BOARD OF TRUSTEES

In 1995, energized by the excitement of discovery and new beginnings, we founded a school based upon fundamental commitments to diversity, opportunity, open-minded exploration and caring, and responsible engagement with the world within and beyond the boundaries of our campus. We did this because it was right, and we believed in it. Today it is still right, we believe in it more than ever, and it has become a practical imperative in our rapidly evolving, increasingly interconnected world. We no longer live in insular communities – tangible or virtual; we participate in a worldwide economy and a globalized marketplace, making diversity and comfort with all that diversity entails a basic requirement for 21st century education and existence.

Although New Roads is no longer “new,” those of us who are charged with maintaining the school’s mission remain energized and focused on the possibilities ahead to discover new paths to excellence, opportunity, and engagement with the issues of our time.

The Board of Trustees cultivates an open dialogue with our community. Please contact board@newroads.org to share your thoughts.

For more information about independent school Boards, please see the National Association of Independent School's Major Responsibilities of Independent School Boards.



Board of Trustees 2025-26
Bryan Biniak
Breck Eisner
Jody Gerson
Allison Hertog
Alan Hoffman
Evelyn Hou
Michael Krupp
Matt Lippman
Gus Lopez
Prashant Mehrotra
Jason Parry
Andy Rose
Melissa Rowe
Trish Torrey
Erin Whalen

 

    • Bryan Biniak

Bryan Biniak has three sons; two attended New Roads School (Class of 2023 and Class of 2028). He has served on the Board of Trustees since 2019. Bryan has 35 years of technology and general management experience. He currently serves as the Managing Director of Provenance Ventures, a social impact incubator and investment firm. He previously served as President of Songtradr Group, Founder and CEO of Connected Travel, General Manager Microsoft, Global Vice President/General Manager of Nokia, Senior Vice President/General Manager of American Greetings, Senior Vice President of Vivendi Universal, COO of PWS, Founder and CEO of MusicZone, and Vice President at Harmonix Music Systems, developers of Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Dance Central. Bryan holds a BA in International Relations, Business and Economics from Boston University. 


Why I Serve
New Roads is a rare place where students, alongside their families, are encouraged to explore their passions, find their voices, and grow as individuals within a diverse and caring community. I believe a New Roads education is more than a bridge from one stage of life to the next—it is a core foundation in a student’s life, instrumental in shaping who they become as a lifelong learner, a leader, a community member, and a global citizen. It is a home away from home—a place where students shape who they are and how they will live for the rest of their lives.

I serve because I believe students become their best selves when they feel safe enough to be authentic, and because that sense of belonging matters not only for students, but for families as well. Having served as a trustee at First Pres and Seven Arrows, and on the Board of the Boston University College of Arts and Sciences, I have seen how rare New Roads is and the uniquely innovative role it has played in education for more than 30 years. I am proud to bring my entrepreneurial and professional experience to the Board in support of our faculty and administration, and to help protect and advance the New Roads mission for our students, alumni, and families.

    • Jody Gerson

Jody Gerson has a daughter and a son who graduated from New Roads. She joined the New Roads School Board of Trustees in 2022. 
 
Why I Serve
I have both a son and a daughter who have graduated from New Roads, and their experiences at this school have further shaped my belief in the importance of leveling the playing field of opportunities for all young people.  I love the school and believe wholeheartedly in our village and our extraordinary mission to giving young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to enter society on an equal footing. As parents, citizens, and contributors to the future of this nation, it is our duty to find ways to make success and acceptance an equal right, attainable by all children in the United States. It is my great honor to serve on New Road’s Board of Trustees. 

    • Allison Hertog

Allison Hertog has a daughter who graduated New Roads in 2022.  She's a former special education teacher and a lawyer representing K-12 public school students with disabilities.  
 
Why I Serve  
Having lived and been part of school communities all over the country,  I know that New Roads is a truly unique school.  New Roads' authentic commitment to academic excellence, inclusion and economic diversity is very rare, if not singular, nationwide.  My daughter's experience at the school was life-changing and when she graduated I wanted to continue to be a part of it.  It's an honor to serve with this very talented group of board members who are as genuine in their devotion to the school and its future as I am.  

    • Evelyn Hou

Evelyn Hou has been a member of the New Roads School Board of Trustees since 2020.

