Penny Austen is co-founder and Executive Director of ThinkGive. A native Canadian, Penny holds a deep belief that she has been the most fundamentally impacted by a handful of kind and compassionate people. She is passionate about elevating the importance of kindness and empowering young people to discover their capacity to affect change through the strong (not soft) skills of kindness and compassion. Skills that can help the world reconnect and heal.

Penny spent two decades working in technology and nonprofit management, then co-founded ThinkGive as a platform to shine the light on character. She received her bachelor’s degree from McGill University and her MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. She lives in Concord, MA, with her husband, three children, and three dogs. When she’s not working, you can find her watching her kids play sports, climbing a mountain, or struggling to stick to meditation practice.

Embedded in Sean’s earliest learning was his school’s motto, “Sua Sponte” or “It’s in your hands.” Students experience the most impactful learning when they understand that they have the power to make a difference in their community. ThinkGive’s call to action, embedded in each lesson, is what drew Sean to ThinkGive, as it helps students learn that kindness and empathy are in their hands each and every day.

Prior to joining ThinkGive, Sean taught for 13 years at Shore Country Day School in Beverly, MA--8 years as a lead fourth grade teacher, then as a 6th grade English teacher and Dean of Students. He believes a community built on gratitude and kindness is a community that leaves every member feeling fulfilled. He is excited about bringing the positive vibes of ThinkGive to as many classrooms as possible because he believes giving is, and always has been, cool.

Sean lives in Boston, MA with his wife where he enjoys long city walks, running along the Charles River, and writing in coffee shops. He’s also on a perpetual hunt for the best cheeseburger in town.

Kate has dedicated her career to making the world a more compassionate, equitable place. Her strong belief that small acts can have a huge impact deeply resonates with ThinkGive's mission.

Prior to joining ThinkGive, Kate primarily worked for environmentally-focused start-ups and nonprofits in digital media and communications. She has served as a writer, editorial and social manager, marketing manager, and podcast producer, and is excited to use her skills to extend ThinkGive’s reach.

Kate earned her B.A. in English from Dickinson College, and when she isn’t working, you can find her teaching Kundalini yoga and empowering others to heal through her Reiki practice in Los Angeles.

Sophie is a senior at Bowdoin College, pursuing a dual major in Neuroscience and Education. She is passionate about working with students and ensuring that all kids have equitable opportunities to thrive both in and outside the classroom. What brought Sophie to ThinkGive was the desire to develop curriculum specifically focused on social-emotional learning, well-being, and social justice. She believes this kind of curriculum is crucial for all students to engage with. After graduating from college, Sophie hopes to attend medical school and become a Pediatrician. 

Chalyssa Robinson is a senior at Smith College and majors in Education and Child Study. She is from Boston, MA, and plans to work as an elementary teacher in Boston after graduation. Chalyssa supports ThinkGive's curriculum development team by gathering multicultural resources that represent an array of identities, cultures, and abilities. She also implemented several ThinkGive lessons with a group of middle schoolers. Chalyssa is a member of the Junior Advisory Board where she provides her perspective as a woman of color to ensure all identities and backgrounds are considered at ThinkGive.

Julia is a 21-year-old from the Jersey Shore, and currently a junior at Tufts University. Julia is double majoring in Child Study and Human Development & Education, making ThinkGive a perfect fit! At ThinkGive, Julia has been a curriculum development intern since June 2020. During that time, she has created countless worksheets and PowerPoints, attended weekly curriculum development meetings, created new lesson plans, and now she's so excited to add participating as a Junior Advisory Board member to the list! Post-grad, Julia will decide whether to go down the teaching route or towards admissions counseling and recruiting for private high schools and colleges.

Heather Hannon is a senior at Smith College studying Educational Geosciences and Marine Science & Policy. She is incredibly passionate about ThinkGive's mission of promoting social justice and empathy in schools and communities, and is excited to have the opportunity to help ThinkGive develop programs that will give students the tools to thrive now and in the future. In her own future, Heather hopes to work for an environmental nonprofit where she can help combat climate change through education, policy-making, and community engagement.

Julie-Ann Destine (Smith College '21) is majoring in Education & Child Study and minoring in Psychology. From South Orange, NJ, Julie has seen the benefits of school counseling and hopes to work in that capacity in the future. Julie has a passion for social-emotional learning, making ThinkGive a wonderful fit for her. Julie currently works for ThinkGive, where she edits lesson plans and implements multicultural resources in the units. Julie is excited to be part of the Junior Advisory Board to help ThinkGive provide curricula that is beneficial to any community that uses it.

Shoshi Gordon is from Newton, MA. A first-year student at Bowdoin College, she’s interested in education, history, and religion. At ThinkGive Shoshi helps with curriculum development and is a member of the Junior Advisory Board. She plans to be a high school history teacher and was drawn to ThinkGive because of her interest in curriculum development and her belief in the power of giving.

Kiara Tan (Williams College ‘23) is majoring in Political Economics and Neuroscience.
At ThinkGive Kiara helps with business development: working on marketing projects and completing research for grant applications. She believes in the importance of Social Emotional Learning as a tool to help students thrive in and beyond the classroom and is
excited about students using kindness as a tool to impact change. After graduation, Kiara hopes to attend medical school.