William Harris
William Harris is a Strategic Campaigns Specialist on ֭’s Campus Rights Advocacy team, where he designs and executes public affairs campaigns — including digital and grassroots initiatives — to defend student free expression rights nationwide and drive FIREcase victories. As part of his work to identify, cultivate, and activate free speech advocates, William oversees ֭’s “” program, helping students develop civil discourse skills and become effective advocates for free speech on campus.
He earned his B.A. in history from Haverford College, with minors in Spanish and the history of art. His senior thesis, “Dare to Look: Manuel Godoy’s Secret Cabinet and Enlightenment in Eighteenth-Century Spain,” explored the Inquisition’s censorship of art and literature and received the History Department Senior Thesis Prize. In May 2024, he delivered a TEDx Talk on art censorship based on his research.
Before joining FIREfull-time, William interned with the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Arts and Culture Advocacy Program, contributed to the Don’t Delete Art campaign, and previously served as a FIRESummer Intern and Campus Scholar.
A former varsity cross country and track athlete at Haverford, William enjoys staying active outdoors when he’s not advancing free expression or honing his creative writing.
Recent Writings
- How America’s top tribal arts college silenced a student — and made him homeless,
- Will free expression make a comeback at Haverford College?,
- Orchestrated silence: How one of America’s most elite music schools expelled a student for reporting harassment,
- New tools for tough conversations,
- Stranger than fiction: The Young Warrior saga at the Institute of American Indian Arts,
- Mercury in retrograde: How UT Dallas tried to roll back student press rights,
- Norwich University student journalists stand up for a free, independent press ,
- How to survive Thanksgiving,
- Trailblazing Dartmouth students bring dialogue across difference to campus,
- Let your free speech-failing alma mater know: ‘I put my money where my mouth is.’,
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