Board of Trustees

Kristin French has a passion for education and community service, which began at the University of San Diego, where she earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration and an MBA focused on International Business and Marketing. She has a strong commitment to education with over 25 years of board service beginning at The University of San Diego, on the Alumni Board. Kristin’s service continued as she helped open two Epiphany Prep Charter Schools and then served on The Nativity School advisory board, which she ultimately chaired twice over nine years. She is currently a Trustee at Pacific Ridge School, where both of her children have attended school.

In addition to her board work in education, French has a professional background in sales and marketing, with nearly a decade of experience at Pepsi Bottling Group. She has also contributed to public health initiatives at UC San Diego, supporting COVID-19 contact tracing and investigative efforts for the Preuss School and for UCSD’s "Return to Learn" program. French currently works for Teladoc Health in cybersecurity.

French and her husband, Steven, have a son who is a graduate of the Class of 2023 from Pacific Ridge and is now attending college, and a daughter who will graduate from Pacific Ridge in 2026.

Dr. Maria Aini is an associate professor of emergency medicine and a physician leader. She received her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed her residency at NY Presbyterian Hospitals of Columbia and Cornell.  Her expertise is clinical operations with experience in health system strategy and operational planning and implementation. Dr. Aini is an effective team leader capable of executing large scale change within an organization with focus on quality and safety, financial performance, and growth. Her philanthropic work includes serving as a trustee for Afghans Rising/Afghan Peaks Charity a 501c3 supporting the Afghan community residing in the US. She has recently relocated to North County San Diego with her husband Hooman and two sons who attend Pacific Ridge School.

After starting her career in internet technology marketing, Shari Bard became a teacher. A Southern California native, she has served as an educator in both Chula Vista and Los Angeles. She also has extensive volunteer experience in both admissions and fundraising for independent schools. While her children attended San Francisco Day School, Ms. Bard guided admissions focus groups, chaired the school’s fundraising gala, and played an important role in the school’s capital campaign. Ms. Bard earned her undergraduate degree and teaching credential from San Diego State University.  

Heather Bergman works as an investment professional and has a background in public policy and teaching. She is a managing director and senior portfolio manager with the Multi-Asset Team of Virtus Investment Partners.  In this role, Bergman manages active asset allocation strategies, oversees research on underlying managers and focuses on sustainable investing. Before joining Virtus, she was a portfolio manager on the Multi-Asset US team at Allianz Global Investors. Bergman earned a B.A. from Georgetown University, an M.A. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in international political economy from the University of California Los Angeles.

Nihar Bhakta is the Chief Medical Officer at Aristea Therapeutics. Previously, Dr. Bhakta served in several key positions at Gossamer Bio and Ardea Biosciences in San Diego. He has also authored numerous scientific publications. Dr. Bhakta earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Brown University and his doctorate from Penn State College of Medicine. He completed his residency at the Cleveland Clinic and his fellowship training at UCLA. He is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric nephrology.  

Jennifer Bjornstad is a secondary school administrator and math teacher with over 25 years of experience. She began her career teaching all levels of mathematics in the public schools in Colorado and California before joining Pacific Ridge School as a founding faculty member in 2007. In addition to teaching math each year, she served as Department Chair, Staff Collaboration Coordinator, Academic Dean, Dean of Faculty, Assistant Head of School, and Director of Enrollment. Bjornstad has a B.A. from Northwestern University, received her teacher training and math credential at the University of Colorado, Boulder and has completed graduate coursework in math education at the University of Colorado, Denver and San Diego State University. She and her husband have two children, both alums of Pacific Ridge School.

Jeremy Hirst, MD, is a clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at UC San Diego. He completed medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and his residency and fellowship at UC San Diego. Dr. Hirst specializes in palliative care psychiatry and practices at Jacobs Medical Center, where he cares for patients with serious and life-limiting illnesses. He teaches medical students, residents, and fellows, presents at national conferences, and publishes in leading journals and foundational texts in palliative medicine. He and his wife moved to North County in 2023 with their two children, including Max, an eighth grader at PRS.

Dimas Jimenez is the CFO of Spire Health, a VC-backed virtual care start-up. Previously, Jimenez was Vice President and Corporate Controller at Codex DNA for their IPO. He was also Chief Financial Officer at StemoniX and Orphagen Pharmaceuticals, Vice President Finance and Administration at Spinal Modulation, and Controller at Pearl Therapeutics. Jimenez graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business with a concentration in Finance and Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Economics. He has also earned the CFA, Chartered Financial Analyst designation. His philanthropic work includes serving on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Entrepreneur Exchange. Jimenez resides in Carlsbad with his wife, Annika, and their children who attend Pacific Ridge.

