After about two-and-a-half months of intense preparation, it is finally here: the first issue of the Sunflower released with me as its Editor-in-Chief.

I have worked for the newspaper for nearly two years, starting out as a general assignment reporter. Over time, I added copy editing responsibilities, and eventually became the copy chief and a senior reporter. On March 31, the University Publications Board selected me as the Sunflower’s editor for the 2014-15 school year.

It’s odd knowing my first issue as the editor has come and gone. I will say when I started this job, I never in a million years expected to run this paper, let alone less than two years after starting here. I always pictured myself as having the number two position here (the managing editor position), but I never thought I would take over as the boss.

Fate is funny like that sometimes.

Still, I am happy to serve as the Sunflower’s Editor-in-Chief. I know I work with the best people I could have asked for, and I am so grateful to those who came back after the spring semester to continue to work for me.

Thank you to the staff members who returned from spring. I’m excited to see you all grow.

I would like to thank Austin Colbert and Kathleen Martin, my predecessors in this job, who led this newspaper to greatness — I hope to do the same. Thanks also goes to the faculty and staff of the Elliott School of Communication, all of whom are fabulous educators and phenomenal mentors.

And to you, Sunflower readers: thank you for reading this newspaper. It takes a lot of time and effort to put one together, but seeing people read our stories and look through our photos makes it all worth it. Please keep reading and do not hesitate to contact myself, or anyone else on staff if you have any questions or comments. Feel free to visit us in Elliott Hall, room 019, as well.

This is the first of many newspapers to come. I can’t wait to see what the Sunflower does this year.