Lena Jessen, Co-President

Lena Jessen is a parent of three kids, one of whom is currently at Lab – a son in grade 7. Since the family joined the Lab community in 2008, Lena has served in various volunteer roles, sorting books for Bookswap, distributing food for Rites of May, and supporting the school’s fundraising efforts through the Parent Development Committee, Connections and the Dewey Dance. Lena previously served on the Lower School and Middle School Councils of the Parents’ Association and as a Co-President.

Lena grew up in Carlsbad, NM, moved to Dallas for college, came to the University of Chicago for graduate school, and never left town. Despite preferring sun and warmth to grey and cold, she and her family are happy to make Chicago and Hyde Park home. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Lena.

Melissa McMahill, Co-President

Melissa McMahill is the parent of two Lab kids, a daughter in grade 10 and a son in grade 7. She has been active in a number of volunteer positions including room parent, Bookswap Co-chair, Lower School Council member, and Communications Coordinator. Melissa grew up in Minneapolis, MN, before moving to Colorado for college. After school, she lived and worked in Manhattan before finally moving to Chicago to attend graduate school. There, she met her husband, who works at the U of C Medical Center. They live in Kenwood and enjoy being part of the Lab School and Hyde Park/Kenwood community. Melissa enjoys skiing with her family, traveling to sunny beaches, reading, playing mahjongg, and engaging with this fantastic parent community. Please email Melissa with any questions–she’d love to hear from you.

Gaea Gomez Fidler, President-Elect

Gaea Gomez Fidler and her husband Tim joined the Lab community in 2012 when their son Jamie entered N3 at Woodlawn. Now a parent to a rising ninth grader, she greatly appreciates the active role families play in cultivating Lab’s unique community. Gaea has served in several volunteer capacities, including new family mentor, room parent, Picture Day co-chair, Lab development, organizing end-of-school events, and most recently as a member of the Middle School Council. Professionally she worked in community organizing and corporate finance for over 25 years combined. She and her family recently relocated to Hyde Park while they renovate their north side home. Please reach out to Gaea with any questions about Lab – she looks forward to connecting!

Abundio Rodriguez, Treasurer-Elect

Being outnumbered by women in his own home, Abundio Rodriguez is thoughtful of his daughters’ own citizenship and independent thinking, and he is compelled to use their voices and the voice of his own experiences to inspire creative outside-the-box thinking as he works together with you to support our children’s education.

Abundio and his wife, Elizabeth, are the proud parents of Liv grade 9, Sophie grade 7, and Eli grade 4. Please reach out to Abundio with any questions or concerns.

Alina Lazar, Secretary

Alina Lazar has been a Lab parent for more than 10 years. She lives in Lincoln Park with her husband and their 2 daughters (grades 4 and 9). Originally from Romania, after spending some years of training on the East Coast, she joined the University of Chicago Medical Center, which brought her to the Lab community. She currently works as a pediatric anesthesiologist at Lurie Children’s Hospital. Alina and her family enjoy spending time in nature, music, art, reading, and exploring their Romanian heritage and other cultures. Please reach out to Alina with any questions.

Laura Payne, Secretary-Elect

Laura Payne has two children at Lab (grade 6 and grade 10). Laura is a Vice President at Builder’s Vision, focused on sustainable investments in public markets for both Builder’s Asset Management and Builder’s Initiative. She began her professional career as an institutional investor at The University of Chicago Investment Office. Laura is also a UChicago alumna, having received a master’s degree from Booth. Laura is also involved with the Hyde Park School of Dance and Alliance for the Great Lakes. Please reach out to Laura with any questions.

Priya Laroia, Communications Coordinator

Priya Laroia is the parent of two Lab students (grades 12 and 9). She has been an active parent volunteer, serving on the High School Council, LabArts, Connections and Parent Development Committees and as a room and advisory parent in Lower and Middle Schools. Priya currently works in the Alumni Relations & Development Office at UChicago and is an alum of the University of Chicago Law School. She is excited to serve on communications team and work to make information accessible to the entire parent community. Please reach out to Priya with any questions about PA communications.

Anne Groves, Communications Coordinator-Elect

Anne Groves has two kids at Lab.  Robert is a Senior and Catherine a Sophomore.  She has been active in the Lab community since her children started.  Her favorite activities are the annual Book Swap, setting up for LabArts and volunteering on the Connections Committee.  She and her family live in Hyde Park. Please reach out to Anne with any questions about PA communications.

