Jill Cross, President

Jill Cross is a proud Lab School alum. Upon graduation, Jill attended Wellesley College earning a BA in Psychobiology with a minor in Africana Studies. Jill returned to Chicago where she became a manager of a Child Psychology Lab at the University of Chicago. She went onto obtain her Master’s in Neurobiology at Northwestern University. Her research focused on the molecular processes of Alzheimer’s disease. She relocated to Houston, TX working at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a Senior Research Assistant in a Gastrointestinal Pathology lab. She returned to Chicago where she has two high schoolers and a lower schooler at Lab. Jill has previously served on the Lower School Council and the EC Council.

Farah Adhi, President-Elect

Farah Adhi is the parent of two Lab students, a son in 9th grade and daughter in 8th grade. Farah and her family lived and commuted to Lab from the north side of Chicago for many years starting in N3, prior to relocating to Hyde Park, where they recently lovingly restored a 115-year-old home. Farah's professional experience is in strategic communications consulting for Fortune 500 companies. In her free time, Farah and family enjoy exploring Chicago as well as traveling around the world. Farah is proud to support the community through volunteering with the Hyde Park Refugee Project and High Jump. Please reach out to Farah about all things Lab and Hyde Park.

Vacant, Treasurer-Elect

Amee Patel, Secretary

Amee Patel is a parent of twin boys who are rising 6th graders at Lab.   While still a new family at Lab, Amee has been involved in various volunteer opportunities such as room parenting and Bookswap.  She looks forward to working with this strong community of families.  Professionally, Amee is a healthcare attorney who focuses on assisting safety net healthcare entities navigate the legal healthcare landscape.   Amee and her family reside in South Loop and love the city's lake life and cultural vibrancy. Please reach out to Amee with any questions.

Riassa von Doetinchem de Rande, Secretary-Elect

Raissa von Doetinchem de Rande and her husband, Omri, are new to Hyde Park and the Lab community. They have a son in N4 and a daughter, who is eager to run (around) ESH in a few years. When not chasing her kids, Raissa serves as an Asst. Professor at UChicago’s Divinity School and loves chatting religion, ethics, and politics. Please reach out with any questions or concerns!

Priya Laroia, Communications Coordinator

Priya Laroia is the parent of one current Lab students (grade 11) and one Lab alum. 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 Career Advancement 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 George, Communications Coordinator-Elect

Anne George has one child at Lab (Grade 3). She has actively supported classroom activities and participated in service to Lab by serving as a room parent in multiple grades, Earl Shapiro Hall (EC-ESH) Tour Guide, and field trip chaperone. Alongside juggling work and parenting, Anne enjoys writing and is looking forward to serving the Lab community by contributing to the Lab communications team.

Monica Shukla, High School Council

Monica Shukla recently joined the Lab community in Fall 2022 and is a parent to two children, a 10th grader and a 6th grader. She acclimated herself to Lab by volunteering as a lower school room parent, an admissions tour guide and Treasurer of Desi Culture Group. After growing up in Ohio, Monica moved to Ann Arbor to pursue her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. Upon graduation, she moved to Philadelphia to kick start her professional career and then to London with her husband, Piyush. During her 13 years in the UK, she worked across various industries in strategy, business development and human resources, gained a master’s degree from King’s College London and raised a family. Monica and her family reside in Lincoln Park and enjoy exploring the food scene in Chicago! Monica looks forward to working with the High School community!

Samantha Morales, Middle School Council

Samantha Morales lives in Humboldt Park with her husband, Jaime, their fifth 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.

Nitika Naytiyal, Middle School Council

Nitika Nautiyal and her husband Neeren Chauhan have been Lab parents since 2016, when their son Nilay Nautiyal Chauhan joined Lab as an N3 student. Nitika has been a room parent and an active member of the Desi Culture Group at Lab and enjoyed bringing stories, holidays, food and music for the South Asian subcontinent to the Lab community. As Nilay starts his middle school journey, Nitika is excited to join the PA council for the first time. Please reach out to Nitika with ideas on how you would like to create an engaged and inclusive middle school parent community at Lab.

Katie Powell, Lower School Council

Katie Powell and her husband Steve live in Hyde Park and are the proud parents of three Labbies: Izzy (4th), Emory (2nd) and Olivia (N3). Since joining the Lab community, Katie has been an active PA-Volunteer, Room Parent, member of the Early Childhood Parents Association and a member of the Black Family Forum Affinity Group. She enjoys meeting new families and planning events to help foster community at Lab. Katie finds the most joy spending time with her family, traveling and creating. Katie is a brand marketing vet, having worked to build some of your favorite brands over the last 15 years.

Reasheal Watts, Lower School Council

Reasheal Watts is a mother to two boys, Preston (3rd) and Parker (rising N3). She and her husband joined the Lab community in 2019 and are often seen volunteering in various capacities and enjoying the many events hosted by Lab. Professionally, Reasheal is a nurse practitioner in hospital medicine. She has worked for UChicago Medicine since 2009 where she strives for health equity and access to care. Reasheal lives in Bronzeville with her family and enjoys spending time in the community and with her neighbors. 

Crystal Knox, Early Childhood Council

Crystal Knox and her husband, Robert, live in Bronzeville and are proud parents of three Labbies: Cali-2nd, Jaxon-N4, and Zori-N4. Since joining Lab’s family, Crystal has been an active PA-Volunteer and serves as a PA-DEI Committee member, Room Parent, Parent Tour Guide, and a member of the Black Family Forum affinity group. She enjoys collaborating with fellow parents to make positive impacts. Her greatest fulfillment is spending time with her family, together playing board games, traveling, and vibing to music. She is also a practicing Attorney of eleven years. Contact Crystal with any questions about the Early Childhood at Lab.

Helen Timothy, Early Childhood Council

Helen Timothy is kept on her toes by her two little girls, Rose (7) and Ada (3). Over the last three years with Lab, Helen has been an involved room parent, served as an ESH Tour Guide, dodged paper cuts with Book Swap and the Holiday Bazaar, and currently co-chairs Rites of May. Helen's happiest when combining her creativity, marketing and events background, and passion for creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all kiddos. Questions? Please get in touch!

Shanele Vaughn, Early Childhood Council

Shanele Vaughn and her husband Chris have been members of the Lab  community since 2022 when their daughter Sai entered N-3. They now have two current Labies, Sai (rising 1st grader) and Slade (rising kindergartener); as well as a 2 year old son, Cru.  Shanele has enjoyed serving as a room parent and looks forward to expanding her presence within the magical place that is Earl Shapiro Hall as a member of the Parents’ Association. Professionally, Shanele is a neurologist. Personally, Shanele enjoys physical fitness, interior design, and summers in Chicago!

Angela Whittington, Early Childhood Council

Angela Whittington and her husband, Adam, joined the Hyde Park neighborhood and Lab community in 2022 and are parents to Ada (rising 1st grader) and Aiden (soon to be N3). This past year, Angela has served as a room parent and enjoyed working with fellow parents and collaborating with teachers to create a fun and memorable year for the classroom.  Her hobbies include exploring museums and zoos with her family, gardening, tennis, and playing video games. Professionally, Angela is a radiologist subspecializing in breast imaging. She is thrilled to get to know more families and to help them navigate Early Childhood at Lab in the upcoming years.