one of the finest, most decorated alumni publications in the country. (Sean tried to cut that line, but it’s all true, so we added it back.) This issue marks his last, as he has decided to retire.

There is no other Dartmouth College or alumni forum that presents DAM’s breadth of stories and perspectives in such an accessible, intelligent, entertaining way. Under Sean’s leadership, the magazine has become a place to find civil, authentic voices and views, where writers’ personalities shine alongside the people they cover—and where buzzwords, bureaucratese, and BS are notably absent. There will always be a hunger for good, true, real stories wherever they can be found. For an alumni magazine to consistently display all of this is no accident. It takes an editor with a vision.

Sean relishes a great story. As a testament to the extraordinary standard he set for DAM, a feature pitch had to say something about the pulse of our community, culture, and world to make it into print. The magazine tackled tough topics such as the cost of tuition, student unrest, why the College has no Asian American studies program, and last May’s protests and arrests on the Green, and it published surprise-and-delight pieces that told unexpected stories in topnotch prose, many written by alumni journalists and writers. Sean displayed his strong editorial perspective in special issues that rigorously reported and thoughtfully packaged topics such as Dartmouth’s dominant presence at the Winter Olympics (2010), the College’s most influential alumni (2019), and its greatest athletes (2022). He also oversaw the magazine’s largest issue to date, a 172-page special edition that celebrated the College’s 250th anniversary (2019).

During Sean’s tenure, DAM received more than 50 awards for outstanding editorial, design, and innovation, including medals from the Council for the Advancement for Education (CASE), the Folio Awards, and the American Society of Magazine Editors. A six-time finalist for CASE’S Alumni Magazine of the Year, DAM won the honor in 2008, when Sean featured in-depth stories on the polarization of trustee elections and the corrosive racism of The Dartmouth Review.

Sean cultivated a team of creative, talented staff who showcased thousands of alumni and their diverse talents and achievements. He also catapulted the magazine from the print era into the digital age, launching DAM’s first website and social media platforms. In 2006, DAM created a comprehensive digital archive that ensures every issue in the magazine’s 120-year history is preserved for future generations of alumni.

Sean, your journalistic integrity and deep passion for Dartmouth alumni are unmatched, and we will miss your roaring humor. Thank you for telling our stories all these years and fostering a legacy of excellence, engagement, and connection. With each issue, you brought us closer to Dartmouth—and each other.

Abigail Jones ’03

Chair, DAM Editorial Board (2021-2025)

Alec Casey ’88

Chair, DAM Editorial Board (2025-present)