CRIMSON & BLUE
Magazine
about the Magazine
Welcome to Crimson & Blue magazine — a publication of KU Endowment, KU Alumni and the University of Kansas. The biannual publication curates news and stories for alumni and supporters of the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center, highlighting the people, places, events and traditions that make KU the state’s flagship nest. Check out the Spring 2026 issue, featuring:
- How the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s new facility is engineering a cancer-free future.
- The donors driving the major restoration of the Campanile inside and out.
- What commencement means to first-generation college student Jorge Aragon.
The magazine is delivered directly to the Jayhawk Faithful community. Find out how to join Jayhawk Faithful and become a subscriber — and visit crimsonandblue.org or see below for stories that embody the true colors of KU!
Welcome to the new Crimson & Blue magazine — a publication of KU Endowment, KU Alumni and the University of Kansas. The biannual publication curates news and stories for alumni and supporters of the University of Kansas and KU Medical Center, highlighting the people, places, events and traditions that make KU the state’s flagship nest. Check out the inaugural issue, featuring:
The magazine is delivered directly to the Jayhawk Faithful community. Find out how to join Jayhawk Faithful and become a subscriber — and visit crimsonandblue.org for stories that embody the true colors of KU!
Crimson & Blue Magazine
The Living Lab
The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s new facility is engineering a cancer-free future.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
Lifting every voice: Michelle Tyrene Johnson champions social justice from the page and the stage
Michelle Tyrene Johnson has known since childhood what it’s like to be different.
She grew up in a low-income, predominantly Black neighborhood in Kansas City—but from 5th grade through 12th grade, she commuted two hours round trip by city bus to attend St. Francis Xavier and then St. Teresa’s Academy.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
Resounding success
Gifts drive major restoration of the Campanile inside and out, reviving its sound, beautifying its surroundings, and ensuring its safety and longevity.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
The Global Hornist: A Jayhawk musician’s mission to perform on all continents
In 2026, KU School of Music alum Kyra Sims plans to complete her goal of performing with her French horn on all seven continents, which would make her the first African American musician to do so. As of 2025, she had performed in five continents, 22 countries and all but four U.S. states.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
Passing the torch
Two longtime deans leave legacies of innovation and steadfast stewardship.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
The first to walk down the Hill: What commencement means to a first-generation student
Each year, thousands of graduates pass through the Campanile while family members line the Hill’s walkway and cheer them toward David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. When first-generation KU student Jorge Aragon walked down the Hill with the Class of 2026 in May, he was looking for his mother’s smile in the crowd.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
Backward, Forward, Onward — A message from President Dan Martin
KU is experiencing such a moment right now. Across our campuses — in classrooms, labs, performance halls and clinics, change is happening. Good change. New discoveries are being made. New leaders are emerging. And this magazine, Crimson & Blue, tells those stories to showcase KU’s impact, giving alumni, donors, friends and fans a view of the world Jayhawks are shaping.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
The long game: David Booth’s historic gift to KU
Get to know the Jayhawk behind the transformative investments in KU, from his Kansas roots to his trailblazing career in finance.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
KU research targets eating disorders
KU’s new Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors is changing the way we talk about eating disorders—and helping a broader range of patients get the treatment they need.
Crimson & Blue Magazine
KU fraternities and sororities unite to support cancer research
With more than $100,000 already raised, the KU fraternity and sorority community is rallying for blood cancer research with a new fundraising event.