Christopher Conklin

Christopher Conklin has over 20 years of experience in the clinical research industry, including having served in leadership positions at three of the top five global pharmaceutical companies. Chris is currently a Senior Director in the Business Intelligence & Analytics organization at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he leads a team responsible for clinical trial planning activities for BMS's Hematology & Cell Therapy portfolios.

Chris holds a master’s in Organizational Development and Leadership from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a bachelor’s in Psychology from Arcadia University. Chris has previously served as an adjunct faculty member in George Washington University’s Clinical Research Administration Program and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences on various topics in clinical research.

Chris is father to three homeschooled children and husband to a lifelong homeschooler. Chris is passionate about Cupola’s mission & vision and wants to work to see the organization thrive so that many other children can benefit from the same freedom and independence that have enabled his own youth to become self-directed learners. 

In his spare time Chris enjoys traveling, finding ways to be active outdoors (hiking, mountain biking, trail running & skiing are some favorite activities), and coaching his young people in their athletic endeavors. 

Gabriela DiFilippo

Gabriela “Gaby” DiFilippo, M.Ed, LPC, is a practicing mental health therapist in the Chester County area. Gaby graduated from Immaculata University with a BA in psychology and an M.Ed from Temple University in Counseling Psychology with a certificate in school counseling. While at Temple, Gaby presented at the Association for Women in Psychology conference on a research study about feminism and supervisors in the mental health field. While practicing as a school counselor, Gaby became more interested in the diagnosis and assessment aspects of psychology and is now pursuing her doctorate at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to become a school psychologist.

Gaby is a strong advocate for issues surrounding social justice. She dedicates a tremendous amount of time pursuing the support of such issues as racial equality, and advocating for equal access to mental health services for all children and young adults, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status.

Gaby has significant experience working in a variety of settings such as mobile therapist, outpatient therapist, and school counselor. Gaby’s main focus is on fostering the mental well-being of children and adolescents. Gaby recently opened up her own private practice, The Helpful Corner Counseling, LLC, which focuses on children and adolescents with anxiety, depression, and self esteem issues.

Gaby understands the role that exercise plays in both physical and mental health. She is an avid athlete who enjoys a variety of sports, including, swimming, running, biking and sprint triathlons.

Jacob Finkel

Jacob grew up as a self-directed learner, having attended programs conducted by the CA founding family. Upon “graduating” from his homeschooling journey, Jacob attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both his B.A. and M.A. in Classical Studies. He went on to receive his J.D. from Stanford University Law School.

He is the founder and Executive Director of the Corporation for Civic Documentaries (CCD), a 501(c)3 nonprofit that creates compelling documentaries promoting civic engagement and public awareness of great American leaders. His work for CCD has included interviewing President George H.W. Bush, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Gen. Colin Powell, Rep. John Lewis, Amb. Andrew Young, Arianna Huffington, and Bill Moyers.

Meliza Reynoso

Meliza Reynoso has over 20 years of experience serving in the Nonprofit and Education sectors in Philadelphia and beyond. Currently a Middle School teacher at Eugenio Maria de Hostos School in Philadelphia, she teaches English Literature, Spanish, and Social Studies. Previously, as a teacher in a public Montessori school in North Carolina, she explored childhood and adolescent development. She also taught English as a second language at John Paul Jones Middle School in the School District of Philadelphia. 

Her commitment to youth and community-centered organizations led her to serve nonprofits. Meliza has worked in multiple roles at nonprofits including City Year, Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN), and Congreso de Latinos Unidos, in Philadelphia.

Meliza earned a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Temple University and a Masters in Education from Universidad del Turabo in collaboration with Penn State, Abington Campus. Dedicated to her neighborhood in Kensington, where she has lived for over 20 years, she has served as the Co-Chair of the board for the Norris Square Neighborhood Project since 2017.  

Mike Casel

Mike brings with him a tremendous amount of experience in the field of financial oversight in an educational setting. As Chief Investment Officer for Haverford College, Mike oversees the Investment Office and management of the College's endowment in collaboration with the Investment Committee of the Board of Managers. Prior to arriving at Haverford College in 2007, Mike held several senior investment management positions, and had over 20 years of experience in the investment industry. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investments Analyst designations and was named a Rising Star of Endowments and Foundations in 2009. He is also a prior member and Chair of the Investment Committee at American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia. He lives in Media with his wife, two sons, and their Corgi puppy, where they are desperately waiting for another Stanley Cup for the Flyers!

Mindyjane Berman

Mindyjane is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and founder of KeyQuest Consulting. Her firm is a small, individually-tailored practice offering comprehensive academic and extracurricular counseling and coaching for adolescents and young adults as they navigate traditional and non-traditional academic programs, and begin to plan for the years ahead. Emphasis is placed on the developmental and psychosocial stages of individuals, their respective temperaments, social and learning environments. Most coaching clients are between the ages of 12-25, attend traditional public, private, or alternative educational programs, and are in pursuit of college, work, mentorship, apprenticeship, or are developing a passion project. Mindyjane listens intently and empathetically, thinks out of the box, and develops an idea from the design phase through execution with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability.

Mindyjane is the parent of two adult sons who were unschooled and online students throughout their primary and secondary school years. She was introduced to John Holt’s How Children Fail as a graduate student, and Peter Bergson’s and Susan Shilcock’s Open Connections: The OTHER Basics as a young parent. These solidified a foundation for family life and an approach to learning that honors authenticity and the individual.

Mindyjane is a graduate of SUNY Binghamton (BS), University of Pennsylvania (MSEd), and Bryn Mawr College (MSS). She is a board member of the Delaware County Youth Orchestras, Branch Board member of the Settlement Music School, and President of the Princeton Parent Committee.

Peter Bergson

Peter brings extensive knowledge and expertise to Cupola Academy’s Advisory Council, as he has been at the forefront of the self-directed education movement for fifty years.

Peter graduated from Harvard College in 1967. During these years, he came across the writings of John Holt, an educator who is known as the “Grandfather of Unschooling.” He spent two years as Primary Teacher at the Early Learning Center in Stamford, Connecticut, and five years with Synectics, Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., a consulting group specializing in creative group problem solving (the last two years as Director of Training). In 1975 Peter co-founded Open Connections with his wife, Susan Shilcock (d. 2005) and was executive director of its nonprofit resource center until his semi-retirement in 2007.

He continues to stay active in the field of alternative education, and went on to co-found Natural Creativity in 2015 in order to bring self-directed learning and partnership education to inner city Philadelphia. He has served as Chair of Lifecycle WomanCare in Bryn Mawr (formerly The Birth Center), has served as an independent creative process consultant, and has self-published two books: Open Connections: The OTHER Basics, and Spaces for Children: Work/Play Environments for Home and School.

Peter is the father of four grown unschoolers (one of them Cupola Academy’s co-founder) and grandfather to eight more.