Meet the Board 23-24
2023-2024 Board of Trustees & Nominees
Lesley Ryan Miller, Chair
Greg Woods, Vice Chair
Greg graduated from Brown University and Georgetown Law after attending public elementary and secondary schools in Ohio, where he spent his childhood. He is the executive vice president and general counsel— corporate legal of LPL Financial, a publicly traded financial services firm, at which he advises on a range of corporate, securities, and employment law matters. In addition to serving on Park’s Board, he is a former trustee of Boston Medical Center’s Exceptional Care Without Exception Trust. Greg and his wife Emily have three daughters—Millie ’22, Lizzie (Grade 7), and Gracie (Grade 3).
Rahul Ballal, Secretary
Rahul was born in a small town in the UK and immigrated to the US when he was four. Growing up in Michigan and later Ohio, he attended a small independent day school similar to Park. He traveled east to attend Brown University to study biology and then moved to San Francisco to run a knowledge management startup, which eventually brought him to Washington DC. In DC, he met his wife Sonia and they together completed graduate work and moved to Boston for jobs and additional training. Rahul is currently the CEO of a biotech startup developing novel drugs for patients suffering from sickle cell disease. He has three children, Meenu '23, Shyla (Grade 6), and Saavin (Grade 1) and is always working on improving his jump shot in basketball.
Sara Leventhal Fleiss '95, Treasurer
After graduating from Park, Sara attended Milton Academy and Harvard College, where she studied applied mathematics. She then went on to receive an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she is now a Senior Lecturer of Business Administration. Sara was the co-founder and co portfolio manager of Emeth Partners, an emerging markets arbitrage hedge fund. Sara joined the Board in 2016 and currently serves as Treasurer and is on the Executive Committee and Investment Committee. Previously, she co-chaired the Head of School Search Committee and the Transition Committee. Sara has three children: Morris, Solomon '24, and Annabel (2).
Darren Abrahamson
Darren graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and received an MBA from Harvard Business School.
He has spent the past 18 years at Bain Capital, where he co-heads Bain Capital Tech Opportunities, a growth-stage technology fund which he helped launch in 2019.
Darren and his wife Daniela live in Newton with their sons Brady (‘26), Ryan (‘29) and Tyler (‘31) and their dog Whiskey.
Celina Barrios-Millner
Celina brings to The Park School over 20 years experience in advancing transformational equity and inclusion strategies through the public sector. She spent her childhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, after emigrating from Venezuela, an experience that inspired her commitment to rethinking and redesigning systems so that they work for everyone. Celina currently is co-vice president of the Office of Race and Equity Research at the Urban Institute, where she leads Urban’s efforts to center equity in their work and developing innovative approaches to implementing equitable policy solutions at the local level. She previously served as senior advisor to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and as the City of Boston’s Chief of Equity and Inclusion. Celina and her husband Amon are parents to Amaya (Grade 6) and Mateo (Grade 4).
James Benenson
James graduated from Harvard College in 2002 with an A.B. in American History and Literature. Since 2003, James has worked in various roles at Industrial Manufacturing Company LLC (IMC), a multi-national conglomerate of small and medium-sized manufacturing and distribution businesses. He is currently Co-Chair of the Board of IMC and its parent company. James has also actively served in volunteer governance and leadership roles at several small and medium sized non-profit organizations, including Rehearsal for Life, Beacon Hill Nursery School, American Independence Museum and Root Capital.
James lives in Brookline with his wife, Fiona, their three children Jamesy (’24), Sissy (’26) and Philip (’29), and Cleopatra, a Shiloh Shepherd Dog.
Richard "Kent" Bennett
Born in Virginia and living in Newton, Kent is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Harvard Business School. He is a Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. Kent joined the Board in 2022 and serves on the Investment Committee. Kent and his wife Kate are the parents of three girls – Maxwell (Grade 5), Molly (Grade 2), and Charlie (3…aspiring Park student).
Kelly Caiazzo
Kelly Caiazzo attended public school in her home state of Maine prior to earning a B.A. and M.A. in History from Emory University and a Master’s in Education from Harvard University. Previous volunteer roles include Sustainable Wellesley, Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, The Wellesley Mothers Forum, Wellesley Green Schools, and Off the Rocks Animal Rescue. In addition to joining Park’s Board, she is a co-editor of Park Perspectives and volunteers for the library and as a tour guide. She and her husband Greg have two children at Park, Will (‘25) and Andrew (‘26).
