With Deep Gratitude: Celebrating Dr. Alan Lightman’s Retirement and His Legacy at Harpswell
After 20 years of leadership, mentorship, inspiration and service, Dr. Alan Lightman, Founder and Board of Trustees member, announced his official retirement from the Harpswell Board this past May.
Throughout the years, Dr. Lightman has shared how his first trip to Cambodia left an indelible mark that continues to shape his work and vision. In 2003, while visiting Kampong Chhnang province, a request by a group of mothers for a real school laid the path forward for Harpswell to be what it is today.
Not long after, Dr. Lightman met Veasna Chea. Together, they sought to address another critical need in education: dormitories for female university students in Phnom Penh. By 2006, the first dormitory of its kind in Cambodia was built in Boeung Trabek; in 2010, a second dormitory was built in Tuek Thla. These student dormitories later transformed into leadership centers, complete with an in-house leadership curriculum.
Because of Dr. Lightman’s vision for education, a “hope that the passion for education and desire to improve their communities and world continues in future generations,” 356 young Cambodian women now make-up a vibrant and colorful sisterhood. Alumnae are leading in their fields as health practitioners, lawyers, business owners and engineers, to name just a few.
Looking back on her experiences, Board member Chandy Eng ’13 , the current executive director of Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC), and one of 56 Harpswell US Scholars, notes:
““Harpswell isn’t just a program, it is a powerhouse of growth. I didn’t just learn how to be a better leader professionally, I grew as a person. My confidence, my clarity, my life skills… they all leveled up because of Harpswell.
[Alan], you have shown me what a true leader looks like: not just someone with vision and drive, but someone with integrity, compassion, and purpose. Over the years, you have been more than a mentor, you have been a father-figure, a role model and a steady force I have always felt I could rely on. Your legacy is alive, and it is guiding us forward.””
Beyond the Cambodian Women’s Leadership program, the sisterhood of young Southeast Asian leaders encompasses a growing network of young professionals. The yearly ASEAN Women’s Leadership Summit in Penang, Malaysia counts 118 alumnae, and next year the ASEAN Summit is excitedly marking 10 years of impact.
Dr. Lightman’s commitment to fostering change through young women changemakers has shaped not just its participants, but also its staff—including 152 Leadership Residents from around the world. Living alongside students at the Phnom Penh leadership centers, LRs are able to hone their own leadership skills as they mentor Cambodia’s future leaders.
Beyond their time in the dormitories, LRs remain active participants in the Harpswell community. Former LR Jojo Lam, the CEO at Teach for Cambodia and Harpswell Board member, notes the power of legacy within the organization:
“Women like me, who you have believed in, will carry your legacy forward. We will do so with love, care and a deep belief in the power that the individual can have on the whole.”
As Dr. Lightman officially steps back, his vision and unwavering dedication will continue to inspire and guide Harpswell for years to come. From the very beginning, his compassion, intellect and deep belief in the power of women’s leadership laid the foundation for all that Harpswell has achieved.
From the entire Harpswell community, it is with our sincerest gratitude and admiration that we congratulate Dr. Lightman on his retirement and honor the extraordinary legacy he leaves behind.
