In Memoriam: David J. Macey

Frontiers lost a long-time colleague and supporter when David Macey, former Director of Off-Campus Studies at Middlebury College, passed away on August 10, 2008. David J. Macey: A Remembrance At a professional conference around a dozen years ago, a number of us had gathered at the hotel lounge at the end of a long day of sessions and workshops that focused mainly on administrative and logistical aspects of education abroad. From the other side of the room, I heard something I had not experienced before at these often bland professional meetings. I was taken aback by the raised voices and passionate exclaims that caused many of us in the room to turn our heads and stare. It was a genuine, heated argument that was in full swing among five or six colleagues. The topic, of all things, seemed to have something to do with academic standards for study abroad programs. In the middle of the group I quickly identified the instigator of this animated exchange, an unmistakable fellow in casual dress, a full beard and broad smile, and a wild gleam in his eyes. I and others moved over to join the fray, and I knew that I had to meet the rabble-rouser who seemed quite content in how he had stirred up the crowd. That was the first time that I met David Macey, and that evening began a friendship with him that I valued greatly. David was a gift to the field at a time when many of us came together to focus more attention on the academic nature of education abroad. He contributed mightily to efforts to raise the standards of the field. He was for many of us the conscience of education abroad, always reminding us that our programs should be as academically rigorous as possible. This was not an abstract idea for David. He loved to tell detailed stories about individual students and their successes, and I relished the opportunity to hear him describe the many examples of how Middlebury students were transformed by their overseas learning. I found inspiration for my own work in those stories, and I know many other colleagues did as well. David was one of the most influential activists in our field. He threw his support and energy behind important initiatives at critical times. When he did, it was a signal to everyone that the initiative was a serious and worthy one. If David Macey and Middlebury were on board, then people took notice, and they also wanted to be involved. I and the editorial board will remain grateful always for David’s faithful support of Frontiers. When the jo