Nell Porter Brown is assistant editor of Harvard Magazine. She is a graduate of Connecticut College and recently earned a master’s degree in creative writing and literature from the Harvard Extension School. Before joining the magazine staff in 2000, she was a newspaper reporter and covered politics, business, and criminal justice. She has also worked for land conservation organizations, on documentary films, and as an editor for a pharmaceutical research marketing firm. At the magazine, she writes and edits alumni profiles, along with a section on New England arts and culture, history, food, and day trips. She seeks out diverse, novel stories and out-of-the-way places that highlight the region’s beauty and uniqueness. Throughout her career Nell has developed strong collaborative and trusting relationships with both story sources and colleagues, building a wealth of knowledge and the ability to convey human truths through storytelling.
As a magazine writer with a background in reporting for daily newspapers, Nell carefully researches every story, speaks with numerous sources, and takes multiple steps during final editing to fact-check every facet of the story. She is forthright with all interview subjects, explaining the purpose and scope of the story, and she instills a high level of trust throughout the process.
Profiles of Maryann Thompson, who practices sustainable architecture; Sarah Beatty, who founded a green building-supplies company; and David Hamilton, who works to preserve farmland
