Meet the Newest Members of the Board and Associates Council

These new members join a community of professionals who guide Prep for Prep with insights from their respective industries, alongside dedicated fundraising and volunteer efforts. Board and Associates Council members also provide valuable leadership opportunities for our students. 

Our New Board Members

José DeJesus began his career as a history teacher at Poly Prep Country Day School and The Spence School. He later transitioned to administrative roles, first at Spence as the school’s Director of Outreach and Public Purpose and then as the Head of the Upper School at The Packer Collegiate Institute. In 2019, he became the Head of School at Lake Forest Academy. Currently, José serves as the Head of School at The Dalton School, a position he has held since 2022. An alum of Prep for Prep, he holds Master of Arts degrees in private school leadership from Columbia University and in history from Tufts, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Wesleyan University. He is a proud father of two children that are both products of independent schools.

Roman Regelman is outgoing Senior Executive Vice President and Global Head of Securities Services and Digital at BNY Mellon. Prior to joining BNY Mellon, he was a partner and managing director of Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Roman earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from St. Petersburg State Technical University and a Master of Business Administration from Olin Graduate Business School at Babson College. He is a recognized author and thought leader on digital and financial services industry topics.

Gabrielle DiBernardi is a Private Equity M&A Partner and a member of the Diversity Committee and Hiring Committee at Ropes & Gray LLP. Additionally, she serves on the board of Legal Outreach, an educational program with a law-based curriculum that serves low-income, mostly minority, and/or first-generation urban youth from underserved neighborhoods in New York City. Gabrielle graduated from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in economics and international business and received her Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School. Gabrielle is an avid SoulCycle rider and passionate about traveling abroad, reading fictional books across all genres, and exploring omakase restaurants.

Travis Hutchinson is a Product Manager at LinkedIn, where he uses his expertise in AI/ML and growth to create and launch products that enhance the professional network and career development of millions of users. Previously, he was a Product Manager at Instagram, where he developed and launched new features and improvements for the Explore and Reels products. Prior to that, he was a consultant at Oliver Wyman. In his spare time, he enjoys going to the theater, playing jazz piano, and spending time with loved ones. Travis is an alumnus of Prep for Prep and a graduate of Poly Prep as well as Yale University with a BA in economics.

Kristin Mendez is a Vice President on the Investment Team at TJC, LP, a private equity firm. Kristin works on investments in TJC’s Consumer and Healthcare Industry Vertical and sits on the Firm’s DEI Committee. Throughout her time at TJC, Kristin has engaged with students and young professionals through organizations that the Firm supports, including Girls Who Invest, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (“SEO”), and Out for Undergrad. Kristin currently serves on the boards of directors of Dental365, TIDI Products, and WEP Clinical. Prior to joining TJC, Kristin worked in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs. She holds a BA degree in history from Yale University and grew up in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. Outside of work, Kristin enjoys running marathons, learning to play guitar, hiking, skiing, ice cream, and comedy.