Lise Charlier
Lise Charlier is Head of School at The Cambridge School of Weston (CSW), a 9-12 day and boarding school. CSW is a leader among progressive independent schools and a close partner with Park. Prior to beginning her headship at CSW in 2019, Lise lived and worked in the Baltimore/Annapolis MD area, serving as Director of Studies and Strategic Initiatives at the Severn School. Born and raised in Haiti, Lise was educated in the Haitian, French, and American educational systems. She holds an MS in education from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from Georgetown University. She serves on multiple boards including AISNE, the Association of Independent Schools of New England and CSEE, the Center for Spiritual and Ethical Education. She currently lives with her family on the CSW campus in Weston, MA.
Nicole Danforth
Nicole is a graduate of Amherst College and Dartmouth Medical School. She is a former professional athlete and brings that experience as well as her interest in young people and healthy development to her dream job as a child and adolescent psychiatrist who works with children, parents, teams, and communities to achieve mental well-being. As a leader in the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Newton-Wellesley Hospital she works to cultivate resilience among young people, ensure equity in access to care, and helps vulnerable populations thrive. Nicole and her wife Judy have three children: Elias (Grade 7), Jordan (Grade 7) and Sam ’05.
Chandler Bass Evans
Ken Frieze
Ken and his wife Tamar have three daughters, Sloane (attending Park in Grade 8) and identical twins Avery and Marin (Grade 5 at another school). Ken is currently the co-chair of the Development Committee and also serves on the Executive Committee and the Building and Grounds Committee. He was formerly co-chair of the Major Gifts Committee of Park's Annual Fund and served on the SPARK Capital Campaign Planning Committee. When Ken can’t spend time with his family, he goes to work as the Chairman of Gordon Brothers, a more than century-old global special situations investment company headquartered in Boston. He is a current member of the American College of Bankruptcy and a co-founder of the Boston Corporate Finance Community’s Gathers to Give Benefiting More Than Words. He holds a BA from Lehigh University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
May Hara
Raised in a State Department family, May attended international schools overseas before graduating from the National Cathedral School, Cornell University, and the University of Wisconsin, where she completed a PhD in Educational Policy. A former middle school English teacher in the New York City public school system, she is currently Associate Professor of Teacher Education and Director of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship, and Service at Framingham State University. Her most recent book is a mixed-methods study of teachers' experiences as educational policy advocates. May, her husband Michael, and their children Margot (Grade 8) and Hugh (Grade 4) live in Jamaica Plain.
Tiffany Hogan, PA President
Tiffany Hogan will serve the Park community for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years as president of The Park School Parents’ Association and as a member of Board of Trustees. A Boston native, she has a BS in Business Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MBA from Simmons School of Management. She currently leads Diversity & Inclusion for Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, a Boston-based intellectual property law firm. Tiffany has been an active parent volunteer since joining the Park community when her son, Xavier, now in Grade 8, entered in Grade 1. She has led numerous parent committees at Park, including New Parent Dinners, Community Service, and Hospitality. Most recently, she helped create and co-chair the Antiracism Task Force of Park's Alumni and Development Office. It is important to her to be an active part of the Park community so that Xavier feels like he belongs.
Julia Lloyd Johannsen '93
Julia is not only a parent to Oscar (Grade 8), Marshall (Grade 5), and Linda Rose (Grade 3), but she is also a proud Park School alumna from the Class of 1993. She is no stranger to the Park Board, having served as the Alumni Representative from 2012-14. Additionally, she spent a year as a Teaching Apprentice in the Modern Language Department during the 2002-03 school year. As a volunteer, she happily served on the Alumni Committee for many, many years in addition to serving on the Major Gifts, Development, and DEI committees. Julia feels very fortunate to have been able to participate in the Park community at so many different levels. After graduating from Park, Julia attended high school at Phillips Academy, Andover, followed by undergrad years at Washington University in St Louis, a Master's degree from Middlebury College's French program, and a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health from Lesley University. Julia chairs the Board of Directors at United South End Settlements, sits on the Advisory Boards for King Boston and Phillips Academy's Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, and founded The Impact Collective, which she launched in 2020 to address the racial wealth gap.
