Welcome Jax Chaudhry, Executive Director!
A Letter from Aragon Burlingham, Project Invent President and Board Chair
In December 2021 the Project Invent Board announced a national Executive Director search to identify an outstanding leader for our next phase of growth. After an extensive search process we are pleased to announce that Jax Chaudry has been selected as our new Executive Director.
Our search committee had an impressive pool of candidates from across the US. Jax stood out for her passion and connection with the mission, experience in navigating periods of intense growth and her commitment to reducing the opportunity gap in STEM, especially for Black, Indigenous and LatinX youth. As an empathetic, curious and results-oriented leader, Jax is the ideal person in getting us closer to bringing the invention experience to every student in America.
The board is deeply appreciative and grateful to Connie for her incredible pioneering work in founding, building and scaling Project Invent and welcomes Jax to lead the next chapter of Project Invent.
A Letter from Jax Chaudhry, Project Invent Executive Director
“It’s not just about us.” The words of a student participant in the Project Invent Impact of Invention video reverberated in my ears this morning. Students across the nation are watching, listening and connecting with the lived experiences of people in their communities. They are ready to solve problems and take action not just for themselves but for their community, their world. Project Invent empowers students with 21st-century skills to succeed individually and impact globally, through invention. Our goal is to create a generation of fearless, compassionate problem solvers. Project Invent has trained 100+ Educator Fellows, launched 1000+ student inventors at Demo Day and provided design thinking curriculum leading to 2500+ downloads. This impact has been possible through the incredible vision and leadership of Founder Connie Liu and the deep support of students, teachers, staff, and partners. I couldn’t be more excited for the next chapter of Project Invent!
As Executive Director, I hope to double our impact and expand our diversity, equity, and inclusion practice. Invention is our proven path forward and empowering youth, particularly students from under-resourced communities, leads us all to a brighter future. My career has spanned 10+ years across education and nonprofit organizations. Each opportunity has shown me how critical 21st-century skills are for our students. I know from firsthand experience as a student on the Southside of Chicago, the power of project based learning and the first aha moment. I only wish Project Invent existed when I was a student and I could have leveraged my time spent playing with toy circuit boards! I feel fortunate to bring Project Invent to students across the nation. All students deserve an aha moment, the feeling that they can change the world.
Thank you to Founder Connnie Liu and the Project Invent community for propelling us forward to tangible change for all!
With appreciation,
A Letter from Connie Liu, Project Invent Founder
After four incredible years as the founding Executive Director of Project Invent, it is my absolute pleasure and honor to welcome Jax Chaudhry as our new Executive Director.
Hailing from Washington DC and having already impacted countless students in her past leadership at The Literacy Lab, Jax lives and breathes Project Invent’s values straight from the start. After my first few meetings with her, I was convinced that if you had to build a leader from scratch who embodied Project Invent, you would get Jax. I cannot imagine a more empathetic, curious, ambitious person to carry forward this mission. She brings a strong focus on empowering the youth closest to the margins to see their power in changing the world. Her steady yet inspiring leadership shines through and is exactly what Project Invent needs in this next chapter.
In Project Invent, we’re doubling the number of students we serve this year. Our growth and impact are not for the faint of heart, and Jax shares in our vision of bringing invention to every student in America.
You have all made our growth so far possible: the support that has poured out from this community made Project Invent grow faster than we could have ever imagined, surpassing 1,000 students impacted.
This next generation of fearless problem solvers is in great hands with you as our supporters and Jax leading the charge. There is no better time to empower our youth as changemakers than now.
Thank you for entrusting us to inspire the next generation, and we can’t wait to inspire so many more 🌟
