Board of Trustees

Ken Aldridge, Board Chair

Ken Aldridge has always loved learning and has had a passion for helping students in the community since his early days of being a teacher. His knack for listening to others and watching them grow makes him a perfect fit on the Board of Trustees at the Forman S. Acton Educational Foundation.

Currently, Ken serves as Head of School at Wilmington Friends School in Wilmington, Delaware, where he has been since 2014. He began his teaching career at George School, where he taught science in the International Baccalaureate Program, coached swimming and tennis, and served as Assistant Dean of Students. Before these impressive career accomplishments, he taught at Germantown Friends in 1996, where he headed the Science Department. Ken earned a B. A. in Chemistry from the College of Wooster and a Masters of Chemistry Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

Throughout his impressive background in education he has been consistently recognized with awards, including the Price Teaching Chair for Young Faculty Award and the American Chemical Society’s (Philadelphia Section) Excellence in Teaching Award.

Ken has several years of experience serving in various leadership roles for many organizations including as a trustee for the Kendal System and Friends Council on Education. He is also on the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) and serves as a University Appointed Mentor for graduate students in the University of Pennsylvania’s School Leadership Institute. Ken is also the former Chair of the Board for Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia.

Ken and his wife, Cassandra, have three children and live Wilmington.

Larry Van Meter, President

Larry was raised in South Jersey. His mother, Margaret Minch Van Meter, who grew up in Salem, was a graduate of Salem High School Class of 1934. His father grew up in Mannington Township and graduated from Woodstown High School.

Larry has worked in education as a teacher and administrator for 31 years, most recently as the Head of School at Moorestown Friends School in Burlington County, New Jersey, from 2001-2018. He has served as a nonprofit CEO for more than 32 years across a variety of educational and environmental organizations.

He is a graduate of Hamilton College (BA), Rochester Institute of Technology (AAS) and Dartmouth College’s Amos Tuck School of Business Administration (MBA). He and his wife, Margaret, have a home in nearby Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey.

Darrell Edmonds, Secretary

Darrell Edmonds began his professional career with S.O.D.A.T. (Services to Overcome Drug Abuse Among Teens) of New Jersey, Inc. shortly after graduating from The University of Delaware with a BA in History. At S.O.D.A.T., Darrell was the Program Manager of the TLC Teen Center where he developed programming for teens including anger management, goal setting, and documentary film making.

In 2003 he returned to the Atlantic City area to work for AtlantiCare Behavioral Health with the Atlantic City Family Centers. At the family centers he quickly rose to the position of lead case manager and later, program coordinator for the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program. In 2006 he received his Masters of Science in Non-Profit Management from Eastern University. In the same year, Darrell was promoted to the position of Director of the Oakcrest Teen Center. In 2009 he was recognized by the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top 40 young professionals under the age of 40 (Top 40 under 40). In 2011 he was named Man of the Year by Phi Delta Kappa Sorority. In the same year, he was named Omega Man of the Year by the Upsilon Alpha chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In 2013 Darrell was part of the planning committee for the first ever New Jersey Celebration of Fatherhood event, as well as a partner with President Obama’s Fatherhood Buzz initiative.

In 2013 Darrell founded the non profit organization Friday Is Tie Day, Inc., so called because it encourages young men to wear ties to school on Fridays. The mission of the organization is to build men through male youth mentoring and responsible fatherhood. Friday Is Tie Day is responsible for starting the area’s first chapter of the All Pro Dad dad’s day breakfast, a national program endorsed by Tony Dungy, former coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts, and also well-known author. Over the first year the group grew from eight teens at one high school to over 50 teens at five high schools. They meet monthly for lessons on goal setting, college awareness and leadership development. The group has made college visits to West Chester University, Temple University, Rutgers University, and the University of Delaware. The teens have participated in projects for Hope For Liberia and a suit drive for their 2014 MLK Day Community Service Project.

In June 2014, Darrell was awarded the prestigious Starting Bloc Fellowship for social innovation. Starting Bloc brings together entrepreneurs, activists, educators, and innovators working to create change. In August of 2014, Darrell was selected to attend the International Young Leaders Assembly at the UN with change makers from around the globe.

Karen Washington

Born and raised in New Jersey, Karen Washington has been an educator for almost 40 years. Throughout her illustrious career, she has served in numerous teaching and administrative roles in both public and independent institutions across Southern New Jersey. Most recently, she has served as the Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Moorestown Friends School since 2007.

Outside of the classroom, she has also devoted time to the New Jersey SEEDS program, where the organization works to match underprivileged students with independent schools. Karen prides herself on being an advocate for students who may be overlooked and works to nurture and build the skills of the entire student population she oversees. Karen sees the Forman S. Acton Foundation as one of the region’s best opportunities to give opportunities to deserving students, while helping to create discussion around identity and widen the lenses of cultural perspectives. A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, she received her Masters of Arts in Bilingual/Bicultural Studies from LaSalle University.

