Connecticut Science Center Welcomes New Trustees, Re-Elects Chair

The Connecticut Science Center is pleased to welcome seven new trustees. Elected to the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Science Center are Jerry Fan, Vice President, Burns & McDonnell; Rhona Free, President, University of Saint Joseph; David Glidden, CEO & President, Liberty Bank; Geoff Hunt, Senior Vice President, Engineering, Pratt & Whitney; Martin John, Vice President Corporate Controller, HSB Group; Darcy O'Connor, Director of Corporate Responsibility Impact, Voya; and Cynthia Vodopivec, Vice President of Environmental, Health & Safety, Vistra Energy.

“Each new board member brings valuable talents and skills to the table,” said William Malugen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Science Center and Travelers Executive Vice President and National Accounts President. “The knowledge, background and experience that they possess in their respective fields will add new perspectives to our already strong Board. We’re confident that their passion and support will help to propel the Science Center to even greater achievement.”

The Connecticut Science Center is in the midst of celebrating its 10th anniversary year. Since the opening in 2009, the Science Center has seen more than 3.25 million people come through its doors, and now offers more than 165 exhibits in ten galleries.

“The Connecticut Science Center is fortunate to be championed by a visionary, dedicated Board of volunteer leaders who inspire us to foster a science-engaged society and meet the talent, quality of life and cultural needs of our community,” said Connecticut Science Center President & CEO, Matt Fleury. “The Connecticut Science Center is grateful for the leadership of our Board of Trustees, and our team is excited to have the opportunity to work with them.”

The Board also re-elected its current slate of Officers to new two-year terms. William Malugen will continue to serve as Board Chair, to be joined again by Vice Chair Lizabeth Zlatkus, Treasurer Andrew Mandell, and Secretary Cheryl Chase. The Board also re-elected 21 returning Trustees. For a complete list of current Trustees, please visit CTScienceCenter.org/about/board-of-trustees.

A wide range of topics reflecting the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics are evident throughout Connecticut Science Center, along the Connecticut River in downtown Hartford. They include space and earth sciences, physical sciences, biology, the Connecticut River watershed, alternative energy sources, Connecticut inventors and innovations, a children’s gallery, and much more.

The Science Center recently opened its newest gallery, Our Changing Earth, and launched STEM Career Connections, a program to introduce students, parents, and teachers to the careers available today and in the future.

Connecticut Science Center Welcomes New Trustees

About Jerry Fan: Jerry Fan serves Burns & McDonnell as vice president and assistant general manager of the firm’s New England regional office. A mechanical engineer with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in nuclear power plant operation and decommissioning, as well as electrical transmission projects. Mr. Fan skillfully led several multimillion-dollar energy projects across the Northeast for more than two decades before joining Burns & McDonnell as a program manager in 2007. After leading the successful completion of a $1-billion program management initiative for Northeast Utilities in 2014, he was promoted to vice president and tasked to help manage the New England regional office. Mr. Fan received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is deeply passionate about emboldening students to pursue careers in STEM and is active in the community, supporting the Connecticut Food Bank among numerous organizations.

About Rhona Free: Rhona C. Free, Ph.D., became the ninth President of the University of Saint Joseph in 2015. She has championed the creation of the Women’s Leadership Center and guided the deliberations that led to the University’s decision to become fully coeducational in fall 2018. Additionally, she oversaw the start of its Physician Assistant Studies program and the launch of the Catholic Promise Scholarship program. Dr. Free serves as Chair of the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education Board of Directors. Dr. Free came to USJ from Eastern Connecticut State University, where she served as vice president for academic affairs and provost. She taught Economics at Eastern for 25 years before becoming an administrator. In 2004, she was recognized as the Council for Advancement and Support of Education/Carnegie Foundation National Professor of the Year from Master’s Granting Institutions. Rhona Free holds a bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College, and earned both master’s and doctoral degrees in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

About David Glidden: David W. Glidden was named CEO & President of Liberty Bank in March 2019. He brings over 30 years of industry leadership experience. Previously he served as Regional President for Northern New England and Upstate New York for TD Bank. He was responsible for managing retail banking, small business, wealth management, commercial and specialty banking operations and lending services. Mr. Glidden began his banking career at Shawmut Bank in Boston and joined TD Bank in 1994, embarking on a path that led to numerous positions of increasing responsibility. He is an active banking industry leader and advocate and has held several leadership positions in the industry throughout the region. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the American Cancer Society (ACS) New England Division and the ACS National Delegate and was recently awarded the ACS’ Highest National Volunteer Recognition Award for Lifetime Achievement. A graduate of Providence College, he also attended The National School of Banking in Fairfield, CT and The Ivey School of Executive Management in Toronto, Ontario.

