Experimental College

Instructor Spotlight: Nate Hall, A25

Nate Hall (A25) is a Tufts alumnus, former ExCollege peer teacher, and freelance crossword constructor. His crossword has been published in The New York Times
A smiling young man in a blue plaid blazer, light blue button-down shirt, and khakis sits on a park bench, with a stone footbridge and trees softly blurred behind him

What inspired you to teach this course?

I’ve always been fascinated by wordplay and puzzles. Like many others, I took a deeper dive into solving crosswords during the pandemic in 2020, and I never looked back. As an undergrad at Tufts, I took a stab at making crosswords for The Tufts Daily, and I quickly discovered that my love for puzzles extended to construction as well. I was lucky enough to be accepted into a crossword fellowship with The New York Times in the summer of 2025, where I learned construction techniques from some of the best puzzlers in the world, including my wonderful mentor, Ian Livengood. After publishing my first New York Timespuzzle back in January, I’ve continued learning about crosswords on my own, and I thought the ExCollege would be the perfect venue to share my passion for puzzles with others. As a former ExCollege peer teacher and board member, I’m thrilled to be returning to Tufts in this new capacity.

What skills can we learn from making crosswords?

Crosswords teach us to think creatively about the words we use and the world we live in. Solving crosswords expands your vocabulary, and teaches you a plethora of facts about geography, science, pop culture, and so on. Making crosswords takes this a step further, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of how these words and facts interact with each other. It can also help you develop your sense of humor: the more wordplay, the better!

Crosswords are more than just a game—they’re a microcosm of our society and a reflection of the things that we deem “worth knowing.” For most of the crossword’s history, the arbiters of the phrases and clues included in the puzzles were old white men, which means that a whole lot of culturally significant words and concepts were left out. My students have continued to break down this barrier this semester, bringing their own unique ideas and experiences to the puzzles they create.

Do you have a favorite crossword that you’ve completed and why?

Too many to pick just one! I’d be remiss if I didn’t also highlight the iconic Election Day crossword of 1996, which had two different valid solutions in its central row, depending on who won that night: CLINTON ELECTED and BOB DOLE ELECTED. This is the kind of mind-boggling feat of construction that really stands the test of time.

My favorite in recent memory is Zhou Zhang and Mallory Montgomery’s GRADE INFLATION puzzle, which was published by The New York Times on January 8, 2026. Zhou and Mallory are two of the best new constructors out there. We discussed this puzzle during our first class – I won’t spoil the gimmick, but it involves some expert-level wordplay that comes together seamlessly. I’m constantly inspired by the new ideas today’s constructors are bringing to the table.