Forum Network

Harold Naughton is an attorney, a Massachusetts State Representative (Democrat), an Iraq War Veteran, and a former Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) staffer. ARPA-E activities work to achieve the Recovery Act goal of restoring America’s scientific leadership by supporting research and investing in breakthroughs, promoting energy efficiency, reducing oil consumption, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Naughton is a graduate of Assumpton College and holds a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.

Jack Wrobel, Clerk of the Ford Hall Forum, is a USAF officer retired, and a Senior Associate with Shipley Associates. He has served as a Selectman in Westford for nine years, a member of the Personnel Board for eight years, and is a trustee of the J. V. Fletcher Library. Wrobel is an advocate of “life long learning,” and has been a supporter of the Ford Hall Forum since 1991.

Ashley Judd is an actor, author, and humanitarian activist. She serves as a board member and global ambassador for YouthAIDS, a prevention program of Population Services International. As an activist, Judd has addressed the General Assembly of the UN, spoken at the National Press Club, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations, and served as an expert panelist at the Clinton Global Initiative. She is also active with Women for Women International, Equality Now, and other non-governmental organizations that focus on multi-faceted support for underserved populations. Judd is the author of *All That is Bitter and Sweet.*

Candelaria Silva is a facilitator, consultant, published writer, reviewer and essayist. From 1998 to 2007 she was the director and creator of programs for ACT Roxbury, the cultural economic development program of Madison Park Development Corporation, sponsor of the Roxbury Film Festival, Open Studios, Roxbury Literary Annual, Roxbury Discussion Series.

Michael Fossel received his Ph.D in psychology at Wesleyan University. After completing a Ph.D. in neurobiology at Stanford University in 1978, he went on to finish his M.D. at Stanford and began studying aging, emphasizing premature aging syndromes. Fossel has written numerous articles on aging and ethics in the *Journal of the American Medical Association, In Vivo*, and other academic journals, and a textbook, *Cells, Aging, and Human Disease.* His most recent book is* The Immortality Edge: Realize the Secrets of your Telomeres for a Longer, Healthier Life*. Currently, he is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University

Helen Rees brings to the board a rich background in publishing and public service. She worked for Kevin White as the Director of the Boston Office of Cultural Affairs from 1978 - 1982. Since 1983 she has run the Helen Rees Literary Agency, which was the first literary agency to be established in Boston. Helen is a longtime political activist, and is currently on the board of the Boston Lyric Opera