Engaging Alumni

Ben Talks: Immigration and Global Inequality


Penn alumni, friends, and parents gathered in New York City for the Penn Arts and Sciences Ben Talks program, generously hosted by Penn Arts and Sciences Overseer and Penn Trustee Dhan Pai, W’83, and his wife Heena Pai, PAR’12, PAR’15. This year’s program featured three esteemed faculty members, each giving 10 minute talks exploring the facts behind immigration today, how we got to where we are now, and what may lie ahead. The program was moderated by Andrea Mitchell, CW’67, NBC’s Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and Chair of the Penn Arts and Sciences Board of Overseers. Alumni had an opportunity to network before and after.

(L – R) Andrea Mitchell, CW’67, Chair of the Penn Arts and Sciences Board of Overseers; Susan Shankman Banker, C’76 and Jennifer Bernstein, C’93, PAR’20; Mariama Perry, C’11 and Colin Thune, C’06
(L – R) Andrea Mitchell, CW’67, Chair of the Penn Arts and Sciences Board of Overseers; Susan Shankman Banker, C’76 and Jennifer Bernstein, C’93, PAR’20; Mariama Perry, C’11 and Colin Thune, C’06.

Penn Arts and Sciences Professional Women’s Alliance: Making Behavior Change Stick

Angela Duckworth, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology, discussed her newest initiative, “Behavior Change for Good,” at HBO Headquarters in New York City. The project is a collaboration between Duckworth and Katherine Milkman, Associate Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions at the Wharton School, that seeks to find a solution to enduring behavior change. 

The Professional Women’s Alliance (PWA) connects professionally accomplished College alumnae, united by their deep appreciation and understanding of the value of a liberal arts education as it relates to the workplace, with students and young alumnae of the College. PWA hosts programs in New York City and on campus to facilitate networking, mentorship, career exploration, professional development, and intellectual engagement.

web.sas.upenn.edu/pwa/

(L) Angela Duckworth, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor; (R) Jamie Handwerker, C’83, PAR’19, PWA Chair; Elaine Brichta Marks, C’91, PAR’20; and Elizabeth Raun Schlesinger, C’99.
(L) Angela Duckworth, Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor; (R) Jamie Handwerker, C’83, PAR’19, PWA Chair; Elaine Brichta Marks, C’91, PAR’20; and Elizabeth Raun Schlesinger, C’99

Mentoring Meal with Toan Huynh, C’97

The College Alumni Mentoring Series (CAMS) hosts a variety of programs throughout the year, including small mentoring meals and large themed roundtable dinners to give students an opportunity to learn from College alumni and understand how their current academic paths coincide with career aspirations.


Toan Huynh, C’97, Managing Director – Fintech Innovation Lab, Cloud-First Financial Services, Liquid Studios at Accenture, met with students to discuss the importance of taking initiative when making career decisions. Toan held various consulting roles before founding Cloud Sherpas, which was acquired by Accenture. Toan encouraged students to seek experiences that push them out of their comfort zones, to propose big ideas, and to think creatively, saying, “You’re the driver of your own career.” 

www.college.upenn.edu/cams

Toan Huynh, C’97, Managing Director – Fintech Innovation Lab, Cloud-First Financial Services, Liquid Studios at Accenture, with undergraduates in Houston Hall
Toan Huynh, C’97, Managing Director – Fintech Innovation Lab, Cloud-First Financial Services, Liquid Studios at Accenture, with undergraduates.

Roundtable Dinner: International Careers

In an increasingly global society with a technology-enabled workforce, many students will pursue roles that require collaborating with colleagues and clients in many time zones, understanding different cultures, and traveling internationally. College alumni across a diverse range of fields led roundtable discussions with students, sharing a glimpse into their careers and helping students understand how a liberal arts education can be applied to international careers. 

Clockwise from L: Charles Neivert, C’80, Managing Director, Cowen Group; Julie Solomon, C’99, Partner, Head of Product Management and Investor Relations, Real Estate at Ares Management; Matthew Asada, C’02, W’02, EXPO Program Officer, U.S. Dept. of State.
Clockwise from L: Charles Neivert, C’80, Managing Director, Cowen Group; Julie Solomon, C’99, Partner, Head of Product Management and Investor Relations, Real Estate at Ares Management; Matthew Asada, C’02, W’02, EXPO Program Officer, U.S. Dept. of State.