Photo by Vernon Doucette/ BU Photography

“The wavy, melodic strains of ‘Blue Monk’ fill Eric Jackson’s WGBH studio in Brighton,” wrote Jean Hennelly Keith in the fall 2011 edition of arts&sciences. For the interview, Keith sat in on Jackson’s show, squeezing in interview questions as the CDs played and then listening silently as Jackson, who studied at BU in the 1970s, eased his “familiar mellow baritone” across the airwaves.

Keith says the chance to write about Jackson, to watch him at work and talk about music, was one of her favorite moments—and characteristic of her time at BU. The founding editor of arts&sciences retired in January 2014 after 23 years at the University.

“Jackson lives music, and to meet someone with such real passion for his work was a gift,” says Keith, who helped launch arts&sciences in 1994. “I started at BU in 1990 and have had the opportunity to interview a great number of inspiring people. It’s been a really exciting journey.”

During her BU career, Keith served as a two-time editor of arts&sciences, was a senior writer for Bostonia, and headed a team producing multiple school and college magazines as director of editorial services.

She led arts&sciences to a host of regional and national awards. In the past two years alone, it has scooped up five awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

arts&sciences will miss you, Jean. Enjoy your retirement.