Wendy’s journey
Throughout my twenties, I was deeply immersed in the world of cognitive science research. For a decade, I served as a research assistant across a diverse spectrum of disciplines, from psychometrically measuring visuospatial decline in Alzheimer’s disease to identifying the hallmarks of emerging metacognitive skills in teenage arguments. Upon graduating, I forfeited my chance at a ‘publish or perish’ life; my deep love of cognitive science was ultimately eclipsed by my urgent need to descend the ivory tower's escape ladder and get my hands dirty.
And I did just that - by starting a nursery school.
At the time, I felt like I was shouldering a huge, lonely mistake- abandoning a future in academia by risking everything I had built for myself. Looking back, I can see that this decision clearly reflected my unshakeable drive to become deeply involved in communities, identify unmet needs, and create solutions from the ground up, all driven by a constant stream of inquiry. As it turned out, the prospect of a career solely focused on publishing research to secure further funding never truly resonated. This became particularly salient when, as I defended my dissertation with a five-month-old at home, the challenges of accessing truly supportive and high-quality local childcare became undeniable.
Rather than accept the existing landscape, I chose to actively shape a solution myself.
This foundational experience of recognizing a community need and building a direct response, informed by a decade spent understanding the nuances of cognitive development, now underpins my uniquely creative and thoughtful approach to leadership and the diverse projects the foundation undertakes.
Building the nursery school was a powerful lesson in directly addressing community needs, and as that chapter evolved, it naturally paved the way for the creation of The Moore Family Charitable Foundation, allowing for a broader reach and impact across diverse initiatives. That decade in cognitive science, focused on how we as humans learn and make sense of the world around us, now underpins my approach to leadership.
I'm driven by what I observe and what's needed, unafraid to create new paths.
Projects like the Brooklyn Diaper Project and Lazy Point Farms began with simple aims – getting diapers to families, growing kelp – but have evolved as I've identified deeper community needs, such as the challenges in local aquaculture and the urgent need to foster hygiene independence. It’s about being responsive, dynamic, and perennially seeking ways to make a real difference.
