Presenter
Alexi Raglin
Document Type
Digital Slide Show Presentation
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
The Synergy Collective for Advanced Thought is the culmination of a determined initiative to build a student-designed, directed, and developed think tank on campus of diverse perspectives with the aim of tackling complex issues in our world. Over the course of a transformative two-year period, the founders and presidents of The Synergy Collective for Advanced Thought immersed themselves in a dynamic design and development process, crafting the think tank’s foundation through deliberate collaboration with regional leaders and projects. Recognizing the importance of grounding their vision in practical innovation, they connected with trailblazers in New England’s community—individuals and organizations already rewriting the narratives of sustainability, creativity, and progress. These engagements were not just meetings but profound exchanges of ideas that informed the think tank’s ethos and operational blueprint. From engaging with sustainability pioneer Todd Maul, a James Beard nominee revolutionizing the culinary world, Benjamin Walko, Sous Chef and sustainable practices expert at Chatham Bars Inn, to exploring Block Island, a community with an offshore wind farm—a groundbreaking project that replaced four centralized diesel generators with 100% renewable energy—the students sought inspiration from leaders and initiatives that exemplify innovative thinking in action and selected a collective of the most dedicated and driven students and alumni to participate in the project.
Faculty Mentor
Tamara Valentine-Garcia, M.A.
Academic Discipline
College of Food Innovation & Technology; College of Engineering & Design
Repository Citation
Raglin, Alexi; Groninger, Henry; and Karakai, Gergo, "The Synergy Collective for Advanced Thought" (2025). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 230.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/230