Why I Serve
New Roads is a very special and unique place. The school provides a safe place for its students to learn, take risks, fail, question, challenge, communicate, problem solve and grow. Students are given the space to find out who they are and who they might aspire to be. They are stretched to view the world through multiple lenses and to also understand their responsibility in challenging and changing injustice. Academics play a critical and central role in shaping the mind, but success is personal and unique to each individual. The special design of a New Roads education is created through thoughtful intention and continual reflection that drives the decisions and direction of teaching, its leadership, and the community. Since its inception, the school has always had a deeply rooted commitment to diversity and inclusion, core values that continue to weave through the student body and families at the school today. I am honored to be a part of the New Roads Village and I serve to protect the mission of New Roads School.

    • Michael Krupp

Michael Krupp and his wife, Liana, have a daughter, Frankie, who is a current New Roads student. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2022 and serves as Treasurer and as Chair of the Finance Committee. Michael is Managing Director of the George Krupp Family Office, overseeing strategic direction and capital allocation for a multi-generational real estate investment family.  He serves on the Board of Directors of Berkshire Residential Investments, a national multifamily platform, and is co-founder of Lenox West Capital, a real estate co-investment firm.  Michael is also co-founder and owner of Area Four, a restaurant group based in the Boston area.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University's College of Communication and is an alumnus of Phillips Academy Andover.  Michael and his family live in Venice.

Why I Serve
Frankie came to New Roads and found her people.  She found a stage, an orchestra, a volleyball team, and a group of friends who lift each other up.  That is not something you can engineer as a parent - it happens when a school builds the right culture, and New Roads has built something special.  As a family, we have experienced firsthand what it means when a school sees your kid as a whole person and gives them room to explore who they are.  I serve because I want to help protect the conditions that make that possible, and because my background in financial management is one way I can make sure this place stays strong for the families coming after us.

    • Matt Lippman

Matthew Lippman is a proud alumni of New Roads School, Class of 2009. He joined the Board of Trustees in 2024.  After graduating from New Roads, Matthew went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Economics from Union College. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of JRK Property Holdings, where he is actively involved in the firm’s investment strategy and operations. Matthew lives in Pacific Palisades with his wife, their three sons, and their golden retriever named Quincy after his favorite Deer Valley chairlift.
 
Why I Serve
As a graduate of New Roads, the school played a formative role in shaping who I am — not only academically and athletically, but in the way I think about leadership, community, and responsibility. The education I received instilled in me the importance of inclusion, integrity, and opportunity, values that continue to guide both my personal and professional life.  Now, as the dad of three boys, I am proud and honored to be a part of New Roads’ ongoing commitment to education.
 
 

    • Gus Lopez

Gus Lopez has a son who attended New Roads K-12 (Class '21) and a daughter currently enrolled in the 7th grade. Gus joined the board in 2021.

Why I Serve
I serve to give back to New Roads, which has given my family so much over the years. From a superior education to unique school experiences for our kids that are not easy to find in other schools. New Roads helps us, as parents, raise good kids and great humans beings who care about the world and others. I believe that by serving as a Trustee, I can continue supporting the mission, vision and values of New Roads and strengthen the strategic plan for the future. I am honored to have been invited to serve on the Board of Trustees and look forward to continuing my service.
 
 

    • Prashant Mehrotra

Prashant Mehrotra is a Partner and Managing Director at Clearlake Capital, where he leads investments in software and technology businesses. Previously, he held investing roles at Silver Lake Partners and Tennenbaum Capital Partners, and began his career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, where he was a Mayfield Fellow, and received his M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Why I Serve
I joined the Board of Trustees at New Roads School because I believe deeply in the power of an inclusive, student-centered education that nurtures both intellectual curiosity and strong character. As a parent, I value the school’s commitment to diversity, empathy, and community. New Roads has been a meaningful part of my family’s life, and I am grateful to support a learning environment where every child feels known, challenged, and inspired to find their voice.

    • Jason Parry

Jason Parry has two children at New Roads, and joined the Board in 2020.  For 20 years, he served on commissions and task forces on urban planning and housing in the City of Santa Monica. 

