About
Our Mission
Strong institutions need healthy communities
We believe that colleges, universities, independent schools, and organizations need strong communities to help students and alumni succeed. Switchboard helps schools and other organizations create responsive, caring networks where members of their community can find and share transformative opportunities.
Switchboard began as a passion project run by alumni volunteers. We retain that can-do spirit of service today.
Our Story
The internet brought us together so we could make the internet a better place.
Switchboard was founded by Mara Zepeda and Sean Lerner. They met over Twitter in 2012 and built the first Switchboard for their alma mater, Reed College. They wanted to create an intuitive platform that prioritized building community and meeting the needs of community members. You can read the entire story here. In 2020, Switchboard merged with its sister company, Hearken. Together, we serve dozens of institutions across the globe.
Our team comprises experts with decades of experience across higher education, nonprofits, journalism, and the private sector.
We serve colleges, universities, independent schools, nonprofits, industries, farmers, affinity communities, and membership organizations.
Alumni
Sean Lerner, Tara Nelson, Brent Bailey, Brett Beutell, Martha Janicki, Will Jones, Aria Joughin, Hannah Hay-Smith, Melissa Lewis, Lea Loo, Chris Lopez, Chris Lu, Jennifer McCarthy, Tanner Seward, Kevin Steigerwald, David Wilson
Thanks!
Kelli Anderson, Nate Angell, Jennifer Armbrust, Peat Bakke, Brad Berens, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Greg Borenstein, Will Bryant, Jinnina Chiles, Jerry Colonna & Team Reboot, Anil Dash, Lennon Day-Reynolds, Andrew DeVigal, Adam DuVander, Mat Ellis, Tina Roth Eisenberg, Dawn Foster, Kaori Freda, Dr. Karen Gilmore & Dr. Mitchell Charap, Renny Gleeson, Jason Glaspey, Kirsten Golden, William Henderson, Scott Heiferman, Matt Haughey, Ingrid Fetell, Sue & Greg Hadfield, Jacob Hinmon, Brian Hufft, John Jay, Nina Johnson, Jennifer Jordan, Jake Knapp, James Keller, Marshall King, Nancy King, Wendy Kotila, Marshall and Mikalina Kirkpatrick, Allison Krug, Matt Knox, Tina Snow Le, Albert Lee, Lena Lencek, Adam Lisagor, Laura LoForti, Patrick Maloney, Chris May, Debbie Millman, Isaac Oats, Mark Patel, Tsilli Pines, Alexis Peterka, Gemma Petrie, Portland Development Commission, Reed College, Darius Rejali, Jessica Rickson, Clay Shirky, Gina Trapani, Rick Turoczy, Tom Watson, Copious, Kimberly Davis
Contact Us
info@wearehearken.com
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