Trustees Biographies
AMSA Board of Trustees
- Raul Porras, Chair
- Maura Webster, Vice Chair
- Roger Jarrett, Treasurer
- Jill Schafer, Secretary
- Bela Gorman
- Sheila Creaton Kelly
- Evan Przyborowski
- Darren Rose
- Sowmini Sampath
- Gregory Theos, Faculty Representative
- In Memory of... Benjamin Hammel
Raul Porras, Chair
Raul Porras currently works as an Enterprise Architect at SAP, a global software firm where he helps customers align strategic business objectives with long-term Information Technology roadmaps.
He is also a co-founder of the Latino STEM Alliance, a Boston-based non-profit that inspires and empowers underserved youth to achieve educational and career success in STEM fields. Mr. Porras also serves in other STEM-related organizations across the commonwealth, including the Central MA STEM Network and has served in advisory roles for the Art of Science Learning initiative in Worcester and Sneakers to Beakers among others. In May 2017 he also joined the board of directors of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center.
He is a fellow of the UMass Boston Emerging Leaders Program, holds a dual MBA/MSIT degree from Bentley University and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Simon Bolivar University. Raul is originally from Venezuela.
Maura Webster, Vice Chair
Maura Webster is the Founder, CEO, & Chief Strategist at LillaBlu Strategies, a boutique marketing company focused on real meaningful marketing. Her background includes account management for a private PR firm, non-profit communications, government, and managing the marketing team of a growing software company through rebranding and new product launches to acquisition. This path led Maura to launch LillaBlu in an effort to bring authenticity back to marketing, and empower entrepreneurs and small business owners to engage with their audiences by being “real."
Because of these experiences and more, Maura brings an authentic, creative, strategic, and people-centered approach to marketing for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and growing companies who want to make a difference. Her approach is one that combines consulting and implementation with coaching and mentorship so that all entrepreneurs have the knowledge, skills, and ability to grow their business and manage the marketing team and assets that will enable them to succeed.
When not engaging in fun brainstorming sessions with her clients or being all "social", Maura can be found teaching Public Relations with a marketing spin at Framingham State University, marketing courses at Clark University, traveling (not often enough), running, cooking, or sitting by the ocean. That is when she's not keeping up with her two daughters, and Larry the black lab!
Roger Jarrett, Treasurer
Roger Jarrett is a Principal Software Engineer at MathWorks. He has over 30 years of software development experience focused on software tools, managing third party software, and the delivery of complex software upgrades. One of his roles at MathWorks is a STEM Ambassador speaking at events encouraging STEM education. Prior to MathWorks he was a Senior Software Engineer and Manager at IBM developing software configuration management tools. Roger served on the AMSA Board of Trustees from 2008 – 2015 as Parent Representative, Governance Chair, Development Chair, and Secretary.
Roger interests include public speaking, reading, and strategy board games. He is the Train Gamers Association National Champion for 2015.
Roger has a BS in Applied Computer Science from University of Wisconsin-Parkside and is an Eagle Scout. He currently lives in Natick with his wife and has two children attending AMSA and one graduate of AMSA.
Jill Schafer, Secretary
Jill Schafer is an attorney at Prince Lobel Tye, LLP in Boston, focusing her practice on cannabis law and commercial real estate matters. Jill also has experience in the areas of municipal law, school law, zoning and land use and regulation. Prior to joining Prince Lobel, Jill was at Pojani Hurley & Ritter, specializing in civil litigation, business and commercial law and real estate law. Jill was also previously Assistant Town Counsel for the Town of Needham, as well as Special Counsel to various other towns/cities. Jill is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts (State and Federal Court), the First Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Jill earned her BA from the University of New Hampshire, JD from Suffolk University Law School and MBA from Suffolk University, Sawyer School of Management.
Bela Gorman
Bela Gorman has 30 years of experience as a health care actuary. She is President of Gorman Actuarial, an actuarial consulting firm that provides strategic solutions to their clients supported by analytics and mathematical modeling. Over the years, Bela's focus has been assisting state governments on health care policy solutions. Bela holds a BA in Economics and Math from Boston University and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. She and her family have lived in Marlborough for over 20 Years.
