Jon has spent a rich and varied career centered around international development, emergency relief, peace work, community-building, and more recently, farm management. After earning a B.A. in history from Haverford in 1977, and an M.A. in international relations from Johns Hopkins University, employment with Africare sent Jon to Burkina Faso. His subsequent work with Catholic Relief Services included posts in Jerusalem/West Bank/Gaza and in Indonesia. Jon has also enjoyed short-term U.S.-based and international assignments with the American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, U.S. Department of State, and World Bank. Jon’s affiliation with the Haverford Corporation began in the late 70s, with a few breaks during his years overseas. From 2008-2018, he served as president/clerk of the Corporation. While serving on the Board of Managers and the Corporation, Jon was a member of the Lives That Speak steering and planning committees, played a leadership role in establishing the Douglas and Dorothy Steere Professorship in Quaker Studies, and co-chaired the 14th Presidential Search Committee. In addition to having served on more working groups and committees at Haverford than one can really imagine–though Jon has a list, in case you are interested–Jon is fairly certain that during his tenure on the Haverford Board from 2007-2020, he never missed a board meeting. Even if that is not accurate, his wife, Melissa, is sure that it is. Jonathan and Melissa reside in Gradyville, PA. They have three children, including Jeremy ‘18.
Photo: Melissa Graf-Evans