Ted Noon
A native of Washington, DC, Ted Noon moved to the Boston area during his middle school years, and after graduating from Milton Academy, earned his BA in history and economics at Middlebury College. A graduate of Harvard Business School, he began his career in investment banking before joining Boston-based Acadian Asset Management, where he serves as Director of the Americas Group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He and his wife, Michelle, whom he met at HBS, live in West Newton with their two children, Charlotte, Park Class of 2028, and Nick, Class of 2025. A devoted outdoor enthusiast, Ted enjoys endurance sports, including marathons and cycling, as well as skiing, and is especially passionate about the ways Park is able to take advantage of the many outdoor educational opportunities made possible by the School’s expansive campus.
Femi Obi
Born in Nigeria and raised in New York, Femi’s introduction to New England occurred upon entering Phillips Academy (Andover) his freshman year. He has been here ever since. After graduating with a BA in Philosophy and Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Femi moved to Boston and began his career in the Technology Media and Telecom sector. He later earned an MS in Finance at Boston College and an MBA, Strategy & Finance at MIT’s Sloan School of Management.
Femi pivoted to management consulting post-business school. He is currently KPMG’s Advisory Leader for New England and Upstate New York, and Global Lead Partner on several key client relationships. Femi moved to the Brookline area 30 years ago, and as an avid runner, often admired the Park campus on his route. He lives with his wife, Nicole, and their daughter, Adanna (Grade 7) in Chestnut Hill.
Rich Quincy
Rich is a principal of Quincy & Company which is a regional real estate development and management company with a presence throughout New England. He is also a trustee of Bromley Realty Trust, which is the oldest continually operating business trust in Massachusetts, where he leads investment strategy. Rich was born and raised in the Boston area and attended Dedham Country Day, Noble and Greenough, Boston College and the University of Connecticut School of Law before beginning his investment career. He is the co-chair of the Building & Grounds committee and a member of the Executive Committee and the Committee on Trustees. Rich has two children at Park, Louisa (Grade 3) and Hannah (Grade 1). His wife Eliza is a Park School alumna and active volunteer at the school.
Sean Abdur Rahim
Sean is a devoted member of the Park community with a unique perspective on education and school management. As both a father of a current Park student and a successful Park alum, Sean understands the essence of the School and its impact on students' lives. Having served as the Facilities Manager at the Benjamin Banneker Charter School in Cambridge, Sean possesses extensive knowledge in managing educational facilities. He is eager to contribute his expertise to Park and give back to the School that has played a significant role in his family's life. Sean firmly believes in the transformative power of a nurturing and exceptional peer group for Park students. He sees his children benefiting from the Park community, acquiring essential tools for their personal growth and development as they mature into young men and women. Sean's dedication to Park and experience in educational facilities management makes him an invaluable asset to the School's future growth and development.
Young Ju Rhee
Young Ju attended international schools in Kuwait, Cameroon, Tunisia and France amongst others and also attended public schools in her native South Korea. After further studying in England and the United States, she returned to South Korea to work at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Seoul Office as a Public Relations Officer. Young Ju received her doctorate degree in international development from the University of Oxford, and now teaches in the Global Studies Department at Bentley University. While at Park, Young Ju has volunteered as a Class Rep, served on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee as well as the Steering and Strategy Committee of the Parents’ Association. She has four children - Graham '19, Grayson ‘21, Griffin (Grade 5) and Gemma (age 4).
Anna Sinaiko
Originally from Minneapolis, Anna attended Princeton University and earned a PhD in health policy from Harvard University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in Health Economics and Policy at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health. At Park Anna has served as a Class Representative and gives admissions tours. Anna is the parent of three children – Sasha '21, Talia ’23 , and Reid (Grade 6).
Amanda Teo
A career public servant, Amanda most recently served as Counsel to the United States Attorney and an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. She has an A.B. from Princeton University, an M.A. from Harvard University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. At Park, she has volunteered as a class parent, a co-chair of the PA DEI Committee, and a co-facilitator for the parent and caregiver SEED group. She and her husband, Stephen Gordon, are chaotically and delightfully outnumbered by their children, Ethan (Grade 5), Jonathan (Grade 3), and Mari (Grade 1).
Susanna Whitaker Waters '99, Alumni Association Representative
