Our Donors: Vaughn Waters

Vaughn Waters

Cambridge, Massachusetts
Supporter since 2020

As Chief of Administrative Operations for Harvard University’s extensive library system, Vaughn Waters has a deep understanding of the business model behind all aspects of a library—not just its books and technology, but also its people, culture, and spaces. He brings this administrative expertise to his work as Vice Chair of the NBSS Board of Directors. 

In addition to offering professional mentorship at Harvard, where he has worked for 20 years, Vaughn also partnered with the nonprofit Year Up United to provide internships and mentoring to advance the careers of students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. He and his husband also support Camp Lightbulb, which offers LGBTQ+ youth a summer camp where they can be themselves. In his spare time, Vaughn enjoys traveling with his husband and studying residential design, as well as all things automotive and aviation (his home office is filled with model planes). If he could try any program at NBSS, it would be Bookbinding … Harvard’s preservation lab has him intrigued.

Why do you support NBSS, and what keeps you involved?

It’s a combination of the community and mission—the passing on of the art of craftsmanship. When you meet the faculty or students, the passion is there. This community, from every angle, supports the mission.

Can you share a story or moment at NBSS that particularly inspired or moved you?

My in-laws live in Hawaii, and we often stay at a bed and breakfast on the Big Island. One of the owners knew we were from the Boston area and told us they had a young man working on the property who wanted to attend a Boston school for Piano Technology … NBSS. The fact that this young man knew about NBSS and was making the effort to travel halfway around the world to attend tells you a lot about the School. And he did, and was very successful. My husband and I saw him again at an NBSS Open House, and he took us into the piano tuning studio, showing us everything he had learned. Now that he’s graduated, he has gone back to the Big Island and runs his own business. I think about this story often because it tells you so much about this School.

How would you describe NBSS in a few words or phrases?

Expertise. Community. Care—there’s a lot of care. I see it in the administration’s care for the faculty and students, and in the care the faculty and administration have for the students. You see it everywhere you turn.

Complete this sentence: My favorite thing about NBSS is ____.

The community. My entire career has been in higher education. I’ve been at Harvard for 20 years, and before that, I worked at the Princeton Review, Baltimore City Community College, the University of Maryland, and Towson University. I have experienced a lot of settings, and the NBSS community is just different. You feel a part of it. Even when I joined the board, other board members and staff reached out to talk to me and welcome me—they wanted to learn where my passions lie. Community is woven into this organization.

What would we lose if NBSS didn’t exist?

Without NBSS, we would lose not only an appreciation for the handcraftsmanship of materials, but also one of the biggest champions of the fact that the crafts and trades can be a career—you can make money and a living doing this. I appreciate that NBSS is keeping that alive.

Has NBSS influenced your work, career, or personal projects? If so, how?

Being at NBSS has inspired me in my own leadership to foster this type of community. Regardless of your role at NBSS, there’s this intrinsic connection to the mission. I’m motivated to create even more opportunities for personal interactions in my own workplace.

What motivates or inspires you in your philanthropic work?

My husband and I are drawn to support organizations that want to make the world a better place and that put their money where their mouth is. I love that at NBSS, everyone puts forth the effort so students can have such a unique educational experience. And with NBSS, you’re not just donating—you get to be a part of the School, whether it’s attending an Open House or going to an exhibition, you continually have an opportunity to be involved in this community.

What advice would you give someone considering supporting NBSS?

It’s an educational community like no other, and you get to choose your level of involvement—that’s what’s very unique. It’s not just going to sit at a board meeting once a quarter. You can attend events at the School, or even work with graduates if you have a business related to these crafts and trades. You can really get your hands dirty if you want to.

This story is from our FY 2025 issue of Annual Report. Read more stories from the issue or view past issues.