Jasper Johnston

St Cross Graduate Access Award, Community Bursary Award Holder

Joining us from: Victoria, Canada

Master of Public Policy (2020)

Raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, I recently graduated from Harvard College, where I studied negotiation, psychology, and sustainability – with a secondary focus on migration, ethnicity, and human rights. Throughout my studies to date, I have advised corporations, non-profits, and governments through roles with McKinsey & Company and Harvard Undergraduate CBE and have taught negotiation to students and mid-career professionals through the Harvard College International Negotiation Program and the University of Victoria. I am also fortunate to have had my work on intergroup relations published by the United Nations and World Economic Forum.

I was drawn to Oxford by its Master of Public Policy programme, which brings together a uniquely diverse set of people from around the world. I was also drawn by the University’s history and architecture, as well as the opportunity to study overseas. I found St Cross’s international community of graduate students to be appealing and I have loved getting to know fellow St Crossers over the past few months. 

When I am not studying, I enjoy playing the piano, singing, and running. I am also an avid photographer and created a photo project called @100DaysOfOxford. Starting on my first day out of self-isolation in September, spanning 100 days to December 31st, I took and posted a photo to the @100DaysOfOxford Instagram page. I am also currently the co-creator of a national project called Dear Canada, which encourages Canadians to share virtual postcards with messages of hope, hardship, and gratitude during this unique moment in history. 

This scholarship from St Cross has helped to make possible my attending the University and for this I am incredibly grateful. I have absolutely loved my time so far at St Cross and the Blavatnik School of Government and look forward to the coming months. In the years and decades ahead, I want to bring my distinct background to make a positive difference at the intersection of conflict resolution and public policy, with a strong desire to impact environmental governance as we collectively confront the critical threat of climate change.