Alumni Awards - Homecoming 2026

Graham J. Littlewood, III, '42 Time, Talent & Treasure Award

Ari holds a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Maryland (‘92) and an M.S. in Sustainable Design from Philadelphia University (‘09). Initially, Ari served as a data network engineer working at institutions such as the Smithsonian, Network Solutions and General Research Corporation in the Washington DC area, and then traveling the world with Oracle until landing in Los Angeles helping his cousin launch a semantic-based search engine technology company called Oingo. Oingo grew into Applied Semantics Inc. and in 2003, merged with Google where Ari managed Google’s Southern California IT department and several data centers. Ari was an integral part of the team that developed AdSense technology which, today, generates a significant portion of Google’s revenue.

In 2004, Ari moved to Philadelphia, turning his attention to real estate and sustainable practice. He sponsored student design competitions for young-professionals in real-world urban challenges. He’s a supporter of Philadelphia’s Recycled Artists in Residency program, attracting artists from around the world. Ari served as a committee member of the Green Condo and Co-op Initiative in Philadelphia, and several years as president of the board of The Colonnade Historic Condominium Association. Ari has grown his real estate portfolio to include residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida.

In 2008, Ari became a financial backer, partner, and active advisor in one of Philadelphia’s now-largest construction and demolition recycling centers —Revolution Recovery, operating three facilities, processing over 1,000 tons of waste material per day, and employing over one hundred workers. Revolution Recovery’s mission is to divert material from entering landfills while diversifying outlets for recovered materials.

In early 2019, Ari established the Barkan Family Scholarship for Sustainable Communities endowment at Thomas Jefferson University for students enrolled in Jefferson’s Graduate Sustainability Leadership Certificate Program, with an emphasis on under-represented students in impoverished communities. Each year, a student who exhibits leadership in their communities or careers and who wishes to create a more sustainable environment is selected. There have been six recipients to-date, giving Ari tremendous satisfaction and having real impact in the field.

In late 2019, Ari opened the doors to a mindfulness studio in Philadelphia called Center City Breathe. Classes focus on breathwork and other healing modalities. One of Ari’s greatest joys is teaching conscious and circular breathing around the globe for individuals, groups, and corporate consultations.

As a side hobby, over the last decade, Ari has been building a mobile app called Mysaic, a platform that chronicles life experiences and is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Frank L. Giese Textile Award

Jim Geise is a Senior Account Executive, Sales & Product Development at S. Lichtenberg & Co., Inc., the home fashions industry’s largest manufacturer of ready-made window treatments. During his 17 years with Lichtenberg, Jim has developed business with national and regional retailers, created strategic merchandising initiatives, and developed comprehensive window treatment, bath, and bedding programs designed to maximize sales, space, and profitability.

Prior to Lichtenberg, Jim spent nearly ten years with Croscill Home, managing national specialty retailers and department store accounts. He began his home furnishings career in 1989 with CHF Industries, building extensive expertise in sales, merchandising, and retail account management.

Jim earned a B.S. in Marketing with a minor in Textiles from Thomas Jefferson University (formerly Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science) in 1989. A longtime supporter of Jefferson, he received the university’s Time, Talent & Treasure Award in 2016 and remains actively involved through student mentoring, guest lectures, College of Fashion and Textiles immersion classes, and career guidance. He served on the Kanbar College Advancement Council from 2014–2024 and has served on the College of Business Advisory Board since 2019.

Jim also serves as Vice President and Board Member of Monmouth Arts, President of the Marina Bay Club Homeowners Association, and a member of the Home Fashions Products Association Foundation Board, supporting scholarships for Jefferson and FIT students and helping develop the next generation of industry leaders.

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Amalia Gonsalves is an Associate, Interior Architect and Project Manager at Perkins Eastman in Philadelphia, specializing in hospitality, gaming and adaptive reuse. Her practice extends beyond project work to design education, mentorship, sustainability and building collaborative communities.

Trained as an architect in Mumbai, Gonsalves relocated to Philadelphia for graduate studies in Interior Architecture at Thomas Jefferson University, a shift that moved her focus from the making of buildings to the experience of inhabiting them. That focus on human experience continues to inform her work across hospitality, gaming, entertainment and historic adaptive reuse.

Since graduating in 2018, Gonsalves has progressed from architectural designer to project manager and Associate, leading projects from early planning through delivery. Her work connects design intent with the coordination, execution and operational realities of complex projects. Her contributions to Perkins Eastman’s hospitality work have been recognized in Hotel Management magazine, and she is a contributor to AIA Context.

Gonsalves is NCIDQ Certified and a WELL Accredited Professional. She mentors emerging designers and regularly returns to Jefferson’s interior design studios as a guest critic, continuing a relationship with teaching that began during her graduate studies. At Perkins Eastman, she also leads community service efforts, including the Philadelphia studio’s annual Philabundance food drive.