2023 Board of directors

CHAIR

Vice President
Emerging Technology and Innovation
The Hartford

Michael Kearney is Vice President, Emerging Technology and Innovation at The Hartford, where he has worked since 2012. He is responsible for building innovation cultures by discovering, researching and mastering emerging technologies that unlock value. Prior to this role, he led the information technology strategy and execution for P&C Claims.

He has 30 years of experience as a senior executive optimizing information technology capabilities to improve organizational growth and efficiency. His experience also includes nonprofit board membership:

• -Alvarez and Marsal: leading IT consulting engagements in financial services institutions.
• -World Learning, Inc: Chief Information Officer for a global education nonprofit.
• -Phoenix Companies: chief operations officer
• -Community Health Resources, Inc: board member
• -Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence: member

Michael is a graduate of Bryant University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a concentration in management information systems.

VICE-CHAIR

Associate
Sexton & Company Counselors at Law

Megan Wade is an appellate attorney at Sexton & Company, LLC, in Hartford, Connecticut. Her practice focuses on criminal, civil, and child protection appeals. Prior to joining the firm, Megan clerked for the Honorable Richard A. Robinson of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Since her admittance to the Connecticut Bar, Megan has argued more than a dozen appeals to the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts, achieving successful client outcomes in both Courts. 

Based on her passion for criminal justice reform, Megan joined the Board of Directors for Community Partners in Action in December of 2019, and has served in several capacities, including prior chair of the Board’s Governance Committee. She also regularly volunteers her time for organizations advancing the importance of education and the rule of law, including the Lawyers in the Classroom program, judging various moot court tournaments for high school, college, and law school students, as well as volunteering as a coach for moot court teams. 

In her free time, Megan enjoys spending time with her husband, Matt, and her two dogs, Tucker and Lewis.  

SECRETARY

Visiting Assistant Professor
Wesleyan University

Esam Boraey is a visiting assistant professor at Wesleyan University and a PhD student at the University of Connecticut.

Esam started his career as a political and human rights activist working for freedom and democracy in the Middle East. He began his career as an activist over ten years ago when he and a group of 6 other youth leaders gathered on the steps of Egypt's Supreme Court, calling for justice, freedom and democracy. This passion led him to play a role in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, which helped overthrow longtime dictator, Hosni Mubarak.

Following the 2011 revolution, Esam worked with international leaders to push for a stable democracy in Egypt. During the Mohamed Morsi presidency, Esam worked for U.S. Agency for International Development and later left the country after being sentenced in Egypt’s criminal court to prison for his human rights work in the Middle East. Esam then moved to Washington D.C. where he worked for the U.S. Institute for Peace.

Having worked over the years with a number of Civil Society organizations (CSOs) in both the Middle East and the U.S., he has fostered close professional relationships with political leaders throughout the region, and advised policy makers in the U.S. and European Union.

He has taught classes at Cairo University, the American University in Cairo and Drake University. Esam brings a nuanced perspective to Egyptian, Middle Eastern, and Islamic affairs that takes into account the concerns of various stakeholders, both in the Middle East and beyond its borders.

Esam serves as a board member for several nonprofits internationally, nationally, and locally including the World Affairs Council, the American Muslim Alliance, and the Connecticut Council on Interreligious Understanding (CCIU).

He was honored for his defense of human rights and community service in Egypt, Middle East, and the USA with several awards, including:

• -Personality of the Year by the National Center for Human Rights.
• -David B. Walker award for public service from the University of Connecticut.
• -Immigrant of the year from the Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition, CIRC.
• -Certificates of appreciation by many organizations in the Middle East and all over the world for his work.

TREASURER

Senior Assurance Associate
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Darek Chrzanowski is a Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Hartford, Connecticut where he enjoys working for its larger mission to build trust in society. He moved to Hartford after graduating from Quinnipiac University in 2017 with a BSc in Business, majoring in accounting.  

At Quinnipiac, Darek served as President of the university’s National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Treasurer of the International Student Association, which works to spread inclusivity throughout the student community.  

Darek is a member of Immanuel Congregational Church and serves on its Social Action and Mission Committee. Other favorite pastimes include reading books, relaxing to music, and taking in intellectually stimulating podcasts.  

Language skills: conversational Polish. 

Library Media Specialist
Cornelius Moylan Elementary School

U.S. Probation Officer
United States Probation Office
State of Connecticut

Retired Professor
University of Connecticut School of Law

Retired President and Chief Executive Officer
Wiremold and Pass
Seymour/Legrand

Retired Managing Attorney
Greater Hartford Legal Aid

Adjunct Faculty
Post University
Retired Chief Probation Officer

Campaign Manager
American Civil Liberties Union of CT

Regional VP of Underwriting
Anthem

Director of Development
First Tee

Retired Senior Assistant State’s Attorney
Division of Criminal Justice
State of Connecticut

Professor of Sociology
Capital Community College

Associate Professor
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Central Connecticut State University

Mental Health Assistant 2
Psychiatric Youth Unit
Connecticut Valley Hospital

Associate Dean of Institutional Advancement
CT State Northwestern

Retired Director of Marketing
Harriet Beecher Stowe Center