Alumni: Staying Connected

The Moses Brown School community was deeply honored to welcome back alumnus Chris Savage ’01, co-founder and CEO of the innovative video marketing platform Wistia, as the commencement speaker for the Class of 2025. Recognized for his innovative approach to business and commitment to fostering authentic connections, Chris delivered a heartfelt and profoundly insightful address, weaving together personal anecdotes from his entrepreneurial journey with the timeless lessons he credits to his time at Moses Brown.

Chris, whose family roots run deep at MB – with three generations studying or working at the school – shared three powerful takeaways that have shaped his path:

The Art of Listening (to Yourself): Chris began by recounting a pivotal moment early in his career, when a strong gut feeling about the burgeoning world of online video led him to pivot from a long-held dream of filmmaking to start Wistia. He drew a fascinating connection between this crucial decision and Moses Brown's Meeting for Worship. 

"Sitting in silence, week after week, just thinking, listening, waiting for inspiration to strike," he reflected, was invaluable training. This practice, he emphasized, equips one to "be in touch with what you really want" amidst life's many decisions.

Building Authentic Community: Drawing on Wistia’s journey, Chris shared how embracing their authentic, even "unprofessional," identity with a quirky "dancing team page" surprisingly went viral and became a cornerstone of their company culture. This highlighted his belief that "people trust authenticity more than polish." 

He celebrated Moses Brown’s inherent culture of community building, noting, "When you're a part of a community that honors your individuality while holding you responsible for your impact on those around you, you get the opportunity to be your best self." He encouraged graduates to actively seek out and build such supportive communities in their futures.

The Courage to Ask "Why": Chris then shared a bold business decision: turning down multiple offers to sell Wistia. This choice stemmed from a deep introspection that led him and his co-founder to ask: "Why were we considering selling the Wistia we already owned?" This relentless questioning, he explained, revealed that they had drifted from their core values and unique culture. The decision to "fix it" rather than sell, and subsequently buy out their investors, fueled immense growth and renewed passion. Chris linked this courage to constantly question to Moses Brown's "constant pursuit of knowledge and truth" – a "genuine curiosity" instilled in its students.

Chris's message was a powerful reminder to the graduating class that the foundation they've received at Moses Brown is not just academic, but deeply rooted in character, intuition, and a spirit of inquiry. 

"Stay curious. Question assumptions. Never stop asking why. And above all else, do not be afraid to be wrong," he advised, offering a roadmap for a fulfilling and impactful future.

Moses Brown School extends its deepest gratitude to Chris Savage for his inspiring words and for sharing a piece of his remarkable journey with the Class of 2025. His address serves as a testament to the enduring values and profound impact of a Moses Brown education.

Read more about the June 12, 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

Watch a video of Chris' speech here.

Read more about Wistia and Chris

Founded in 2006, Wistia has grown into a multi-million dollar business with 188 employees and millions of users. Chris loves sharing his journey and often counterintuitive leadership and B2B marketing tips—on LinkedIn or as the co-host of the podcast Talking Too Loud, where he dives into building businesses, top-notch brands, and amazing products with industry leaders. He also shares bold ideas in Fast Company, the Forbes Business Council, and the Entrepreneur’s Leadership Network. Read more about Chris Savage on the Wistia website.

A highlight of the recent Moses Brown reunion was a captivating book talk by alumnus Cliff Brown ’60, held at the Rachel Thayer House on campus. Brown, a distinguished professor from Union College, presented his expansive three-volume work entitled Teaching Us: The Class of 1960 at Moses Brown School, an unprecedented history of Moses Brown told from the student perspective.

Brown emphasized that his work was a collaborative effort, a "Class of 1960 plus book," crediting numerous alumni and influential faculty coaches like Doc O'Dell and Jerry Zeoli for their invaluable contributions. He highlighted that these dedicated educators were deeply invested in their students' lives, knowing them "better than we did ourselves." The book aims to honor these mentors and capture their unique teaching styles.

The book explores three pillars of the Moses Brown education: classroom experience, extracurriculars (student government, clubs, publications), and sports. Brown revealed how even activities like managing a team offered strategic insights, citing Coach Zeoli’s innovative approach to football that revolutionized the game for their smaller team.
 

Beyond the school's walls, Brown painted a vivid picture of the 1950s context: the rise of television, the Cold War's anxieties (like Sputnik), and the evolving American identity marked by pride in living standards rather than military might. He also touched on the shift in Rhode Island's industrial landscape during that decade.

Academically, Brown noted the lower school's focus on practical skills like multiplication tables, leading to a more intellectual and reasoning-based approach in upper school. He traced the evolution of history and English teaching, from storytelling and oral presentations to deeper literary and historical analysis. He even shared a humorous anecdote about "Babe" Herman, a legendary math teacher who used a broken yardstick to teach a geometric axiom, embodying his philosophy of making students discover answers themselves.

Brown's comprehensive work offers a rich, personal account of the Moses Brown experience during a transformative era, celebrating both the institution and the remarkable individuals who shaped it.