Why I Serve
I’m inspired by New Roads’ teachers, and how they respect young people for who they are.  I am moved by the school leaders who know that it’s not enough to help only New Roads’ students grow; we must also share our stories broadly and advocate for the wellbeing of all students.  And, I am drawn into service by New Roads’ young people, forces of empathy that the world desperately needs.  These people, and the bridges we seek to build together, are why I serve.

    • Andy Rose

Andy Rose and his wife Diane have two children who began New Roads in kindergarten (class of 2020 / 2026). Andy Rose is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist and has written and produced music in a variety of genres and mediums over the years. He has served on the New Roads Board of Trustees for 12 years.

Why I Serve
I believe New Roads has a role to play in the betterment of the world. I feel blessed to have two very different children who have each experienced a uniquely personal education, rooted in authentic acceptance and a deep passion for learning. New Roads taught me that education can be a partnership between teacher and student, based on understanding and mutual respect. I believe that is rare and magical. Our society and world need a young generation that can communicate and collaborate with diverse minds on solving the persistent problems of our time in humanistic ways. After 16 years as a New Roads parent, and 12 years serving on the Board of Trustees, I have taken the core New Roads commitments to heart. I continue to dedicate myself to this profound school by trying to help secure its future while maintaining the essence, soul, and core beliefs that have made it extraordinary since the beginning.

    • Melissa Rowe

Dr. Melissa Rowe and her husband, David Loughran, have a daughter, Fiona Loughran, who graduated from New Roads in 2024.  Melissa is the Distinguished Chair for Human Potential and Principal Behavioral Scientist at RAND Corporation and from 2012-2025 Vice President Global Research Talent overseeing a multidisciplinary staff of ~1600 researchers.  RAND is a non-profit public policy research organization headquartered in Santa Monica, dedicated to improving policy and decision making through research and analysis.  She joined the New Roads Board of Trustees in 2017.  Melissa also serves on several other non-profit boards including the Development Partnership Institute and the Advisory Braintrust for XPrize Foundation. 
 
Why I Serve
From the moment I became acquainted with some of the school’s incredible teachers and administrators, I wanted to become a part of their community; a community that is striving to deliver a top-quality and inclusive education to an eclectic student body, and bring the approach to the rest of the United States and the world. As a psychologist with a background in education and mental health and wellbeing research, this mission and approach is well-aligned with my professional goals, and my personal goal to provide my daughter with an excellent academic education and a community with shared values.  I serve on the board to assist New Roads in achieving our mission to liberate human potential and deliver a model of education that values inclusion and meaningful access for all students.

    • Trish Torrey

Trish Torrey has been a New Roads School Board Member since 2020.

Why I Serve
When my daughter graduated from New Roads in 2017 after starting there in kindergarten, I knew she was ready to leave the nest and start her next journey. The education, the opportunities and the authentic life gifts she received from New Roads were invaluable. For me, it was more difficult to leave the family and community that had been such a vital, compassionate, relevant and inspired part of our lives. I am honored to return and give back to my New Roads family as a board member.

    • Erin Whalen

Erin Whalen is the Executive Director of Da Vinci RISE High School. He graduated from New Roads School in 2008.

Why I Serve
As a Santa Monica native and proud alumni of New Roads High School, it is an honor to be able to pay it forward to a school and family that largely impacted my professional and personal trajectory. It is not every day that schools successfully foster safe, empowering and rigorous learning environments for their youth. More specifically youth of color, queer youth and youth from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. This is not a coincidence, but a revolutionary decision that takes tact, perspective, integrity and critical thought. This is the type of school that New Roads is. Because I was able to be a part of such a community, I had the foresight to imagine a similar community for the most at-promise youth in Los Angeles; Da Vinci RISE High School. These dreams do not brew themselves, they take a village of courageous leaders and revolutionary thinkers to lead the way. This is exactly what New Roads is, and that is why I am proud  to serve.
New Roads School is a college preparatory K-12 private independent school in Santa Monica, CA, serving over 515 elementary school, middle school and high school children from the greater Los Angeles area. New Roads School provides an inspired educational program from which an authentically diverse student population, mirroring the rich diversity of Los Angeles, develops a personal dedication to learning, a respect for independent thinking, and an expanding curiosity about the world and its people.
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS New Roads School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.