Hartford Foundation Announces New Members of Community Impact Team

New hires will enhance the Foundation’s grantmaking
and learning and evaluation efforts

As the work of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving continues to evolve, the organization is enhancing its staff capacity in order to maximize the Foundation’s impact in the community. As part of this ongoing effort, the Foundation is pleased to introduce three new additions to its Community Impact team with impressive backgrounds in academia, nonprofits, and community leadership.

T. Lee Morgan, Ph.D., Senior Learning and Evaluation Officer

Dr. T. Lee Morgan is a seasoned evaluator, researcher, consultant, educator, and DEI expert. Most recently, Lee served as the Director of Inclusive Excellence Education at Sacred Heart University where he developed a measurable, research-based DEI strategy for the University, initiated the first faculty institute focused on DEI, co-developed a mentoring program for graduate students of color, and formed and advised the Doctoral Student of Color Association.  Active in his local community, Morgan currently serves as a member of Middletown’s Anti-Racism Task Force.

Prior to his roles in higher education, Lee served in leadership positions in K-12 education and faith organizations within the United States.  He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Denver, an M. Min in Religious Leadership from Cincinnati Christian University, and a bachelor’s degree in music composition from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Juhi Vajpayee Gawli, Learning and Evaluation Officer

Juhi Vajpayee Gawli is an experienced evaluator and researcher with experience working in NGOs, foundations, and consultancies where she has partnered with public, corporate, and social sectors  including UNESCO, International Youth Foundation, and United Way (Mumbai).  In her last role at Salaam Bombay Foundation, one of the leading NGOs in India for children, Juhi led research and evaluation of flagship programs and collaborated with Harvard University researchers on longitudinal studies.

Previously, as a consultant, she managed impact evaluation projects focused on education, healthcare access, and livelihood opportunities in India and has considerable experience with community-based evaluation approaches. She holds an MSc. In Public Policy from University College London and a B.A. in Psychology (with honors) from the University of Delhi and is currently pursuing an MBA at Monroe College.

“The Hartford Foundation's Learning and Evaluation team is pleased to welcome two incredibly knowledgeable and dynamic professionals like Lee and Juhi to the organization as we seek to enhance our capacity to learn with community and inform our strategic outcome areas,” said Hartford Foundation Director of Strategic Learning and Evaluation Kate Szczerbacki.

Bria Gadsden, MS, Community Impact Officer

Bria Gadsen is a public health professional with more than a decade of experience working in the nonprofit sector, specifically as a menstrual equity leader and social justice advocate for girls and women.  Bria was the co-founder and executive director of Love Your Menses, an organization focused on empowering menstruators of color regarding menstruation and creating equitable public health solutions.  She has cultivated partnerships and implemented successful reproductive health education programs in the U.S. and globally, including in Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Haiti.

Most recently, Bria worked at VentureWell as a Program Officer supporting global early-stage entrepreneurs in science and technology through a U.S. Department of State initiative, Global Innovation Through Science and Technology (GIST). Bria received her Master of Science in Community Health Education from Merrimack College and her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“The Foundation continues to be fortunate and grateful for the tremendous talent that have joined our Community Impact team in recent years,” said Hartford Foundation Vice President of Community Impact, Elysa Gordon. “Lee, Bria, and Juhi bring a wealth of personal and professional experiences that enhance our capacity to collaborate with nonprofits and residents as we consider how the Foundation’s resources are deployed to dismantle barriers, particularly those rooted in systemic racism, which stand in the way of economic and social mobility for residents throughout Greater Hartford.”

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding towns. Through partnerships, the Foundation seeks to strengthen communities in Greater Hartford by putting philanthropy in action to dismantle structural racism and achieve equity in social and economic mobility. Made possible by the gifts of generous individuals, families and organizations, the Foundation has awarded grants of more than $998 million since its founding in 1925. For more information, visit www.hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.