Kirk Malloy has 30 years of executive leadership and board experience in life science and diagnostics companies. He is the founder and CEO of BioAdvisors, providing strategic consulting to life science and diagnostics companies. He was most recently the founder, CEO and chairman at Verogen, and he currently serves as chairman of Tagomics Ltd. and Rapid Micro Biosystems, and is a director at Araceli Biosciences. He has two Pacific Ridge School alumni from the classes of 2019 and 2021. Malloy served for six years as a PRS trustee from 2015 to 2021 and chaired the Power of Us campaign committee. He holds a doctorate in marine biology and biochemistry and completed a director certification program from UCLA.

Brian Neel is a life sciences executive, advisor and investor residing in Carlsbad with his wife Paula and two children, both of whom attend Pacific Ridge.  Neel is currently CEO and Founder of Artis Biosolutions, a local San Diego startup company focused on investing in and operating companies in the life sciences space.  Prior to Artis Biosolutions, he was Chief Operating Officer of nucleic acid technology at Maravai Life Sciences where he led the commercialization of its mRNA technology, which was a critical part of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine and global pandemic response.  In his earlier career, Neel led operations, strategic programs and technical manufacturing at local biotech companies in San Diego, including Thermo Fisher, GenMark Dx and Synthetic Genomics.  He grew up near Saint Louis Missouri and has earned his degree in microbiology from the University of Missouri, Columbia.  Neel and his family love spending time outdoors and traveling. 

Libby Neuberger, a San Diego native, graduated from UC Santa Cruz with degrees in Politics and Community Studies. She worked with the nonprofit Accion International in Boston to develop digital solutions to distribute microfinance loans to women in developing countries. She worked in mobile web development and advertising until she moved back to San Diego with her husband, Scott, to raise their children. For the past decade, Neuberger helped develop garden science and nutrition programs for Encinitas schools. She has served on the YMCA Camp Board of Advisors, and she serves as the SPED liaison for her children's elementary school. She has four boys, including two who attend Pacific Ridge. 
 

Steve Pacelli is Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Dexcom Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on advancements in diabetes care. Prior to serving in several other roles at Dexcom, Pacelli served as a corporate attorney specializing in finance, mergers and acquisitions, and as general counsel of several privately held companies. He currently serves on the Board of Biocom California, Connect, and EvoNexus. He is an ardent supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego. Pacelli earned a B.A. from UCLA, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Kelly Perez is a veteran finance and corporate operations executive with extensive experience in both the biotechnology and semiconductor technology markets.  After receiving her B.A. in Economics and Architecture at Yale University, Perez started her career in Silicon Valley working at various semiconductor companies, most notably at Nvidia for many years.  After moving to San Diego in 2004, she has held multiple executive-level roles at Sequenom, Luxtera, and most recently as the Chief Operating Officer at Omniome prior to the acquisition by Pacific Biosciences. Currently, Perez is an executive consultant helping biotech start-ups. She has one daughter who will be starting high school this year. 

Raquel Rogers is an accomplished sales and management professional with over 20 years of experience exceeding targets, building lasting client relationships, and driving revenue growth. As the former market manager for Wagner Family of Wines, she led cross-functional teams to develop and execute strategic sales plans that consistently outperformed expectations. Her leadership and business acumen fostered a culture of excellence and results. Since retiring, Rogers has channeled her passion and leadership into philanthropy. She has served on multiple committees within the San Diego community, leveraging her expertise to support local initiatives and make a meaningful impact. She is a proud mother of four. Her youngest is an eighth grade student at PRS.

Tom Schlehuber recently retired after teaching high school and middle school science for more than 31 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and a Master of Education from the University of Minnesota. He began his teaching career in Minnesota, where he taught for seven years before moving with his wife, Michelle, to his hometown of Carlsbad, California, where they welcomed three children: Maddie, 23; Caroline, 21; and Owen, 19. In 2007, the family returned to Minnesota and settled in Sunfish Lake. In 2024, following their retirement from teaching, the Schlehubers moved back to Carlsbad to enjoy ocean sunsets and warmer winters. Their youngest child, Laney, is an eighth grader at PRS.

