Today's Hours
10:00am - 5:00pm There’s always more to discover!
Jay Karpen joined The Discovery’s board of directors in June of 2021, but he is no stranger to the non-profit world. Jay has a long history of volunteering for nonprofits. Some of these include Study Now Play Later in New York City, Big Brothers Big Sisters in New London, and Person-to-Person in Darien.
After visiting The Discovery for the first time it was clear to him that the museum is a transformative place he wanted to support for both his son and the community. As a board member, Jay has been instrumental in helping maintain The Discovery’s financial health as a nonprofit and also in recruiting new members to the museum’s various board committees. Prior to joining the board, Jay served on The Discovery’s finance committee for three years.
Currently, Jay is a Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Whittier Trust. In this position, he manages equity, fixed income, and alternative assets for high-net-worth individuals. He also serves on the Alternative Team where they source, perform due diligence, and advise outside investment managers for high-net-worth individuals and endowment and foundation clients. Throughout these professional endeavors, Jay has become both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and his Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA).
As for the future of The Discovery, Jay hopes to see it expand its reach and become a nationally known center for exceptional science exploration.
“I hope The Discovery is the first thing that comes to people’s minds when they hear the word STEM. My goal is for the museum to continue its effort to inspire both adults and children to explore science.”
When taking time for himself, Jay enjoys skiing, playing tennis, trying out new bars and restaurants, and hiking with both family and friends. He recently joined a soccer league with no prior experience, too! In addition to his own recreational activities, Jay also spends plenty of time cheering on his son at his various soccer and baseball games.