The Moses Brown Alumni Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Spring Alumni Awards who will be honored at this year’s Reunion celebrations. 
 

The 25th Reunion Achievement Award
Since 1966, the Moses Brown Alumni Association has presented the Achievement Award to a member of the 25th Reunion Class in recognition of professional excellence and outstanding service to the community. 

Kristen Lorello ’00

Kristen Lorello is the owner of Kristen Lorello, a contemporary art gallery in New York City, that opened in 2014.  She specializes in developing the careers of emerging artists from the United States and abroad.  She currently represents fifteen artists working in the mediums of painting, sculpture, and photography, and has placed their works in prestigious collections including the RISD Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Museum of Arts and Design, NY.  Kristen developed her career in New York City from 2005-2012 at Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, where she held various roles, including Director of Operations, Associate Director, and Archivist.

Kristen graduated from Barnard College summa cum laude, phi beta kappa in 2004 and holds an MA in the History of Art from Hunter College.  In 2006 she received a prestigious Fulbright Grant to conduct research on contemporary art in Rome, where she immersed herself in the complex relationships between artists, curators, and institutions for contemporary art.  She went on to lecture, publish, and curate exhibitions in the United States featuring Italian contemporary artists.  In her free time, Kristen enjoys cooking, traveling, learning French, and continuing to improve her Italian.  She lives in New York City with her husband, Christopher Saunders, their daughter, Céline, and their miniature poodle, Stella.
 

The Distinguished Alum Award
The Distinguished Alum Award recognizes an alum for significant, long-term success in personal and professional achievements, who has made outstanding contributions to their profession and has rendered distinguished service to the public welfare, thus honoring Moses Brown School.

Ted Widmer ’80

Ted Widmer is Distinguished Lecturer at the Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York. Before that he taught or directed research centers at Harvard University, Washington College, the Library of Congress, and Brown University. He earned an A.B. degree in the History and Literature of France and America and a Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization, both from Harvard. In addition to his teaching, he served as a foreign policy speechwriter and senior adviser to President Bill Clinton, and later as a senior adviser to Hillary Clinton during her tenure as Secretary of State. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, and the New Yorker. He also serves as a trustee of the Massachusetts Historical Society and Robert College in Istanbul. In 2020 he published Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington, which won the Lincoln Forum Book Prize and the first book prize of the Society of Presidential Descendants. With support from the Guggenheim Foundation, he is working on a book project relating to Boston in April 1968. 

Faculty/Staff Member of the Year
Each year, the Moses Brown Alumni Association honors a member of the faculty or staff for impact on the school community. Chosen from many fine teachers, and members of the staff, the recipient is recognized as an outstanding professional, educator, mentor, and friend.

Karim Sow

Born in Mali, Karim grew up in the Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea. He arrived at Moses Brown in 1994 after hearing about a position when he gave a ride to a job applicant. He has since been teaching French and Spanish in Middle School, coaching soccer and more recently became a basketball liaison. Karim has contributed significantly to the school as diversity coordinator, advisor and mentor and regularly shares his Fulani wisdom. It is a testimony to Karim’s passion for soccer that his 30-year tenure tree faces Wasserman Field.

Karim graduated from University of Niger (1981) and University of Aix-en-Province (1983) in French Modern literature. He then returned to Niger and Cote d’Ivoire to be a French teacher for 15 years. In 1992, he moved to the US as a political refugee after the repression of the Ivorian teacher’s union for which he was the ghost writer. 
 

The Moses Brown Alumni Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Fall Alumni Awards who will be honored at this year’s Homecoming weekend. Alumni and friends are welcome to join us at the reception held on Thursday, October 17 at the Hope Club, Brown University. Register

Outstanding Young Alum Awardee

The Outstanding Young Alum Award recognizes a recent graduate for outstanding accomplishments and service in their professional, personal, or civic life.  Their achievements inspire young alumni and bring honor to Moses Brown.

Jamie Marshall ’15

Jamie Marshall is the co-founder and COO of Snackpass. After graduating from Moses Brown, Jamie studied at Yale University where she teamed up with fellow student Kevin Tan to found Snackpass in 2017. Snackpass is a social mobile ordering app for restaurants that users can use to order ahead, earn loyalty points, and connect with friends by gifting points and food.

Snackpass has gone viral on college campuses across the country including Yale University, Brown University, University of Michigan, University of California Berkeley, and more. As a result of working closely with restaurant operators for several years, Snackpass launched SnackOS, a restaurant operating system which helps restaurant operators become even more productive and profitable. Today, Snackpass has 50 team members primarily based in New York City and San Francisco. 

Jamie and the Snackpass team raised venture capital from Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Craft Ventures and Y Combinator. Jamie was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, is a recipient of the Yale Startup Miller Prize, and was one of twenty annual recipients of the Thiel Fellowship. Jamie lives and works in New York City.

Karin Morse ’79 Service to Alma Mater Award

The Karin Morse ’79 Service to Alma Mater Award recognizes an alum for outstanding service to Moses Brown School. This person’s voluntary contributions have been long term, extend beyond the work of most volunteers, and speak to MB’s proud tradition of service to community.