About Geoff Hunt: Geoff Hunt is senior vice president of Engineering at Pratt & Whitney. He leads Pratt & Whitney's global Engineering team, with a focus on delivering customer requirements, developing technical leadership, and advancing technology development programs that will support the next generation of commercial and military engines. Mr. Hunt’s 34-year career in the aerospace industry has included leading roles in the development of landmark products, primarily in the area of large commercial aircraft. He was most recently vice president, Engineering & Technology, for UTC Aerospace Systems. In this position, he led product development programs to ensure UTC Aerospace Systems continued to offer differentiating technologies to meet customer needs, as well as ensuring flawless engineering program execution by leading the implementation of best practice processes, tools, and resources across the enterprise. Mr. Hunt holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sheffield University, England, and an MBA from Boston University. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

About Martin John: Martin John is Vice President Corporate Controller of The Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company (HSB). His team provides high quality reporting and analysis of results to senior leadership and the parent company Munich Re. Mr. John and his team manage the end to end financial close and reporting process, which also includes regulatory compliance, management reporting, tax compliance, and strategies. He is also responsible for capital planning and presentation materials for rating agencies and the board of directors. Mr. John is the Executive Sponsor for the Finance Transformation Strategy focused on developing the finance organization of the future. Prior to joining HSB, he was the Vice President of Financial Reporting, Analysis and Controls for Mass Mutual Insurance Company. He graduated from the University of Hartford with a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering and a Master of Science in Professional Accounting. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) in the state of Connecticut and actively involved in community service, serving in leadership positions on various boards.

About Darcy O'Connor: Darcy O’Connor is Director of Corporate Responsibility Impact for Voya Financial. She leads Voya’s Nonprofit Board Placement Program, National Day of Service, Employee Giving Campaign, national volunteer team and the company's volunteer sabbatical. Additionally, Ms. O’Connor manages employee disaster relief efforts and numerous relationships with national and local nonprofit partners. Ms. O’Connor received a B.S. in Business Administration and a Masters in Communications and Business Information. She also holds a Corporate Citizenship Management Intensive Credential from Boston College.

About Cynthia Vodopivec: Cynthia Vodopivec is Vice President of Environmental, Health & Safety for Vistra Energy. In this role, Ms. Vodopivec is responsible for strategic planning, compliance assurance and environmental and safety program implementation for the 39,000 MW generation fleet, along with safety program implementation for the corporate and retail functions. Additionally, she has responsibility for tracking and improving the environmental performance of the company’s sites and providing programs and tools to keep employees and contractors safe. She held similar leadership roles at Dynegy, EquiPower Resources Corp, GDF Suez North America, and FirstLight Power, working with a wide range of power plant technologies across the country. Ms. Vodopivec is a registered Professional Environmental Engineer. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Dartmouth College, a Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and a Masters of Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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About the Connecticut Science Center: The LEED-Gold certified Connecticut Science Center, located in downtown Hartford, sparks creative imagination and an appreciation for science by immersing visitors in fun and educational hands-on, minds-on interactive experiences while maintaining an environmentally conscious presence. Serving more than 3.25 million people since opening in 2009, the Science Center features more than 165 exhibits in ten galleries, covering a range of topics, including space and earth sciences, physical sciences, biology, the Connecticut River watershed, alternative energy sources, Connecticut inventors and innovations, a children’s gallery, and much more. Other features include the state’s only year-round butterfly habitat, five educational labs, a 200-seat 3D digital theater, function room, gift store, and ongoing events for all ages.

The Science Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing science education throughout the state of Connecticut and New England, providing learning opportunities for students and adults of all ages, and engaging the community in scientific exploration. The Connecticut Science Center is the home to the Joyce D. and Andrew J. Mandell Academy for Teachers, offering powerful professional development for educators. More information: CTScienceCenter.org or (860) SCIENCE.