Alumni Association Awards
Nominations are being accepted for the 2021 Award cycle when the Classes of 1946-2016 will be celebrating Reunions.
Nominees do not necessarily have to be in a Reunion class; however, it is particularly meaningful to receive an award while celebrating with classmates. All nominations must be submitted by Monday, August 10, 2020, for consideration in the 2021 cycle.
2020 Award Committee
- Bruce Andrews '90
- Bev Babers '84 (Chair)
- Mitchell Cohn '80
- Will Gould '91
- Jake Ogata Bernstein '19
- Matt Strickler '62
- Natalie Wossene '08
Current Honorees
In recognition of their service to the College, society, and their professions, the eleven individuals noted below have been honored with 2020 Alumni Association awards.
Chris Norton ’80 P’08 P’11
The Kannerstein Award
Chris Norton is president of the Washington Center, an organization that provides residential internships in public policy and public service to college aged students, for academic credit. He is a retired managing partner of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. after nearly 20 years with the company, and he served as chairman of the board of Loomis Chaffee School. Chris earned a B.A. in history from Haverford in 1980. As an alum, his long and distinguished service to the College spans decades. Among other significant contributions, Chris served on the Board of Managers for over a decade, including an executive role as vice chair, as well as chair of the Development and Long Range Planning Committees. He was also an effective and longstanding fundraising volunteer in the Educating to Lead, Educating to Serve campaign and a co-chair of the Lives That Speak campaign for Haverford. A generous advocate of the College, Chris contributes to several endowed funds, including his own newly endowed Norton Family Professorship in Music. Chris is married to Carter Norton and the couple have five children, including Kate Norton Magovern ’08 and Kiley Norton ’11. Chris also shares his family connection to Haverford with his father, Nicholas Norton ’52, brother, Andrew ’84 and uncle, D. Norton Williams ’39. Chris and Carter reside in New Canaan, CT.
Peter Ewell ’70
The Haverford Award
Peter Ewell is president emeritus of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). His work focuses on assessing institutional effectiveness and student learning and involves both research and direct consulting with institutions and state systems on collecting and using assessment information in planning, evaluation, and budgeting. He has directed many projects on this topic and has consulted with over 425 colleges and universities and 27 state systems of higher education on topics including assessment, program review, accreditation, and student retention. He is an internationally recognized consultant who has authored or co-authored eight books and numerous articles on the topic of improving undergraduate instruction through curriculum and instructional reform, and the assessment of student learning. In 1998, he led the design team for the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which has since been administered to more than six million students at more than 1650 colleges and universities. In addition, he has prepared commissioned papers for many education agencies and has been involved in program evaluation, organizational development, and strategic planning for a variety of non-profit and arts organizations. Peter graduated from Haverford in 1970 with a B.A. in political science. As an undergraduate he was a member of the Sailing Team and the Glee Club. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in 1976 and to teach at the University of Chicago. Peter is married to Jennifer Mauldin and the couple resides in Boulder, CO.
Thomas Spray ’70
The Distinguished Achievement Award
Thomas Spray was chief of cardiothoracic surgery and holder of the Mortimer J. Buckley Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine or the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas received his medical degree and training in general and cardiothoracic surgery at Duke University, and specialty training in cardiac pathology at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health before joining the faculty of Washington University in St. Louis, going on to become the chief of pediatric cardiac surgery there. He was recruited to Philadelphia in 1994. Thomas has contributed over 300 peer-reviewed papers top the literature in congenital and adult cardiac surgery, and is an editor of 6 major textbooks. He has held numerous leadership positions in national and international professional associations, including the presidency of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery in 2009. He was the 2009 awardee of the American Heart Association’s William W. L. Glenn Lectureship and received the prestigious Plus Ratio Quam Vis medal from Poland’s Jagiellonian University in 2017. Under Thomas’ direction, neonates, infants, and children with a wide variety of complex cardiac and pulmonary abnormalities can be fully evaluated and treated by a specialized multidisciplinary team at CHOP. While at Haverford, Thomas majored in biology and received his B.A. in 1970. He was a member of the Corporation from 1973 to 2001. Thomas retired in 2018 and now resides in Flat Rock, NC.
