Program Advisory Committees

Four of our programs are supported by a Program Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC provides knowledge, expertise, experience, and insight to inform the judgment of Program staff.

Philadelphia
Mark Henninger

PAC members help to ensure that WPF staff are focused on the major opportunities and challenges related to advancing our program goals. 

The members help to identify ways in which our programs can be adjusted and strengthened to increase impact and manifest the grantmaking values defined by the Foundation's Board of Directors.

PACs serve in an advisory capacity. They do not view or discuss grant proposals that are under consideration by the William Penn Foundation. No PAC members nor their organizations are active WPF grantees or competitive for WPF funding.

The committees are comprised of up to 12 individuals from the non-profit, for-profit, and public sectors who, together, bring a mix of local and national perspectives on, and research and practitioner experience with, the goals being advanced by the Foundation's programs.

Arts and Culture PAC

Bao Long Chu

Program Director of Arts, Culture and Green Spaces
Houston Endowment

Anne Ishii

Program Director
United States Artists

Susan Nelson

Executive Vice President
TDC

Katie Samson

Speaker & Facilitator in Accessibility and Inclusion

Jason Schupbach

President
Fashion Institute of Technology

Stanford Thompson

Executive Director, Equity Arc

Principal, Goldsmith Strategies

San San Wong

Special Advisor, Arts & Creativity
Barr Foundation

Children and Families PAC

Contrell Armor

Director
PA Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network

Daniel Atkins

Executive Director
Community Legal Aid Society

Marica Cox-Mitchell

Chief Program Officer
Bainum Family Foundation

Gina Evans

Senior Program Officer for Education
McElhattan Foundation

Marsha Gerdes

Early Childhood Psychologist

Renée Nogales

Director of Programs
The Burke Foundation

Vincent Reina

Founder and Faculty Director
Housing Initiative at Penn

Andy Smith

Senior Director of Policy and External Affairs
Chiefs for Change

Democracy and Civic Initiatives PAC

Matt Barron

Program Director
Heinz Endowments

Diana Cortes

Partner
Morgan Lewis

Meghna Goswami

Program Director
Houston Endowments

Jennifer Pedroni

Managing Director
BDO USA

Stephanie Reid

Executive Deputy Secretary
Pennsylvania Department of State

Ray Smeriglio

Lift Zone Senior Manager
Comcast

Patricia (Pat) Smith

Environment and Public Space PAC

Jeanne Barret Ortiz

Regional Advisor
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Saleem Chapman

Director, Justice & Equity
Climateworks Foundation

Ruth Goldman

Executive Director
Merck Family Fund

Peter Howell

Executive Director
Conservation Finance Network

Joe Minott

Executive Director and Chief Counsel (retired)
Clean Air Council

Kacey Wetzel

Vice President of Programs, Outreach and Education
Chesapeake Bay Trust