Penn graduate Jared Fenton honored by Forbes 30 under 30 for Social Impact

Forbes honored 2017 College graduate Jared Fenton on the publication's 2025 30 Under 30 list for Social Impact in recognition of his mental health advocacy work.

In 2015, Fenton founded The Reflect Organization, a national nonprofit that provides college students with a forum to engage in conversations to improve mental wellness. The club stemmed from an on-campus club Fenton started during his time at Penn called "Reflect," which aimed to encourage students to “take off the mask” and “connect with each other and support each other as who they really are.” 

During Fenton’s first 13 months at Penn, multiple students died by suicide. As a Civic Scholar, Fenton was given the opportunity to produce research on a community service topic of his choice, and he decided to focus on "Penn Face," which he described to The Daily Pennsylvanian as “the metaphorical mask of effortless perfection that Penn students wear.” He later found out that "Penn Face" is not unique to Penn but prevalent in higher education across the world. 

Based on this insight, Fenton began Reflect.

Fenton emphasized the impact of his time in a class taught by Urban Studies professor Ira Harkavy during his time as an undergraduate at Penn as foundational to the creation of Reflect as he learned how to work towards changing the status quo. Through the class, he was exposed to history professor emeritus Michael Zuckerman’s preceptorial through the Netter Center for Community Partnerships and tested an early version of the club.

Initially starting as a small group meeting in Harrison College House, the club quickly grew and hosted gatherings with hundreds of students in attendance. 

Austin Gwiazdowsk, who graduated from the School of Engineering and Applied Science in 2019, went to many of the initial meetings when Reflect was first established. He described the meetings as very open and honest, drawing attention to important topics of discussion. 

“It was comforting to see that other people were also struggling with all kinds of different issues and that I wasn’t alone,” Gwiazdowsk said. “Everyone dropped in and was vulnerable, which was kind of the opposite of what I felt like a lot of cultural values at Penn were at the time.”

After graduating, Fenton took the club to a national level, establishing The Reflect Organization and incorporated it as a nonprofit in 2017. The organization has raised over $1 million and much more through in-kind donations. 

The organization have different program types at different schools. Notably, Reflect has partnered with Penn Dental. Every first-year DMD student, for instance, is trained by Reflect to be a peer facilitator and takes part in the Reflect & Connect program. 

Fenton built the organization to be intentionally flexible and meet the unique needs of each school or program through bespoke programming. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reflect expanded operations to reach every NCAA Division I student athlete with resources and service guides. 

“Being flexible is one way we build our capacity, grow and truly make a meaningful impact,” Fenton said. “We take on projects that we are confident we can deliver.”

House Dean and Chief Financial Officer of Harrison College House Frank Pellicone was among the many mentors that helped in the early stages of Reflect and currently serves as a Chair of Reflect. Pellicone helps advise the direction of Reflect and promotes the mission. Initially helping with funding of the student club, Pellicone now assists in the development of the nonprofit organization and fundraising.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Professor of Pediatrics Ken Ginsburg was one of the founding advisory board members. Ginsburg met Fenton through his work in reflect and described him as someone who is “gracious and deeply committed and passionate”.  

Ginsburg shaped Fenton’s long term goal with Reflect. 

“I learned from Dr. Ginsburg that having one person in your life who doesn’t judge you, believes in you, and is there for you can change a life and even save a life,” Fenton said. “My hope for The Reflect Organization is that we help catalyze so many folks to be that one caring person and inspire others to do the same so that Reflect doesn’t have to exist anymore.”

Forbes annual 30 Under 30 is created through soliciting nominations from the public then evaluated by staff and a panel of independent, expert judges, who are leaders in their respective industries.

“I don’t know that anyone can expect to be named to Forbes Under 30. I’m just filled with gratitude and I hope this recognition will supercharge the growth of our impact. That’s what most excites me,” Fenton said. “To me, the Forbes recognition is emblematic of joint efforts over years and years. Appreciation washes over me for everyone who has made my growth and the growth of Reflect a reality.”