Shreyas Shibulal ’15
The Young Alumni Award
Shreyas Shibulal is the founder of Micelio, a platform to foster the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in India. The platform includes the Micelio Fund, a resource that will make seed stage investments in startups in the EV space. The platform also includes a product development facility, Micelio Discovery Studio, to support these startups. Shreyas was a computer science major at Haverford, graduating in 2015. He went on to graduate from Haverford's 4+1 engineering program, receiving his Masters in Embedded Systems Engineering in 2016 from the University of Pennsylvania. Shreyas has always had a passion for automobiles. While an undergraduate, Shreyas spent his summers building his own car and interning at Tesla. When he moved back to India, Shreyas wanted to combine his passion for automobiles, his experience in technology and his calling to start a business venture with a social conscience. Catalyzing the EV ecosystem through Micelio was a natural fit. Shreyas' vision, commitment, and initiative in sustainable mobility all point to the values of the Haverford community, and their impact. Shreyas’ father, SD Shibulal, is a co-founder of Infosys and a current member of the Haverford Board of Managers. Shreyas’ sister, Shruti Shibulal, is a member of Haverford’s Class of 2006. Shreyas is married to Bhairavi Madhusudhan Shibulal and the couple resides in Bangalore, India.
Carmen Crow Sheehan ’00
The Forman Award
Carmen Crow Sheehan has worked for the Peace Corps since 2012, in Washington DC, the republic of Georgia, and most recently Albania where she is currently based as regional safety and security officer. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador from 2000-03. Carmen has spent her time post-graduation dedicated to humanitarian aid and development largely in the international sphere, having also worked for the American Refugee Committee in Darfur, the International Medical Corps in northern Uganda and Mozambique, and Jhpiego in support of health programming in 30+ countries. Carmen received a B.S. in biology from Haverford in 2000, and as an undergraduate played on the women’s basketball team. She also studied abroad in Australia during her junior year. Carmen went on to receive an M.S.W. from Tulane University in 2004, and an M.P.H. for International Health and Development from Tulane in 2005. Carmen is joined in Tirana by her husband Colin and their two daughters.
David Wessel ’75
The Kaye Award
David Wessel is director of the Brookings Institution's Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, the mission of which is to improve the quality and efficacy of fiscal and monetary policies and public understanding of them. He joined Brookings in 2013 after 30 years on the staff of The Wall Street Journal where, most recently, he was economics editor and wrote the weekly “Capital” column. He is a contributing correspondent to The Wall Street Journal and appears frequently on NPR's Morning Edition. He is the author of two New York Times bestsellers – In Fed We Trust: Ben Bernanke’s War on the Great Panic and Red Ink: Inside the High-Stakes Politics of the Federal Budget. David majored in economics at Haverford and was an editor of the Bi-College News. David is a former Reunion volunteer and campaign fundraising committee member. Currently, he works as a committed advocate for the Center for Career and Professional Advising. He regularly shares job postings with the office and is a former extern sponsor. In addition, he is a co-founder and funder of the Public Policy Forum, hosted each year for the past six years. David is married to Naomi Karp. The couple have two children and the family resides in Washington, D.C.
Christopher Dunne ’70 P’98
The Perry Award
Christopher Dunne graduated from Haverford in 1970, with a B.A. in political science. As an undergraduate, he was a member of the Founders Club, served on the Haverford News, and was class president for three years. He was elected permanent class president at his 25th Reunion. After Haverford, Chris earned a J.D. from Georgetown Law, an S.M. in Physiology from Harvard in 1981, and an M.P.A. from Harvard in 1982. Chris has been a dedicated College advocate since his graduation. He is currently chairing his 50th Reunion Committee and is a giving advocate. He previously served as a member of the Board of Managers, president of the Alumni Association Executive Committee, a campaign fundraising committee member, an admission volunteer, and chair of the Haverford Fund. Chris received the Kannerstein Award in 2000. He is a member of the Haverford Monthly Meeting and the Corporation of Haverford College. Chris practiced law for 38 years and had a second career in development as principal gift officer at Ursinus College and as senior associate director of Institutional Partnerships at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dedicated to his community, Chris currently is vice chair at Independence Public Media of Philadelphia and served as a volunteer attorney and board member of the Support Center for Child Advocates, receiving their Distinguished Advocate Award in 2011. Chris is married to Genny Dunne and the couple have three daughters and five grandchildren. Their daughter, Jessica Dunne Reshefsky, is a member of the Class of 1998. The couple resides in Haverford, PA.
