You’re invited — CDAA Annual Reunion, celebrating 50 years of the CD’s first female EIC:
The 2026–27 term marks the 50th anniversary of The Cavalier Daily electing Marjorie Leedy Green (Col class of ’77) as its first female editor-in-chief — a milestone we’ll celebrate at our 22nd Annual Reunion on Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Charlottesville.
We’ve reserved discounted rooms for Friday and/or Saturday at the Courtyard Charlottesville hotel at 638 Hillsdale Drive, with no prepayment required and a 48-hour cancellation policy. To reserve a room at the discounted rate, contact Steve Wells (Col class of ’73) at swells@alumni.virginia.edu.
Saturday at a Glance
Brunch Tailgate
- Leigh Bailey (Col class of ’27), current editor-in-chief, will host a relaxed brunch tailgate outside her Lawn room.
Afternoon Wine Adventure
- Join Bob Garsson (Col class of ’76) and Chris Kohan Garsson (Col class of ’76), former editorial and managing editors, at a local vineyard to enjoy central Virginia’s world-class wine.
Evening Ceremony Dinner
- Celebrate the pioneering women of The Cavalier Daily at the awards ceremony, held at The Local. Featuring cocktails and a delicious buffet dinner.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Steve Wells (Col class of ’73) at swells@alumni.virginia.edu to be added to the list for updates and registration details, and please save the date.
This promises to be an exceptional reunion. We hope to see you there!
A message from The Cavalier Daily’s new editor-in-chief:
My name is Leigh Bailey (Col class of ’27), and I’m thrilled to serve as the paper’s Editor-in-Chief for the 137th term.
I began my journey at The Cavalier Daily when I arrived on Grounds as a first-year student. First, I joined the copy desk. Then, I transitioned into the website manager role before joining the Managing Board as Operations Manager. If you had told first-year Leigh that the Editor-in-Chief occupancy was a possibility after being the website manager, I think I would’ve laughed in disbelief.
As Operations Manager, I chaired a digital strategy committee, spearheaded the development of a CD app and led our social media team through pivotal national moments. This experience taught me that remaining relevant in a digital-first media landscape demands creative and collaborative thinking — a mindset I hope to carry throughout this next role.
Additionally, I have written several articles for news and sports and secured nearly $1,000 in funding with the help of the Finance team to ensure equipment accessibility is never a barrier to joining the paper.
My experience across the content-producing, financial, and operational sides of the paper has shown me something important — these three sections do not merely coexist. Rather, they form a unified trinity to advance The Cavalier Daily. And because each part of this trinity contributes to our mission in a distinctly important way, I’ve developed goals for each that honor their differences while moving us forward together.
First, the content-producing side: My goal is to strengthen mentorship structures to equip staffers with the tools to grow. By revitalizing training and educational materials, I believe the team can cultivate a culture defined by collective purpose — one that teaches and uplifts the remarkable stories and nuanced opinions that contribute to a historical record greater than any one of us.
Second, the finance side: My goal is to amplify the sense of impact staffers feel by fostering in-person collaboration — this may look like coordinating team-based door-to-door advertising or allowing finance staffers to follow-up on their recommendations to the Managing Board. In doing such, we can continue to fuel fundraising efforts integral to the paper’s long-term sustainability.
Third, the operations side: I hope to continue refining desk structures and production cycles so that we remain a digital-forward newspaper. This includes expanding broadcast opportunities, launching a marketing campaign to celebrate the app’s launch, and maintaining consistent, timely social media activity.
All to say, it has been over a decade since an individual from the “operations” side of the paper has inhabited this role, and I’m deeply grateful and honored to do so alongside such a talented Junior and Managing Board.
You can stay in touch with the CD staff by subscribing to their monthly alumni newsletter and following the CDAA’s Instagram page.