Honoring President Jimmy Carter

A storytelling initiative created to anticipate and honor President Carter’s legacy

Role: Project Lead & Strategic Producer
Timeline: Fall 2023 – January 2025
Core Skills: Strategic foresight, cross-functional leadership, rapid response content planning, stakeholder alignment, multimedia production, executive engagement

The Opportunity

In February 2023, when it was announced that President Jimmy Carter had entered hospice care, I asked a simple but urgent question: Do we have a plan in place to honor him? As the most high-profile individual associated with Emory, President Carter’s passing would draw global attention. We needed a thoughtful, timely response, and at the time, there was none. So I created one.

The Approach

With an unknown timeline and sensitive circumstances, we had to move fast—and with care. I developed the strategy, identified key individuals to interview, and coordinated a cross-functional team that included our project managers, multimedia producers, content writers, fundraisers, and senior leadership.

Drawing on lessons from a similar project I’d led at Georgetown University (Clinton25), I focused on capturing meaningful, evergreen content that would be ready when the moment came—but respectful in tone and tenor while President Carter was still with us.

Our interviews spanned Carter-era White House officials, Emory leaders, and alumni whose lives were shaped by their encounters with him. I led logistics, interview planning, and production coordination, while ensuring all teams stayed aligned, especially in a moment where emotions ran high and creative priorities diverged.

In addition to our video and storytelling content, I organized an called The Future of Politics at the Hay-Adams hotel in Washington, D.C., overlooking the White House. The event featured two TED-style talks, including one by Joe Crespino, the Jimmy Carter Professor of History at Emory, focused on what we can learn from the Carter era to shape the future of politics. It was an example of how I use live experiences to drive content creation and connect institutional legacy to current relevance.

The Outcome

The resulting content gave Emory a dignified, prepared presence when President Carter passed. Rather than scramble, we were able to share stories, tributes, and a beautifully produced alumni video that celebrated his enduring legacy on campus and beyond.

While I’m proud of the strategy and the collaborative process, the final creative execution didn’t fully reflect the original vision, largely due to shifting priorities among internal partners. I share that candidly not to dwell on on the outcome, but to reflect something else: my ability to adapt when needed, to step back when asked, and to honor team dynamics even when the result falls short of my own standards and original vision.

The Most Meaningful Part

Without question, the highlight of the project was the people. I’ll never forget the hours I spent listening to former White House Communications Director Gerald Rafshoon, Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, and President Emeritus of Emory University Jim Laney reflect on their time and work with President Carter. To help honor his life, and amplify a legacy I deeply admire, was one of the great privileges of my career.

Key Takeaways

This project was a reminder that great storytelling, and great leadership, often start before anyone asks. It reinforced the value of proactive planning, emotional intelligence, and the ability to bring many voices into alignment.

Don’t wait to be asked. Anticipating future needs creates space for thoughtful, mission-aligned work when the moment arrives.
Lead with sensitivity. Stakeholder relationships—especially in complex or emotionally charged settings—require both clarity and care.
Bring people with you. Collaborative storytelling depends on trust across roles, organizations, and generations.
Preparation is a creative act. Strategic planning doesn’t just enable responsiveness—it makes room for more meaningful, lasting work.