Andee Stacy, High School Council

Andee Stacy and her husband have a daughter who is in grade 11. Through the years at Lab, Andee has been an active volunteer in many capacities, including Room Parent, PA Council (ESH, LS, and HS), PA Treasurer, Tour Guide, Co-Chair of the Holiday Book Fair and Bazaar, Lab Arts, Connections and Bookswap. Andee lives in the South Loop and is an Occupational Therapist at a community hospital. Please feel free to contact Andee if you have any questions about High School. 

Catherine Rosenberg, Middle School Council

Catherine and her husband Mike are the parents of Ellie, 8th grade, and have been with the Lab Schools since Nursery 3. Catherine has been an active volunteer at Lab including Room Parent, Co-Chair of Picture Day, Co-Chair of Bookswap, Connections and LS and MS PA Council. The Rosenbergs moved from Lakeview to Kenwood 5 years ago and Catherine now works for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services helping families with their homes in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area. Please reach out to Catherine with any questions about Middle School.

Cheryl Rudbeck, Middle School Council

Cheryl Rudbeck is the parent of three children. Her twin daughters are in 8th grade. She has served in many volunteer roles at Lab including room parent, LS council member and PA president and Connections chair. 

Cheryl is a lifelong Chicagoan and has been a member of the Lab community since 2011. Please reach out to Cheryl with any questions about Middle School.

Samantha Morales, Lower School Council

Samantha Morales lives in Humboldt Park with her husband, Jaime, their fourth grader, and their dog, Bandon. The Morales family joined the Lab community in 2017, and deeply values the diversity of perspectives and experiences shared through active participation in the community. Volunteering with the Parents’ Association has given Samantha the chance to meet and work with many families, and she is incredibly grateful for the friendships made through those involvements. Samantha is a marketing professional for the University’s Alumni Relations and Development office. Please reach out to Samantha with any questions you have regarding Lower School life at Lab.

Lubna Saleem, Lower School Council

Lubna Saleem and her husband have 3 kids at Lab – in grades 5, 4 and 2. Before moving to Chicago in 2021 and calling Hyde Park home, Lubna and her family have lived, worked, and studied in many states and countries; they proudly consider themselves global citizens of the world.  During her first year at Lab, she has supported the Lower School as a room parent, substitute teacher and volunteered for several events and activities.  Outside of Lab, Lubna is a full-time mom, business development consultant and artist. She enjoys simple walks listening to birds and nature sounds.  Please reach out to Lubna with any questions regarding Lower School life at Lab.

Carly Bradford, ESH Council

Carly Bradford and her husband, Jason, live in Roscoe Village with their three daughters, Ruby (K), Milly (N3), and Franny (too little for Lab). Carly has served as a room parent, admissions tour guide, and has helped to coordinate events for the Lab Jewish Family Group. She enjoys helping in the classroom and getting to know other Lab families. Carly grew up in the Detroit area and moved to Chicago after college (Go Green). Carly owns her own strategic events firm. Please reach out to Carly with any questions regarding ESH.

Melissa Kelley-Knutsen, ESH Council

Melissa Kelley-Knutsen and her husband, Scott, live in the South Loop with their son, Conor (N4). Since joining the Lab community last year, Melissa has served as a room parent. Melissa recognizes the value of family involvement in education and is committed to supporting strong relationships between families and the Lab community. Melissa is a Senior Account Executive who focuses on supporting early childhood programs by addressing their biggest challenges in providing high-quality educational experiences. Please feel free to contact Melissa with any questions about ESH.

Katie Powell, ESH Council

Katie Powell is the proud parent of two little Labbies, Isabella (Grade 2), Emory (K) and one future Labbie, Olivia (1yr old). The family joined the Lab community at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year and Katie is entering her second year as part of the ESH PA. Katie works as a Director of Marketing for a CPG company and enjoys crafting, traveling with her family, cooking and University of Michigan football. Katie lives in the Woodlawn neighborhood with her husband Stephen. Please reach out to Katie with any questions you have regarding life at ESH. 

Jaime Shah, ESH Council

Jamie Shah operates her family’s business, Chem-Impex, a distributor and manufacturer of high purity laboratory chemicals. In addition to teaching at Booth, Jaime is a Polsky Center Entrepreneur in Residence where she provides mentorship and coaching to University of Chicago students interested in exploring topics related to family business and long-term ownership and operations. Jaime is an alumna with an MBA from Booth. Jaime serves on the University of Wisconsin's Business Alumni Board and resides in Wicker Park with her husband, Anish, and their two children Rowan (a Labbie!) and Sona. Please reach out to Jaime with any questions you have regarding life at ESH.