When John was 3 years old, he ran away to the city. Maybe it was the desire to go where he knew he shouldn’t, but the danger and beauty of city life was always what he most desired.

Leaving his adopted home of Sacramento after high school, San Francisco was his first stop, then Los Angeles and finally New York. Even though he grew up a Californian, he never felt more at home than he did in the Big Apple.

John studied film at NYU and has worked as a shooter-director on multiple television shows ranging from Made for MTV to Trauma: Life in the ER for TLC to The First 48 for A&E.

He’s directed two feature documentaries, including Beyond Eyruv, his 2006 award-winning film about a wayward Chasidic man searching for a life outside the ultra-orthodox community. He’s now working on a film with David Hilliard, founding member and chief of staff of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense.

As director of visual communications, John helps shape the UC Davis story with video.

He lives in Sacramento with his wife, Colleen, and son Charlie.

Guilty pleasure

Terrible reality TV

Favorite film

Tootsie

What inspires me?

Your story

Learn more about John on LinkedIn