Board | HS Council | MS Council | LS Council | ESH Council

2022–2023 Pa Board

You can always reach us by emailing parents@ucls.uchicago.edu

Co-Presidents

Lena Jessen

**Lena Jessen** is a parent of three kids, two of whom are currently at Lab – a son in grade 6 and a daughter in grade 12. 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**

**Melissa McMahill** is the parent of two Lab kids, a daughter in grade 9 and a son in grade 6. 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 moved to Manhattan and then finally 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.

Presidents-Elect (Vacant)

Treasurer

**Abundio Rodriguez**

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 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 8, Sophie grade 6, and Eli grade 3. Please reach out to Abundio with any questions or concerns.

Treasurer-Elect

**Cathy Cao**

**Cathy Cao** has a son in grade 10 at U-High. As a new parent to Lab last year, Cathy felt grateful to the many parents on the PA Board who welcomed her and her son into the Lab community. She looks forward to helping and working with other parents to support our school and parent body. Cathy's professional experience includes over ten years in accounting and finance. Please reach out to Cathy with any questions.

Secretary

**Laura Payne**

**Laura Payne** has two children at Lab (grade 5 and grade 9). Laura is an alumna of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and also a former member of the University of Chicago investment office.
Laura is a lifelong Chicagoan and has lived in Hyde Park for nearly eighteen years. Please reach out to Laura with any questions.

Secretary-Elect

Alina Lazar

**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 3 and 8 ). 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.

Communications Coordinator- Elect

Communications Coordinator

**Kim Picciola**

**Kim Picciola** has two children at Lab – a daughter in grade 10 and a son in grade 8. In her 10+ years as a Lab parent, Kim has been an active volunteer in the community. She served on the Middle School Council of the PA Board, co-chaired Lab’s annual Bookswap, and has volunteered at numerous PA and school-sponsored events. She is looking forward to helping the Lab community stay informed about PA-sponsored events throughout the school year. Kim’s professional experience includes over a decade working in consulting and finance. Please feel free to reach out to Kim with any questions about PA communications.

Priya Laroia

**Priya Laroia** is the parent of two Lab students (grades 11 and 8). 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 Lab and is an alum of the University of Chicago Law School. She is excited to join the communications team and work to make information relevant and accessible for the entire parent community. Please reach out to Priya with any questions about PA communications.

High School Council

**Sara Skelly**

**Sara** **Skelly** has been a Lab parent for 13 years and has a son in grade 11 and a daughter in grade 8. She’s been an active volunteer, serving on the ESH, LS and MS Councils. In addition, she’s served as a room parent for many years and is a member of the Rites of May planning committee. She lives on the North Side. Please feel free to contact Sara with any questions about the High School or PA events.

**Audris Wong**

**Audris Wong** has two daughters at Lab, in grades 12 and 10, and has been a Lab parent for 15 years (although this is her first time through the college admissions process.)
She has volunteered in numerous capacities at Lab, from co-chairing Picture Day, the Holiday Book Fair, and the Parent Wellness Committee; volunteering on the Lower School and High School Councils; and serving as a former co-President of the PA. She is also the CFO of the Adler Planetarium. Her family recently moved to Hyde Park from Lakeview (R.I.P. bus!) Please feel free to contact Audris if you have any questions about High School.

Andee Stacy

**Andee** **Stacy** and her husband have a daughter who is in grade 10 at U-High. Through the years at Lab, Andee has been an active volunteer in many capacities including Room Parent, PA Council, Tour Guide, Holiday Book Fair and Bazaar, Lab Arts, Connections and Bookswap. She is an occupational therapist who works as needed at a community hospital. Please reach out to Andee with any questions.

Nausheen Zaidi

Please contact Nausheen with any questions about high school.

Middle School Council

Gaea Gomez Fidler

**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 an eighth 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, and organizing end-of-school events. She and her family live in a nearly 140 year-old home on DePaul University’s campus, so she spends much of her time outside of Lab researching historic home contractors because invariably something needs to be fixed. Please reach out to Gaea with any questions about Lab – she looks forward to connecting!