Najwa Tatum

Najwa Tatum was one of our first Forman Scholars and she's the second scholar to serve on our Board of Trustees. Najwa grew up in Wildwood, NJ, and moved to Salem City in middle school, where she excelled in both academics and sports. She graduated from Stockton University in December 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She serves a vital role to our board by providing us with firsthand insight from her recent experience attending school in Salem and completing college.

Steve Waddington

Steve was born and raised in Mannington Township in Salem County, NJ. For almost 30 years he owned and held several jobs in his family’s large commercial dairy manufacturer, Richman’s, which included the beloved Richman’s Ice Cream shop located in Pilesgrove Township.

For the last 10 years, Steve has worked for construction company BRECO managing the remodeling program and equipment logistics for several convenience store locations in the area each year. Following in his parents’ philanthropic footsteps, he has supported and served on several executive boards for local organizations, including Friends Services for the Aging and as chair of the board at Friends Village at Woodstown. In both of these roles he has retained membership involvement and significantly improved quality of life for many residents in assisted living communities and programs through Quaker organizations.

Steve has believed in the mission of the Forman S. Acton Educational Foundation long before he joined the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and frequently shares information about how families and students can get involved. For the last three years he served as a Community Ambassador to advise and help enhance the Foundation’s efforts to nurture the needs of Salem’s youth.

Steve enjoys spending time at his summer cottage on the Delaware River at Oakwood Beach.

John Mulhorn

John Mulhorn grew up surrounded by educators. This inspiring environment led him to pursue a career in teaching of his own for over 25 years. He has served as a special education teacher, coach, vice principal and principal for the Salem City Board of Education since 1997. John earned a dual degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of South Carolina. After college, John joined his father in the operation of their family business. Within a couple of years, he initially decided to pursue a career in the business side of education—he qualified for his license as a School Business Administrator.

After receiving his teaching certificate, he began teaching and working with the high school students for the Salem County Special Services School District. Continuing his education, John earned his Master’s Degree in Leadership from Wilmington University and went from the classroom to Administration. John is a professional member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), New Jersey Principal and Supervisor Association, (NJPSA) and The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Mr. Mulhorn has been a resident of Salem County for most of his life. He bought his first home with his wife Tatiana in Salem City, and where he raised his family before moving to Elsinboro. John’s eldest two children are proud graduates of Salem High School and his younger two children which will be future proud graduates.

Dr. Michael R. Gorman

Dr. Michael R. Gorman has devoted his career to the field of education and has held a variety of leadership roles in many New Jersey schools. Mike is currently the eighth president of Salem Community College. At Salem Community College, he has worked to improve and expand programs and partnerships. He’s known as “the face of the College” in the greater community, spreading the message that SCC is an affordable, quality, and empowering educational opportunity.

Before his current role, Mike served as superintendent of the Pemberton Township Schools in Burlington County, New Jersey, for eight years. His legacy entails boosting enrollment through unique school programs with local military communities. He also opened the Pemberton Early Childhood Center in 2011, now serving more than 600 students. In 2014, he was honored as the Superintendent of the Year for Burlington County and Central New Jersey.

Mike was also superintendent of Glassboro Public Schools (2002-2007) and deputy superintendent of schools at Salem County Vocational Technical Schools (2000-2002). While at SCVTS, he fostered an alignment with Salem Community College through the College Acceleration Program, facilitating several students obtaining an associate degree in tandem with their high school diplomas. Mike started his administrative career as an assistant principal for four years at Woodstown High School and principal of Pennsville Memorial High School for 15 years.

Mike supports several initiatives in Salem County, including the Business Education Committee and the Economic Development Council. He serves on the boards of the Salem County Vocational-Technical Schools’ Educational Foundation, Stand Up for Salem, Salem Medical Center and the Salem County Chamber of Commerce. He was the chair of the Chamber’s board until December 2019. He is also president of the Rotary Club of Penns Grove.

Mike was honored with the 2017 Salem County Vo-tech Educational Foundation Leadership Award. The $25,000 raised that evening created a scholarship in his name. The first Michael R. Gorman Scholarship was presented in June 2017 at the Vo-Tech’s honors ceremony.

He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Widener University, a Master of Education degree from Temple University, a bachelor’s degree from Widener, and an associate degree from Burlington County College.

Madinah Thomas

Madinah Thomas is a longtime member of the Salem community and friend of the Forman S. Acton Educational Foundation. As one of the first Forman Scholars, Madinah has been involved with the organization since its inception. A native of Elsinboro, New Jersey, she graduated from Salem High School and earned Bachelor of Science degrees in accounting and finance from Rowan University. After starting her career with PricewaterhouseCooopers, the multinational tax and consulting services firm in downtown Philadelphia, she is now a member of the audit practice at M&T Bank in Wilmington, Delaware. She is passionate about mentoring younger Scholars and paying it forward to an organization that has contributed so much to her current success. When she is not auditing financials or mentoring students, Madinah enjoys working out (especially yoga), going to the beach and shopping.