"What makes you think a writer isn't a salesman?" —Kurt Vonnegut
Welcome, Amherst Advancement!
These are some of my favorite pieces from my time at Harvard’s flagship and major communications offices. Please click the headlines, scroll the carousels, or look through my portfolio via the menu above.
For decades, literature fans and Harvard alumni have maintained and restored a memorial to Quentin Compson, tragic hero of William Faulkner’s greatest works and fictional alum of the Harvard Class of 1913. This was my magnum opus at the Gazette, spanning several months of interviews and research and connecting generations of alumni—all to honor a mutual friend who didn’t even exist.
President Garber’s 2024 New Year’s Greeting
Following the tumultuous fall of 2023, then-Provost Alan Garber deftly chose to rework his annual newsletter-style holiday card into a New Year’s greeting. Collaborating on a razor-thin deadline with the Office of the Provost (and then President), I rebuilt our original winter missive of shared values into one of new beginnings—a fitting message for a president who needed to quickly turn the page on one of the University’s most difficult chapters.
Rebus Coasters
To foster community with alumni across the globe, Harvard Alumni Affairs & Development throws dozens of events: advancement trainings, awards ceremonies, networking socials, and the world-famous Reunions, to name a few. For the annual President’s Associates Dinner, we decided to chuck the standard Veritas coasters for these rebus puzzles. They were a huge hit, and when the lights came on, the attendees were going table to table to make sure they had the full collection. (Ask me about the ones they didn’t use, i.e., the best ones.)
#HarvardUnwind
Harvard students bear the stigma of everything critics believe about the university: elitist, smug, and deeply uncool. With this Instagram series, I wanted to show that Harvard students are just like anyone else their age. I talked to students around campus about anything—except what they were studying—if only to give them a much-needed break. The response was extraordinary, exceeding our average engagement numbers and generating overwhelmingly positive comments. We even caught the attention of then-President Larry Bacow, who jumped on for a guest post.
EDITORIAL ACCOLADES
“I want to thank you for your excellent copy catches as we were racing to get [the Report of Giving] done. On more than one occasion I said out loud as I was moving through your edits: ‘GREAT CATCH.’”
“I have had my own business for 20 years and have never been as fortunate as to find someone with your talent and attention to detail. Your work has truly made my company better.”
The Harvard Campaign Report
Digital Donor Reports
Harvard Climate Digest (renamed in 2025)
“He meticulously copyedits large amounts of material in an insanely short amount of time with a delightful disposition [and] routinely saves many of us from embarrassing ourselves, our deans, and our beloved Harvard.”
“John brings a unique perspective as a copy editor—offering thoughtful, sometimes challenging, commentary on messaging. I welcome this from John because I think it’s healthy to reconsider conventions. ”