Sheila Creaton Kelly
Sheila Creaton Kelly, Esq., has spent over two decades working in the criminal justice system throughout Massachusetts. Ms. Kelly began her career at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted a multitude of offenses and participated in many community efforts. She advanced to become Deputy Director of District Courts and Chief of the Juvenile Justice Division. In 2007 Ms. Kelly joined the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and prosecuted cases of discrimination and civil rights violations. Ms. Kelly served as Director of Investigations at the Department of Youth Services overseeing intergovernmental investigations into allegations of abuse and misconduct. In 2011 Ms. Kelly joined the Department of Correction where she served as a Director of Classification, Director of Victim Services, Deputy Superintendent, and Superintendent of the Concord Prison Complex. She is currently Executive Director of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council where she oversees a consortium of 63 municipal police departments and two sheriff’s offices. Ms. Kelly is a graduate of Boston University and Suffolk University Law School. She has taught legal writing at Northeastern Law School, served as a lecturer in law at Brandeis University, and presented widely on crime victim rights, dating violence, and criminal justice.
Evan Przyborowski
Evan Przyborowski currently works as an Application Security Engineer at Unity Technologies. His work includes improving both application and infrastructure security to protect against modern cyber threats. He has experience in vulnerability analysis, systems hardening, and cyber risk management. Evan also works as a cybersecurity contractor for an enterprise risk management organization that focuses on working with companies to help bolster their cybersecurity maturity in an ever-changing world of technology.
In 2020, Evan graduated with honors from Roger Williams University with a BS in Cybersecurity & Networking. He also holds multiple security certifications including the Comptia Security+ and Palo Alto Networks Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE). Evan is also an AMSA alumni, having attended the school for years before graduating in 2016. His experience with being a former AMSA student provides a unique perspective as he will look to better the environment that allowed him to jumpstart a successful early career in security and technology.
Evan's interests include various camping and hiking trips across New England year-round, as well as off-road excursions to explore and maintain OHRV trails in New Hampshire. When relaxing from the great outdoors, Evan enjoys spending time with friends and family playing various tabletop games and venturing out to try new foods, and recreating them in the kitchen.
Darren Rose
Sowmini Sampath
Sowmini Sampath is the senior director of documentation and user experience at MathWorks, a leading developer of mathematical computing software. She is grateful to lead and be a part of talented and collaborative teams, focused on the mission to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, development, and learning in engineering and science. The varied course of her career path has taught her to prize diversity of thought and skill on her teams.
The foundational education that AMSA gave her children ('16 and '19) prompted her interest in giving back. She hopes to bring her experience in STEM and leadership to contribute in any way that brings value to the AMSA family.
Gregory Theos, Faculty Representative
In Memory of... Benjamin Hammel
Ben Hammel worked at Microsoft Corporation as the Director of Strategy and Business Development for the Transportation and Modern Government markets. He worked with State and Local governments in the United States to help improve the Citizen experience with their governing bodies through the use of technology.
As part of the Board of Trustees, Ben led the Development Committee to support AMSA’s efforts in strengthening our position in the community and helping us to achieve our growth goals. Ben brought a new set of ideas, strategies, and approach that connected modern technology with our school’s Mission and Core Values.
AMSA Leadership
Dr. Lisa C. Mobley, Executive Director
Dr. Lisa C. Mobley is a lifelong educator who is passionate about continuous learning and growth. Dr. Mobley spent the early years of her educational career as a school adjustment counselor focusing on trauma and cognitive-based therapy. In recent years she led King Philip Regional High School as their principal. In that role, she developed innovative programs that allowed students to find and explore their passions. She has also spent much of her time coaching future administrators as they pursue their state licensures.
Dr. Mobley enjoys her family time with her three boys and three dogs. When she is not focusing on education, she enjoys crocheting and being the passenger on motorcycle treks to find exceptional ice cream and wood-grilled pizza.
Dr. Mobley holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and Italian studies from Wells College, a Master's degree in clinical psychology from American International College, a Master's degree in educational leadership from Endicott College, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University.