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Moravian Academy in Action
Jeff Risberg ’75MA: Bridging Moravian’s Legacy with the Future of Exponential Technologies
When Jeff Risberg graduated from Moravian Academy in 1975, the world was only beginning to imagine the possibilities of the digital age. Personal computers were a novelty, and artificial intelligence belonged to the realm of science fiction. Today, Risberg stands at the forefront of that once-imagined world, working as a Principal Architect at Aisera, a Silicon Valley AI company, and shaping the future through exponential technologies. His journey, however, began on Moravian’s campus—where a forward-thinking curriculum and a few extraordinary teachers ignited a lifelong passion for the intersection of science, art, and innovation.
Now, five decades later, Risberg is giving back to the school that launched his journey. Risberg is helping to guide the strategic implementation of a bold new initiative: The Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation. One of the Center’s four signature pillars—Exponential Technologies—aims to prepare students not only to navigate but to shape a future defined by rapid
technological change.
“At Moravian, I was allowed to pursue new ideas and blend disciplines in a way that was rare for the time,” Risberg recalls. “Those experiences formed the basis of everything I’ve done since.”
A Foundation Rooted in Curiosity and Encouragement
As a student, Risberg found himself at the intersection of multiple passions. Though drawn to math and science, he was encouraged to explore the arts. He remembers how Ms. Luehning’s art class helped him blend mathematical precision with creative expression—culminating in a computer-generated artwork accepted into a regional exhibition. In music class, Mr. Berryman introduced him to the synthesizer, an early example of exponential technology that inspired Risberg to explore sound engineering. That seed eventually led to collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder and Chick Corea, and even technical contributions to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Risberg credits the nurturing environment of Moravian Academy—with its interdisciplinary learning, personal attention, and deep respect for individual curiosity—for instilling the confidence to pursue a nontraditional path.“It was a place that supported invention before I even knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he says.
Catalyzing the Future of Learning at Moravian
During the 2024–25 school year, Risberg helped the Emerging Trends Committee of the Board of Trustees focus on exponential technologies—technologies whose capabilities double over short periods, such as AI, robotics, synthetic biology, and quantum computing. The goal? To envision how Moravian Academy could build curricular and co-curricular experiences that don’t just teach about the future, but actively shape it.
Risberg went beyond conversation. Drawing on decades of experience as a software developer, entrepreneur, and startup advisor, he researched and proposed a potential model curriculum for a high school student who might want to “major” in exponential technologies. The sequence included project-based courses in machine learning, ethical AI, bioengineering, and entrepreneurship—bridging classroom knowledge with real-world application.
His presentation of the proposed curriculum is now serving as a catalyst for professional development and curricular exploration over the next several years. Several faculty engaged in professional development over the summer to enhance their skill set in exponential technologies with the broader goals of the Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation.
“We’re not just introducing a few new electives,” says Risberg. “We’re building a mindset. Students need to learn how to adapt, create, and lead in a world that’s changing faster than ever before.”
A Lifelong Commitment to Impact Through Technology
Outside of his work with Moravian Academy, Risberg’s career has spanned startups and scale-ups, public sector consulting and private-sector disruption. From building trading portals for Wall Street to launching health-focused gaming apps, his work has always centered on applying exponential tools to solve human problems. He has held leadership roles at TIBCO, QuanticMind, and Serus Corporation, and has served as an angel investor and advisor to multiple startups tackling challenges from sustainability to philanthropy.
In each case, he brings not only technical depth, but a strong sense of mission-driven innovation—a value that echoes Moravian Academy’s own commitment to “nurturing the joyful spirit of each learner.”
Investing in the Next Generation of Innovators
Risberg’s work with the school reflects a larger truth: that alumni are key to transforming strategic vision into real-world opportunities for students. His involvement in the Exponential Technologies initiative underscores how meaningful alumni engagement can shape the future of education.
“When I see how Moravian Academy has evolved—expanding its reach, its facilities, and its thinking—I’m inspired,” says Risberg. “This isn’t just about building a program. It’s about investing in the minds that will lead us forward.”
As the school launches the Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation and continues to explore the integration of exponential technologies into its curriculum, Jeff Risberg’s vision and leadership will remain a touchstone for what’s possible when history, innovation, and purpose come together.