Polly Ross Ribatt ’90
The Sheppard Award
Polly Ross Ribatt s an independent educational consultant who also works part time as the CFO of local start up soccer club. In addition, she is a corporation member of Beacon Academy, a 14-month school between 8th and 9th grades designed to prepare motivated and promising urban students for success in competitive independent high schools and beyond. Polly earned a B.A. in history from Haverford in 1990 with a concentration in Growth & Structure of Cities at Bryn Mawr, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1994. While at Haverford, she was a member of the tennis and squash teams, and was captain of both teams during her senior year. Since her graduation, Polly has been a passionate advocate for the College’s mission and has consistently contributed her time to alumni and Haverford community engagement in a number of ways. She is a current admission volunteer, a former member of the Alumni Association Executive Committee where she was an especially active liaison to Career Services, and she served as the Boston regional chair during the Lives That Speak campaign. Additionally, in her many volunteer roles, she has hosted a variety of Boston area events for all alumni, parents, and friends over the years. Polly is married to Gregg Ribatt and the couple have three biological children and provide a permanent home to another child they first met through Polly’s work at Beacon Academy. The family resides in Brookline, MA, just outside Boston.
Eric Sedlak ’80
The MacIntosh Award
Eric Sedlak is a partner at K&L Gates LLP in Tokyo. He has practiced law in Chicago, San Francisco, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, and Tokyo. He has advised on matters in over 40 countries, on every continent except Antarctica. As of 2019 he is a vice president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, and chairs its external affairs advisory council. He also served on the boards of the American Chambers of Commerce in Vietnam and Singapore. Eric earned a B.A. with honors in economics from Haverford in 1980, and a J.D. from New York University in 1984. While at Haverford, he was a member of the cross country team. Eric has been involved as a volunteer in many ways since his graduation. He formerly participated as a member of the International Council, a Reunion volunteer, and a class volunteer. He is currently a member of the Corporation of Haverford College and an admission volunteer. In his role as an admission volunteer, Eric has made it possible for prospective students in Japan to meet, in person, with an alum — a previously unavailable option in the region. Additionally, during the most recent admission cycle, Eric completed more interviews than any other volunteer. He also helps staff college fairs in Japan. Eric is married to Junko Hoshizawa and the couple have twin daughters. The family resides in Tokyo, Japan.
Gabi Koeppel ’90
The MacIntosh Award
Gabi Koeppel is an independent consultant in real estate law. Previously, she was assistant general counsel for the Rouse Company. Gabi earned a B.A. in English from Haverford in 1990, and a J.D. from the University of Maryland in 1993. While at Haverford, she was a member of the field hockey team. Gabi serves as a giving advocate and is a former member of the Annual Fund Executive Committee and Reunion gift chair. Gabi has also been a dedicated admission volunteer for a number of years. She has worked diligently to go above and beyond in completing in-person interviews and video interviews for both domestic and international perspective students. She also serves as a willing resource for other volunteers and as a regular host for admitted student receptions. Gabi is married to Aaron Velli and the couple have two children. The family resides in Chevy Chase, MD.
Tom Donnelly P’09
The Friend of Haverford College Award
Tom Donnelly is the head coach of Haverford’s men’s track and cross country programs. A 2014 inductee into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame, Tom enters his 45th year with Haverford in the 2019-20 seasons. Tom has taken Haverford to 76 Middle Atlantic and Centennial Conference championships, including 64 titles since the 1993 season. His runners have earned 172 cross country and track & field All-American awards since 1980, including 29 individual NCAA championships and an NCAA championship relay team. Tom’s career reached a coaching pinnacle when Haverford won the 2010 NCAA Division III Championship, the first team in College history. On top of his coaching abilities, Tom fosters a culture of excellence and leads by example. He represents everything that Haverford strives for and cares just as much about shaping better students/people as he does about creating better runners. Prior to Haverford, Tom was an All-American in cross country and track at Villanova University. Tom has two sons, Patrick and Edward Donnelly. Patrick graduated from Haverford in 2009.