BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ABRAHAM J. KWON, Esq. (Founder & Chairperson)
Goodwin Procter

Abe is a startup and venture capital partner at Goodwin Procter. He holds a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, and a BA in Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics also from the University of Pennsylvania. He has extensive experience in both tutoring and helping students apply to college. He even had the opportunity to start a high school debate program at Boy's Latin of Philadelphia Charter School. It was through that experience that Abe became inspired to start thinking about how to tackle the college gap. During Abe's free time, he enjoys playing basketball, watching Sixers games, and visiting his favorite coffee shops in Philadelphia.

DR. CHRISTOPHER HWANG (Co-Founder)
Crozer Hospital

Chris is a longtime Philadelphian having grown up just outside the city. He did all of his schooling and medical training in Philly, and after completing fellowship, he is now working as a geriatrician at Crozer Hospital. Throughout college and medical school, Chris devoted much of his time to serving the inner city, often through tutoring and mentoring programs for Philadelphia area students and considers himself fortunate to have been included in the efforts to start 12plus. He serves on the development committee on the board and is excited to see how 12plus continues to grow. Outside of work, Chris's hobbies include Philadelphia sports teams, board games, and eating good food.

NORMA CHEN RHEE
NBC Universal

Norma Chen Rhee serves as Director, Business Insights & Strategy for NBCUniversal, supporting the company's TV & Streaming Division and Content Distribution Group. In 2013, after living in Philly part-time for nearly 10 years and seeing the tremendous need to improve the education system in the city, she joined the 12 Plus Board to advocate for its mission to foster a culture of pursuing higher education among Philadelphia's underserved communities. She currently leads the Board's development committee.

CHRIS WEIDNER
Hamilton Lane

Chris works as an investment professional at Hamilton Lane, a global investment management firm. Prior to joining Hamilton Lane, he worked as an investment professional at LBC Small Cap, in Corporate Strategy at Comcast NBCUniversal, and as an investment professional at private equity firm Boathouse Capital. Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude and received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. As a Philadelphia native, he is passionate about issues impacting his hometown. At 12+, Chris currently serves on the Development / Fundraising committee and focuses on bolstering the organization's corporate sponsorship efforts, developing new fundraising concepts / channels, and professionalizing the 12+ board by implementing industry best practices. In addition to his role with 12+, Chris serves as a University of Pennsylvania Alumni Interviewer for prospective students.

JOHN BARRETT
American Law Institute

John is a CPA working as Assistant Controller for the American Law Institute. Originally from Lancaster, he received his B.B.A. from Temple University and has lived in Philadelphia ever since. He is very happy to be able to use his 10+ years of nonprofit accounting experience as part of the Finance Committee to help 12 Plus so it can continue to serve the students of our community. John's hobbies include music, following the Phillies, and playing games.

PATRICIA ACHILLE, CPA
PCAOB

Patricia is an Inspection Specialist with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), with more than 12 years of public accounting experience serving clients across a variety of industries. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a BA in accounting and holds her CPA in both Ohio and Pennsylvania and moved to Philadelphia in 2013. Patricia is very passionate about diversity and inclusion and is a leader in her firm's Black Inclusion Network, Women’s Inclusion network, and other affinity groups, and is an advocate for diversity in leadership. Having grown up in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood and utilizing the many community programs that nonprofits advocate, she recognizes the responsibility of giving back to the community and joined 12+ because of their incredible mission to help students succeed beyond high school. Patricia Achille has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2020 and currently sits on the Development and Finance Committees. Patricia resides in Society Hill, with her husband Etienne Achille and fur baby Zizou.

KRISTIN AUSTIN, Ed.D.
Rewriting the Code, Inc.

Dr. Kristin Austin (she/her) is a lover of talking, tacos, and Target. As a professional helper and lifelong learner, Dr. Austin has accumulated nearly twenty years of experience in higher education and non-profit sector all within functional areas that promote access, retention, and inclusion.  Presently, Dr. Austin serves as Director of I.D.E.A.s (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access) for Rewriting the Code, Inc., an international not-for-profit organization that empowers and equips college and early-career women in technology. As Dr. Austin is fiercely passionate about career attainment and higher education access, serving as a Board Member with 12+  is the perfect opportunity to impact, and be impacted by, the next generation of world-changers! 

JASON LEE, CFA
Wilmington Trust

Jason is a Portfolio Manager at Wilmington Trust managing a thematic growth equity strategy. Growing up in Cincinnati, he moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of Pennsylvania receiving his BA in Economics. With a life-long passion for education, Jason joined 12+ to make a broader impact in the city he’s called home for over a decade. He has a particular passion for teaching financial literacy and has volunteered in personal finance education programs in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo, and Wilmington. He is looking forward to helping the organization continue to evolve their programing and providing mentorship to both students and fellows.

PETER S. KIM
JPMorgan Chase

Peter is an Executive Director at JP Morgan. With over two decades of experience and building expertise in leadership, strategic planning, and innovative solutions, he enjoys solving problems that help unlock the next level of growth for businesses and organizations. As an active member of organizations such as Lincoln Center, UNICEF Next Gen, Brookings Institute, Marine Executive Association and Make-A-Wish Foundation, Peter's commitment is to service. He is a graduate of Columbia University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Peter enjoys spending time with his family, exploring parks, museums and playing pretend with his two sons. 

SUNNARET EANG, CFP
WhartonHill Investment Advisors

Sunnaret (Sunny) Eang is a Director at WhartonHill Investment Advisors, an independent wealth management firm based in PA.  Sunny has over 13 years of experience in investment strategy, financial planning, and fiduciary advisory work. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Rutgers University in 2009, and earned her MBA, with a concentration in Finance also from Rutgers University in 2015.  Sunny is passionate about higher education and providing resources to promote development and career readiness.  She loves the impact 12 Plus has had in Philadelphia, and was thrilled to hear of the Organization’s partnership with her former high school,  Eastside High (formerly Woodrow Wilson High School). Sunny enjoys international travel, playing tennis, experimenting in the kitchen, and is a big Philadelphia 76ers fan.

TERYN THOMAS
EdLight

Teryn Thomas is a lifelong educator and joined the EdLight team in June 2022. Prior to joining EdLight, she served as a Chief Schools Officer and Chief of Teaching and Learning across major diverse districts including Newark, Camden, Denver, and Philadelphia. Educated at University of Pennsylvania, Teryn focused her research on interrogating systems of oppression with the goal of the emancipation of all students to ensure their humanity regardless of ability, gender, and race. She is married to a fellow educator, and together they have four kids and a dog. On weekends, they are often hiking around South Jersey’s best trails.