October 21, 2004

Profile: Franklin Habit

Webmaster, Alumni Relations

Harvard grad has had many careers before webmaster, including dramatic coach for opera singers.

photo by Franklin Habit

What does a webmaster do? I oversee the content creation, design and architecture of the Northwestern Alumni Association site at http://alumni.northwestern.edu.

What will alumni find there? Our original goal was just to let people know the alumni association exists and that it has a lot to offer. But we just re-launched a new site last month and it’s very interactive. Users can actually contribute content. I especially recommend a section called the Alumni Gallery with a family photo album, a digest for news updates and the bookshelf where we publish listings and links to faculty and alumni-produced books and CDs. The initial response to the new site has been tremendous.

How long have you been working on the Web? Since the dark ages, about 1994, when I was working at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. I was the new guy in public relations and was given the task of building the Web site. I didn’t even know what a Web site was, but it sounded interesting. And it remains interesting to this day because the field is constantly changing. It fascinates me to watch Web design sort itself out. At first there were no rules. But a standard form is beginning to emerge. It’s like watching the evolution of printed material from a scroll to a bound book.

What did you do before working on the Web? I was a writer, an illustrator and a publicist. But I like this job because I can draw on all of those things. And working on the underlying architecture of a site is not very glamorous, but it tickles the geeky side of my brain. At one point, I also worked in the theatre.

What kinds of experience have you had in the theatre? Throughout high school and college, I was involved in the theatre. As a sophomore at Harvard, I took a job as props manager for an opera. I was completely blown away by the art form. I wanted to be involved in any way I could. Though I can’t sing or play an instrument, I’ve done a lot of acting. So I worked for a long time as a dramatic coach for opera singers. As a dramatic coach, I helped them prepare the acting side of a role, coaching their stage demeanor and helping them convey emotion. Once, while on a sabbatical from the Conservatory, I worked on a large production of Faust. I was the assistant stage director with command of half the cast. It was a great opportunity to indulge myself and also learn that I didn’t want to do that full-time.

Do you have any hobbies? I’m a self-taught photographer, an ardent street shooter. I love to go out and just shoot whatever is happening at a given moment. I came back from a recent alumni trip with more than 1,000 photos.

How do you make a typical alumni event look interesting? I use a long lens and try to catch people in candid situations. One advantage I have is that people have become accustomed to seeing me at events. They relax in my presence. And the more comfortable subjects become with you, the less they notice you and the more natural the photos look.

— Stephen Anzaldi