Founders Porch Virtual Event Series

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 7 p.m. ET

Join us for an impactful Founders Porch event hosted by President Wendy Raymond, to hear from accomplished Fords about their sustainability work and the challenges and innovations shaping the future of our planet. Our expert panel includes: Doug Bennett ’02, a Partner at Phalanx Impact Partners; Sonia Aggarwal ’06, CEO of Energy Innovation and a Biden Administration Climate Advisor; and Jason Patlis ’85, President and CEO of the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Our panelists will share their experiences and insights for multiple facets of sustainability–whether you are working in sustainable fields or are passionate about the issues facing our world, this event is a chance for our community to be inspired by the work of fellow Fords.

Watch the event recording

Sonia Aggarwal ’06

Sonia Aggarwal is the Chief Executive Officer of Energy Innovation, where she leads the organization and works closely with partners and policymakers on effective climate and clean energy policies across North America, Asia, and Europe.

Prior to this role, Sonia served as Special Assistant to President Biden for Climate Policy, Innovation, and Deployment, where she helped to develop the Inflation Reduction Act and to set the nation’s climate targets including the commitment to cut economy-wide greenhouse gasses by 50-52 percent below 2005 levels in 2030. Sonia was a founding director of Energy Innovation, building Energy Innovation’s policy research, modeling, and analysis teams over eight years until she was appointed to serve in the Biden administration.

Sonia has a B.S. from Haverford College in Astronomy and Physics, and an M.S. from Stanford University in engineering focused on energy.

Doug Bennett ’02

Doug Bennett is co-founder of Phalanx Impact Partners, an investment fund enabling sustainable infrastructure companies to deliver bigger, faster impact through expertise and financial support. Phalanx invests in established and emerging companies in the fields of renewables, waste-to-value wood products, social impact, and renewable energy.

Doug spent 12 years as a founding partner and SVP of Technology at Brand Integrity, responsible for leading the development and client implementation of the Brand Integrity Platform, an online employee engagement software solution. Through this platform, he helped organizations deliver consistent customer experiences and quantify culture with engagement surveys and social recognition.

Doug holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Haverford College and a Marketing and Finance M.B.A. from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester.

Jason Patlis ’85

Jason Patlis has 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, environmental law, public policy, and finance, working internationally and domestically, in public and private sectors. Prior to becoming President and CEO at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, Jason worked in leadership positions in domestic and international conservation organizations such as the Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Jason has specialized in natural resource governance, advancing laws and policies to sustainably manage natural resources and endangered species for the benefit of local communities and in the face of changing political systems. In the U.S., he has worked on both sides of the Capitol, as Deputy Staff Director for the House Science Committee, and as Majority Counsel on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Jason was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in 2000, and is widely published in law and policy journals. He received his J.D. from Cornell University School of Law and his B.A. from Haverford College.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 7:00-8:00 p.m.

In this episode, President Wendy Raymond Zoomed with Fords, who are fellow college presidents, to discuss the power of liberal arts education, the complexities of academia, and the work of fostering vibrant campus communities. Bates College President Garry Jenkins ’92 and Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton ’86 spoke about the challenges and triumphs of their new roles and shared how their career journeys have been shaped by their connections to Haverford.

Watch the event recording of the College Presidents

Read the event recap and learn more about Garry and Sarah’s higher education career paths.

Monday, October 23, 2023

In this episode, President Wendy Raymond and Associate Program Director for the Haverford Innovations Program (HIP) Shayna Nickel Zoomed with Fords who have worked to be innovative in their efforts to provide inclusive and accessible products and care. Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) Board of Directors Chair Ted Love '81 and Founder and CEO of Andie swimwear Melanie Travis '08 spoke to their industry-specific pioneering efforts and share how Haverford helped influence their respective paths.

Watch the event recording

Read the event recap and learn more about Travis and Love's unexpected career paths.

Wednesday, November 9, 2023

In this episode, President Wendy Raymond and Professor and Chair of Economics Anne Preston Zoomed with alums working in Major League Baseball. Senior Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers Josh Byrnes '92 and Baseball Operations Analyst for the Cincinnati Reds Nick Perez '19 offered insights on the baseball industry—from the physical to the cerebral. Attendees were offered an insider view of the play, management, economics, and statistics of baseball, while also hearing the ways in which Haverford influenced the panelists' paths.

Watch the event recording

Read the event recap and learn more about Haverford's connection to MLB

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

In our inaugural episode, President Wendy Raymond and Associate Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing Asali Solomon (The Days of Afrekete) held a Zoom with alums who are in publishing. Authors Nick Bruel '87 (Bad Kitty) and Hilary Leichter '07 (Temporary) offered writerly insights, while editor Rakia Clark '01 brought an industry perspective. Attendees found out what it means–and takes–to succeed in publishing, challenges in the writing field, the impetus for story creation, the effect editors have on a body of work, and how being a Ford has influenced the panelists' paths.

Watch the event recording 

Also, as Nick said during the event, "The only secret to writing stories is, you have to read as much as possible..." Each individual on the panel agreed. With that in mind, we asked our panelists what works and authors they would recommend, and their answers were:

• Professor Asali Solomon - My favorite Louise Erdrich book [mentioned during the event] is The Roundhouse. My favorite book of all time is Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks. My new novel, The Days of Afrekete, is a mashup of three books: Mrs. Dalloway [Virginia Woolf], Sula [Toni Morrison], and Zami [Audre Lorde].
   
• Hilary Leichter '07 - I find it incredibly daunting to list favorite books and authors, but here’s a list of some books that I’ve recently read and loved, or am currently reading and finding thrilling right now…1. Her First American [Lore Segal], 2. The Revenge of the Scapegoat [Caren Beilin], 3. Trust [Hernan Diaz], 4. The Women Could Fly [Megan Giddings]
   
• Rakia Clark '01 - Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome, The Light of the World by Elizabeth Alexander, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
   
• Nick Bruel '87 - 
  • Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. I used to carry this book around with me whenever I traveled if only to remind me of what good writing looked like. Also, many of these stories feature characters in the age group that I target. In many ways, Salinger was writing middle grade fiction long before that genre came into vogue.
  • The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I recognize the controversial nature of recommending this book. In certain circles, even among librarians, because of perception that this book endorses a selfish behavior that's rewarded, if I publicly endorse this book my body may never be found. But I sincerely believe that this book's message of unconditional giving is an important one. There are few books that can evoke as varied a personal response as this one.
  • The Completely MAD Don Martin by Don Martin. I don't think any single cartoonist has influenced the type of humor I try to integrate into my books more than Don Martin. I don't even come close to the absurdity he manufactured on a regular basis inside Mad Magazine, but I do try to capture his pacing and energy.
  • The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty. Aspiring writers who need to learn how to find a distinctive voice need look no further than Eudora Welty. She came to Haverford my senior year, and I was fortunate enough to be able to sit in her presence. She was so soft spoken that even though she was micced and I was sitting in the front row of a relatively small gathering, I could barely hear her. But the experience was memorable nonetheless.

If you are interested in purchasing these books, and the books written by the authors on this panel, we encourage you to visit your local, independent bookstore or at Bookshop.org. In the Philadelphia area we have rich representation of indie sellers at Uncle Bobbie's Coffee and Books in Germantown, Harriett's Bookshop in Fishtown, A Novel Idea on Passyunk in South Philadelphia, The Spiral Bookcase in Manayunk, and many more. You can find your closest independent bookstore through Indie Bound. Happy reading!