Dr. Aisha Francis Joins Sunwealth Board of Directors
President of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology Will Help the Company Grow Solar Access, Green Jobs and Inclusive Clean Energy Economy
CAMBRIDGE, MA (December 2022) – Sunwealth, a clean energy investment firm working to develop community-based solar projects across the U.S. to expand access to the benefits of clean energy, is pleased to announce that Aisha Francis, PhD, has joined the firm’s Board of Directors. Dr. Francis currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (BFCIT) and made history as the college’s first female president.
A dynamic and experienced scholar, educator, nonprofit professional, and community builder, Dr. Francis is committed to creating a thriving student population at BFCIT and ensuring strong pathways and opportunities to accelerate students’ careers across technical industries. Under her leadership, BFCIT has become a national model for inclusive education and workforce development, with significant investment in programs preparing students for careers in clean energy, clean tech, and sustainability. Prior to joining BFCIT, Dr. Francis served as the Managing Director of Development at Harvard Medical School and held positions at Economic Mobility Pathways, Boston Medical Center, and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
“I am honored to join Sunwealth’s Board of Directors and to be a part of its work investing in community-based solar energy projects that are designed to advance environmental justice and address economic inequity by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in urban communities and creating good-paying jobs for a diverse workforce in a rapidly growing sector of our economy,” said Dr. Aisha Francis, president & CEO of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology. “Sunwealth’s commitment to delivering on a better energy future through solar energy aligns with BFCIT’s providing our students with industry-informed training in renewable energy, which is opening new and fulfilling career pathways for our graduates.”
“Over the next decade, the solar industry will triple in size, and we need a workforce ready to meet that demand,” said Jon Abe, CEO of Sunwealth. “Dr. Francis and BFCIT are preparing students for careers in clean energy and technology, providing them with the skills we need to save the world. Dr. Francis’ skills as a strategist, advocate, educator, and fundraiser – and her insight as the leader of one of the premier institutions driving change in our region – will prove invaluable to Sunwealth as we invest in a clean energy future in which all of our communities benefit.”
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Media Contact:
Christian Morris
(781) 724 – 0947
About Sunwealth
Sunwealth is a clean energy investment firm changing who has access to renewable energy by changing the way we invest in it. Since 2014, Sunwealth has invested over $100 million in community-based solar projects that deliver energy access and savings, emissions reductions, and green jobs to diverse communities across the U.S. while delivering strong, stable financial returns to investors. We've attracted investment from leading impact-driven investors, including Calvert Impact Capital, Sierra Club Foundation, Boston Impact Initiative and over 400 high net worth individuals, foundations, family offices, endowments, and corporations. Learn more at www.sunwealth.com
About Dr. Aisha Francis
Aisha Francis, PhD, became the first female President in the more than 100-year history of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT) in July 2021. Previously the college's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Francis oversees the day-to-day operations of the college and plays a critical role in advancing its mission. Dr. Francis is an award-winning nonprofit leader and educator with broad experience in strategic planning, philanthropy, board relations, marketing, and communications. She believes in the ability of effective organizations and well-supported individuals to transform underserved communities for the better, which is her life’s work. She has extensive experience serving as a strategist and implementing dynamic new programs at best-in-class organizations that improve access to and equity of educational and economic opportunities.
Started with a bequest from Benjamin Franklin and a matching gift from Andrew Carnegie, the private non-profit institution is an affordable, urban college serving the Boston region and committed to student success and career readiness in technology fields.