To learn more about the Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation and how you can support initiatives like Exponential Technologies, visit www.moravianacademy.org/innovation.
To see more of this story and explore our Fall 2025 Journal and Report of Giving, visit https://online.flippingbook.com/view/332927604/?scrlybrkr=dcce2ab5&utm_content=348886278&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-165399893518272
Back
Now, five decades later, Risberg is giving back to the school that launched his journey. Risberg is helping to guide the strategic implementation of a bold new initiative: The Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation. One of the Center’s four signature pillars—Exponential Technologies—aims to prepare students not only to navigate but to shape a future defined by rapid
technological change.
“At Moravian, I was allowed to pursue new ideas and blend disciplines in a way that was rare for the time,” Risberg recalls. “Those experiences formed the basis of everything I’ve done since.”
A Foundation Rooted in Curiosity and Encouragement
As a student, Risberg found himself at the intersection of multiple passions. Though drawn to math and science, he was encouraged to explore the arts. He remembers how Ms. Luehning’s art class helped him blend mathematical precision with creative expression—culminating in a computer-generated artwork accepted into a regional exhibition. In music class, Mr. Berryman introduced him to the synthesizer, an early example of exponential technology that inspired Risberg to explore sound engineering. That seed eventually led to collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder and Chick Corea, and even technical contributions to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Risberg credits the nurturing environment of Moravian Academy—with its interdisciplinary learning, personal attention, and deep respect for individual curiosity—for instilling the confidence to pursue a nontraditional path.“It was a place that supported invention before I even knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he says.
Catalyzing the Future of Learning at Moravian
During the 2024–25 school year, Risberg helped the Emerging Trends Committee of the Board of Trustees focus on exponential technologies—technologies whose capabilities double over short periods, such as AI, robotics, synthetic biology, and quantum computing. The goal? To envision how Moravian Academy could build curricular and co-curricular experiences that don’t just teach about the future, but actively shape it.
Risberg went beyond conversation. Drawing on decades of experience as a software developer, entrepreneur, and startup advisor, he researched and proposed a potential model curriculum for a high school student who might want to “major” in exponential technologies. The sequence included project-based courses in machine learning, ethical AI, bioengineering, and entrepreneurship—bridging classroom knowledge with real-world application.
His presentation of the proposed curriculum is now serving as a catalyst for professional development and curricular exploration over the next several years. Several faculty engaged in professional development over the summer to enhance their skill set in exponential technologies with the broader goals of the Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation.
“We’re not just introducing a few new electives,” says Risberg. “We’re building a mindset. Students need to learn how to adapt, create, and lead in a world that’s changing faster than ever before.”
A Lifelong Commitment to Impact Through Technology
Outside of his work with Moravian Academy, Risberg’s career has spanned startups and scale-ups, public sector consulting and private-sector disruption. From building trading portals for Wall Street to launching health-focused gaming apps, his work has always centered on applying exponential tools to solve human problems. He has held leadership roles at TIBCO, QuanticMind, and Serus Corporation, and has served as an angel investor and advisor to multiple startups tackling challenges from sustainability to philanthropy.
In each case, he brings not only technical depth, but a strong sense of mission-driven innovation—a value that echoes Moravian Academy’s own commitment to “nurturing the joyful spirit of each learner.”
Investing in the Next Generation of Innovators
Risberg’s work with the school reflects a larger truth: that alumni are key to transforming strategic vision into real-world opportunities for students. His involvement in the Exponential Technologies initiative underscores how meaningful alumni engagement can shape the future of education.
“When I see how Moravian Academy has evolved—expanding its reach, its facilities, and its thinking—I’m inspired,” says Risberg. “This isn’t just about building a program. It’s about investing in the minds that will lead us forward.”
As the school launches the Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation and continues to explore the integration of exponential technologies into its curriculum, Jeff Risberg’s vision and leadership will remain a touchstone for what’s possible when history, innovation, and purpose come together.
To learn more about the Center for Civic Leadership and Innovation and how you can support initiatives like Exponential Technologies, visit www.moravianacademy.org/innovation.
To see more of this story and explore our Fall 2025 Journal and Report of Giving, visit https://online.flippingbook.com/view/332927604/?scrlybrkr=dcce2ab5&utm_content=348886278&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-165399893518272
