A LITTLE BACKGROUND
The published stories, biographical details, and photographs behind this site.
Thomas M. Wells is the author of Naked on the Highway and Dream, Plan, Do!, and the founder of Wells Mountain Initiative. His writing brings together experiences from family life, entrepreneurship, law, and philanthropy.[1]
Tom and Carol met at Bucknell University and married in 1973. They opened a clothing shop in Lewisburg while still students. Later, they raised three daughters and made a home in Bristol, Vermont, where their ventures included an independent bookstore. Bucknell’s profile of the couple captures the humor and partnership that accompanied those decisions.[4]
Tom graduated from Bucknell in 1974 and earned his law degree at Case Western Reserve University in 1981. His solo practice, established in 1986, grew into Wells, Jaworski & Liebman. After a career spanning more than four decades, he became of counsel in 2021.[2][3]
In May 2023, Middlebury College awarded Tom, Carol, and their daughter Jordyn honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees for their work with WMI. A Bucknell alumni update that year records Tom and Carol’s fiftieth wedding anniversary and their life between Vermont and St. Thomas.[5][6]
A Memoir
A personal memoir spanning Woodstock, work, parenting, a Vermont bookstore, and the experiences behind Tom’s commitment to giving back.
The Wells Mountain Initiative Story 2005–2025
The story of WMI’s first twenty years, told through its beginnings, the people who helped it grow, and the scholars serving their communities.
Both books have been published. The page counts and ISBNs above refer to paperback editions; other formats may differ. Descriptions on this site are editorial summaries of the publishers’ accounts, rather than excerpts from the books.
WMI’s story began in 2005, when Jordyn Wells learned that her friend Victoria Galley in Ghana could not afford to continue to college. The Wells family helped. Tom’s prior YMCA work, Carol’s involvement, and support from David Bolger contributed to the organization that grew from that beginning.[12]
Today, WMI combines scholarships with leadership development, community grants, and continuing support for alumni. Its approach centers on people leading change in their own communities. Tom serves as founder and board chairman.[12][13]
A note on numbers: the new book’s publisher describes more than 1,000 scholars across 55 countries. WMI’s impact page displays a separate snapshot of 438 students and 472 alumni, while its homepage announces 104 incoming scholars for 2026. These figures come from different published snapshots and should not be treated as one reconciled total. Refer to WMI for its latest reporting.[9][14][15]
The author portrait and book-cover references are sourced from Scribe Media / Houndstooth Publishing. The homepage banner and social sharing image adapt the supplied portrait with an AI-assisted background extension. The historical WMI photograph is sourced from Wells Mountain Initiative’s founding story. These source credits identify where the images were published; they do not imply that the photographs are in the public domain.
The journal offers a selection of previously published profiles and reports. Linked pieces retain their original publishers, bylines, and dates; they are not newly written essays by Tom. Bucknell’s All In, for example, is Patrick Broadwater’s 2015 profile, and Middlebury’s commencement report was published by the college in 2023.[4][5]
For an extended biography, chronology, and additional source notes, read the research dossier.
Sources consulted September 14, 2026. Undated pages are identified as such.