Mumtaz “Taz” Schneider is an entrepreneur and community leader based in Encinitas. She is the owner and co-founder of Asteya Yoga Studio and recently co-founded Rally House Pickleball Club in Carlsbad with her husband, Kevin. Prior to her work as a business owner, Schneider held senior project management roles at leading technology companies, including Scantron and Sony Electronics. She has served in volunteer leadership roles with the Parent Association at Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary and with the Encinitas Educational Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s in sociology and English from UC Irvine and a Master of Business Administration from the USC Marshall School of Business. The Schneiders are the proud parents of two PRS students: Maya, class of 2028, and Jacob, class of 2031. 

Michele Saunders recently ended a four-year tenure on the Pacific Ridge School Parent Association Board of Directors, including a year serving as Executive Director. She served in numerous financial positions, most recently as Controller for The Governance Institute, a service of NRC Health, supporting not-for-profit hospital and health care leaders. Over the years, she also served as Accounting Director for Pyxis Corporation and in Price Waterhouse LLP’s Audit Group. 

As a first-generation college graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Saunders believes deeply in the value of education and the importance of its accessibility. She and her husband have two children both graduates of Pacific Ridge.

Carrie Shen has been an active volunteer in local schools over the past two decades, helping in classrooms, organizing after-school enrichment classes, and holding PTA positions in hospitality and fundraising. She currently serves as Vice President of Philanthropy on the board of Teen Volunteers in Action (San Diego Chapter 4) and serves on the host committee for Curebound, a non-profit that raises funds for cancer research for the major research organizations in San Diego. At PRS, Shen has volunteered as a Parent Ambassador and a Parent Buddy, answering questions from prospective parents. She’s also served on the Development Committee and assisted with Annual Fund events for the past three years. Shen holds a B.S. in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a Master's degree in Public Health in Health Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  

With over two decades of experience in education, Maria Simpson has served as a middle school teacher in City Heights, student teacher supervisor at University of San Diego, School Programs Director for the Birch Aquarium, and executive board member at Design 39 School in the Poway Unified School District. Simpson graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Environmental Science. She earned a master’s degree in biological oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and holds a teaching credential and Master of Education from UCSD.  

Heather Steinmeier is a graduate of the University of Michigan Undergraduate Business School and the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. She spent the majority of her career at McKinsey and Company serving both retail banks and non-profit organizations, including extensive strategic and marketing work with The Laurel School, located in Shaker Heights, OH. While her children were in attendance, Steinmeier was heavily involved at Stuart Country Day and Princeton Academy, Sacred Heart Schools in the Princeton, NJ area. In addition, she worked as Head of Development for a number of years at an education-focused non-profit helping underserved children in the Trenton, NJ area. Steinmeier lives in Rancho Santa Fe with her husband Rich, and three children. 

CEO of NewRocket, the world’s largest ServiceNow consulting partner, Matt Stoyka has over 25 years of experience in technology services and manufacturing. He also serves as managing partner of Resonance Equity Funds, a technology services investment vehicle. Stoyka founded RelationEdge, LLC, and has held leadership positions with Rackspace and Centerbeam, Inc. He earned his undergraduate degree in manufacturing systems engineering from Kettering University and has an international Master of Business Administration degree from the University of San Diego.

Michael Witz is the co-founder of Redemption Games, a mobile game developer, and publisher of the puzzle game Sweet Escapes. Mr. Witz is also an active angel investor in the technology industry and a Y Combinator alumnus. He earned his undergraduate degree in history from UC Santa Barbara. Mr. Witz lives with his wife Lisa in Carlsbad. They have three children, two currently attending Pacific Ridge and one recent PRS graduate.

With more than 30 years of experience in international sales and business development, Kent Wu is the founder and CEO of an international export company based in Ningbo, China, specializing in the manufacturing of LED flashlights and electronic products. He and his wife, Lily, currently reside in Carlsbad, California, and are proud parents of two Pacific Ridge School alumni: Alice, class of 2025, and Binglin, class of 2021. In his free time, Wu enjoys traveling and playing golf.
 

Chenwei Yan is a senior vice president at San Diego-based Qualcomm, where he has worked since 2010. A seasoned executive in the technology industry, Yan has led multinational teams in the United States, China, and Germany, and has experience growing and increasing the profitability of global businesses. After living in San Diego, China, and the Bay Area, the family is now glad to be back in Carlsbad. Yan and his wife have two children, Andrew and Emily, both current students at PRS. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a master’s in electrical engineering from Stanford University.