The Big Room Blog

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to artist and ecological researcher Troy Gibbs-Brown '18. Currently earning his master of science degree at Aarhus University, Gibbs-Brown investigates the human relationships to the environment in the face of global climate change. Currently, he is pursuing his research aspirations in marine and Arctic systems, investigating their interactions with remote ecosystems.

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to Jack Goldenberg '05 of Urban Roots Farm in Newtown Square, PA. After graduating from Kenyon College in Ohio, Goldenberg began working in Philadelphia restaurants as a chef. His growing passion for food led him to gardening, eventually leaving his job to farm full time. 

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to Lieutenant Jason Tabas '13. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University Of Pennsylvania in 2017, Tabas completed Officer Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island. He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy in 2020. LT Tabas’s sea duty assignments include USS KIDD (DDG 100) as the Electronic Warfare Officer, USS RUSSELL (DDG 59) as the Fire Control Officer, and USS COWPENS (CG 63) as the Combat Systems Officer. He has deployed to the western Pacific area of operation. LT Tabas’s decorations include the Navy and Marine Corp Commendation medal, Navy and Marine Corp Achievement medal (2 Awards), and various campaign awards.

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to key man Dr. Henry Maguire '75. Maguire attended Princeton University, balancing his pre-med studies with his degree in history, which enhanced his college experience. He received his medical degree from The University of Chicago. He completed residencies at Yale University and Boston Children's Hospital, and then a fellowship in neuromuscular disease at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in neurology with special qualification in child neurology. He practices under Geisinger Health System in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

We are excited to announce this year’s alumni award recipients: Jeff Swarr '73 for the Alumni Service Award and Rich Phillips '88 for the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to Ian Swain '06, Vice President of Enterprise Technology for The 1916 Company, Founder and Consultant for OSW Digital, and member of the advisory board for Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (HERD). Swain studied hospitality, hotel management, and travel and tourism at Johnson & Wales University before joining Swain Destinations, where he eventually served as the Vice President. Over time, he has expanded his expertise in product and technology transformation, fueling a deep enthusiasm for innovation. He counts wildlife conservation among his passions.

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to James McConnon '16, Analyst / CRM Strategist at Octagon, a global agency in sports, entertainment, and culture. McConnon assists Octagon's partners in areas including sponsorship analytics, event planning and recapping, as well as onsite event operations. He graduated from Saint Joseph's University in 2020 and was a catcher for the Hawks while studying Business Intelligence and Finance. He then earned his Masters in Sports Administration with a concentration in Sports Analytics from Northwestern University, where he also served as a graduate assistant for the 'Cats baseball program. He currently resides in Chicago with his fiancée, Molly.

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to Mohid Khan ’17, Autonomy Engineer—Integration at Motional and Co-Managing Director at Satya Nutrition. Khan is a roboticist with an ambition to commercialize bleeding-edge robotic technologies that ultimately augment the human experience. After successes on The Haverford School's Vex Robotics team, he pursued a formal education in robotics, earning a BS in mechanical engineering (honors distinction) and an MSE in robotics from Johns Hopkins University. His senior capstone in mechanical engineering—a fully autonomous pontoon boat—was awarded "best capstone" by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He also developed a haptic-robot interface with a virtual reality game to rehabilitate hand dexterity in stroke patients. Currently, he is focused on the autonomous driving problem at Motional while leading the non-profit Satya Nutrition's efforts to develop novel treatments to severe acute malnutrition. 

In Fords in Four, we ask a Haverford School alumnus four questions about his time at the School and about his life beyond. This month, we spoke to Luke Zeller, Ed.D. 04, principal of the Joseph H. Brown School in The School District of Philadelphia. Luke married his love, Laurena, and they welcomed their awesome son, Lucas, in Oct. 2022. He earned his Executive Doctorate in Education Leadership from Temple University in 2022 and became the principal of Joseph H. Brown School in the Holmesburg section of NE Philadelphia this school year.