Vin Porcaro ’83, P’11 ’24

Vin was a dedicated member of the MBAA Board from 2015-2021 when he joined the Board of Trustees. A member of the Governance and Budget & Finance Committees, Vin served until June 2024.

Vin was incredibly active on the Local Committee and from 2015-2019 Vin led the MBAA Turkey Tailgate, a beloved event which brought together alumni, families, students, faculty/staff, and friends on a grand scale.  He and his wife, Sue, have been dedicated to the school and the student experience by actively volunteering in a variety of ways.  In addition to adding special touches like grilling for guests at the Newport Polo Reception, they have organized tailgates for home and visiting football teams, established concessions for basketball games, and for the past five years Vin has also regularly recorded upper and middle school games, ensuring that the teams benefit from video analysis.

A successful business owner, Vin is President of Vincent Porcaro, Inc. (VPI), which he founded in 1996. Vin has built a performance-driven, third-party logistics company specializing in cost-efficient merchandise distribution for major clients like Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Yankee Candle, Foster Grant International, A.T. Cross, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom, and Dillards. VPI operates globally, providing expertise in logistics, distribution, transportation, and warehousing for retail products throughout North America.

Vin is an alumnus of Providence College, where he played and coached football.

The Moses Brown Alumni Association is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Spring Alumni Awards who will be honored at this year’s Reunion celebrations. 
 

The 25th Reunion Achievement Award
Since 1966, the Moses Brown Alumni Association has presented the Achievement Award to a member of the 25th Reunion Class in recognition of professional excellence and outstanding service to the community. 

Dr. Albert S. Huang ’99

Albert is a Principal Engineer at Cruise, LLC - a General Motors subsidiary building self-driving vehicles. He has 19 years of experience working on autonomous vehicles, drones, and manufacturing robots. He received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, where he was a technical lead on MIT's 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge team to build and race a self-driving car. He co-founded and was CTO of Optimus Ride, a self-driving vehicle startup acquired by Magna Electronics in 2021. Prior to that, Albert led navigation and perception efforts at Google's autonomous aerial delivery drone Project Wing, and was the software architect for the Baxter manufacturing robot at Rethink Robotics. Albert has published a book on Bluetooth and is an author and inventor on numerous papers and patents on robotics and autonomous vehicles.

The Distinguished Alum Award
The Distinguished Alum Award recognizes an alum for significant, long-term success in personal and professional achievements, who has made outstanding contributions to their profession and has rendered distinguished service to the public welfare, thus honoring Moses Brown School.

Samuel M. Mencoff ’74

Samuel M. Mencoff is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Temple Hall Group, a privately-held diversified industrial manufacturing holding company headquartered in Chicago. He is a Founding Partner and former Co-CEO of Madison Dearborn Partners, one of the nation’s leading private equity investment firms. He retired from Madison Dearborn in 2023, concluding a 42 year career, and currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the firm.

Mr. Mencoff was elected the 21st Chancellor of Brown University in 2016, after having served on the Brown Corporation as a Fellow since 2009. He previously
served on the Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2009. He currently serves as a Commissioner of the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery, Vice Chair of the Board of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he serves as Chair of the Committee on American Art, and is Lead Independent Director of Packaging Corporation of America.

In addition, Mr. Mencoff is a past director of NorthShore University HealthSystem, the Regional Transportation Authority, and World Business Chicago, as well as numerous public and private companies, including Boise Cascade, Buckeye Cellulose, Georgia Marble Company, Graphic Packaging, Great Lakes Dredge Dock, Huntway Refining, Smurfit Kappa Group, and Nuveen Investments.

Mr. Mencoff and his wife, Ann, are active collectors of American furniture, paintings, sculpture, and decorative art. They are deeply committed to the study and preservation of significant examples of American architecture, and have restored and maintain historic properties in Virginia, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Indiana.

Mr. Mencoff earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in
Anthropology from Brown University in 1978, and an M.B.A. from Harvard
Business School in 1981. 

Faculty/Staff Member of the Year
Each year, the Moses Brown Alumni Association honors a member of the faculty or staff for impact on the school community. Chosen from many fine teachers, and members of the staff, the recipient is recognized as an outstanding professional, educator, mentor, and friend.

Karin Morse ’79

Karin is presently senior alumni relations officer, middle school world language teacher and boys' varsity tennis coach.  She has truly enjoyed her alumni relations work, especially her partnership with the Alumni Association. For many years, she also taught French, some middle school Latin, and German and world history in the upper school and was dean of students for 13 years. Over the years, she has coached girls' varsity soccer, boys' and girl's squash, girls' ice hockey, girls' tennis and since 1985 boys' tennis. She was an upper school advisor for 25 years and advisor to various clubs including the Cheese Club and PAWS Club, and the group that created S.P.A.F.  Karin was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 and served on the MBAA Board from 1985-1995.

Karin earned her A.B. from Brown University in 1984 with a concentration in German and Comparative Literature and her Ed.M. in 1992 from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Administration, Planning and Social Policy.