Ramya Shah

**Ramya Shah** and her husband, Ajay, have two kids at Lab in grades 7 and 5. An attorney by profession, Ramya has volunteered at many Lab events, including the Book Fair, Rites of May, Lab Arts, and as an Admissions Tour Guide and Room Parent. Originally from France, Ramya enjoys everything Chicago has to offer. She and her family live in the South Loop and enjoy traveling near and far. Please feel free to contact Ramya with any questions about Middle School.

Catherine Rosenberg

Catherine and her husband, Mike, have enjoyed being a part of the Lab Community for the past 9 years. Their daughter Ellie is in grade 7 and making the most out of middle school with sports, friends and school clubs! The Rosenbergs moved from Lakeview to Hyde Park a few years ago where they can now take advantage of managing school, sports and social activities within the same neighborhood! Catherine has been a Tour Guide, Room Parent, Picture Day Co-Chair, Bookswap Co-Chair, Connections Sigh-Up Party Co-Chair and was on the Lower School PA Council. Originally from San Diego, she enjoys spending time outdoors whenever she has a chance! Please feel free to contact Catherine with any questions about the Lab Community.

**Cheryl Rudbeck**

Please feel free to contact Cheryl with any questions about Middle School.

Lower School Council

Ximena Colunga

**Ximena Colunga** joined the Lab community in 2015 when her son entered N3. She enjoys volunteering at school and has served as room parent, tour guide at ESH for prospective families, and is currently co-chair of Bookswap.
Originally from Mexico, she and her Mauritian husband form a multicultural household in Hyde Park. She enjoys traveling, reading, and learning about new cultures through their cuisine. Please reach out to Ximena with any questions regarding Lower School at Lab.

Meggan Friedman

**Meggan Friedman** has been a Lab parent for six years, during which time she has served as a room parent, a mentor to new families, and has volunteered for Connections, Dewey Dance, and the Parents Fund. Meggan is a strategist for a bank in Chicago, and she and her husband, Sam, live in Old Town and are proud parents of a fourth-grader. Meggan looks forward to connecting with Lower School families in the year ahead and to helping people to get more involved in the life of the school. Please reach out to Meggan with any questions regarding Lower School life at Lab.

**Matina Marks**

**Matina Marks** lives in Wicker Park with her husband Dean and their sons George and Constantine. Matina is a Lab alumna, and has served as a room parent, an admissions tour guide, Lower School lobby decorator, substitute teacher, and spirit wear and spirit shop coordinator. She enjoys travelling and spending time outdoors with her boys and is looking forward to helping build a stronger Lower School community. Please reach out to Matina with any questions.

**Lubna Saleem**

**Lubna** **Saleem** and her husband have 3 kids at Lab – in grades 4, 3 and 1. 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.

Earl Shapiro Hall Council

Yulia Demidovich

Please reach out to Yulia with any questions you may have about ESH.

**Laila Shetty Geht**

**Laila** **Shetty Geht** and her husband Solomon are proud to be part of the Lab community. Their son, Charlie, will be entering kindergarten in Fall 2022. Since joining the Lab community, Laila has served as a room parent. Laila works as a professional development manager at McKinsey & Company and Solomon is a senior investment analyst at GP Brinson Investments. They live in the South Loop. Please reach out to Laila with any questions you may have about ESH.

**Katie Powell**

**Katie Powell** is the proud parent of two little Labbies, Isabella (grade 1), Emory (N4) and one future Labbie, Olivia. The family joined the Lab community at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. Katie is a veteran room parent and is excited to be part of the PA at Lab. During her free-time, Katie enjoys crafting, which the kids often help with. Katie works in brand marketing for a CPG company and resides in Woodlawn with her husband Stephen. Please reach out to Katie with any questions you have regarding life at ESH.

Jamie Shah

Jamie Shah and her husband, Anish, live in the Wicker Park neighborhood with their son, Rowan (N4). They joined the Lab community last year and Jamie served as a room parent. Jamie is Managing Director at her family's business, Chem-Impex, and is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Booth. In her free time she enjoys sewing and practicing Spanish. Please reach out to Jamie with any questions you have regarding life at ESH.