Crossroads’ Board of Trustees Welcomes Five New Members, Bids Farewell to Two

During the 2024-25 school year, Crossroads’ Board of Trustees voted in five new members who bring a diverse set of skills and expertise to the group. The Board, which oversees the long-range, strategic planning of the school, comprises 23 members including current parents, alumni and parents of alumni. The diverse backgrounds of our trustees in business, the arts, finance, real estate, the law, politics, social justice, community advocacy and more provide a comprehensive knowledge base on which the School can rely for guidance in fulfilling its strategic mission.

To see the complete 2025-26 Board of Trustees roster, click here.

Hellos 

The following trustees were added to the board during the 2024-25 school year: 

Samar Alghanim is the founder and owner of Zaya Conscious Creative, a boutique gift shop located in Venice, CA. She graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in business economics before attending Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, specializing in international finance. Samar also holds a master’s in architectural interior design from the Inchbald School of Design in London. Her previous work focused on financial empowerment, sustainable development and investor relations at large corporations including Deutsche Bank and Renaissance. She is the parent of Crossroads sixth grader Aidan and second grader Zaydo.

Michael Blend is co-founder and CEO of System1, a customer acquisition marketing platform powered by AI and machine learning. He also serves as an adjunct professor at UCLA, and is on the board of directors of the Stephenson Global Cancer Research Institute and Wellful Inc., a health and wellness company that oversees a portfolio of brands dedicated to science-backed products. Michael received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and philosophy from Duke University before completing a Juris Doctor degree at The University of Chicago. He is the parent of Crossroads eleventh grader Dante. 

Erica Fisher is co-founder and co-chair of PRESENT NOW, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children living in transitional domestic violence shelters. She received a bachelor’s in history from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a master’s in social work from New York University. Erica is a trustee of the Dreiseszun Family Foundation and a board member for Cure Addiction Now and the UCLA Women’s Cardiovascular Center. She also serves on the NYU Board of Directors Council for the School of Social Work. Erica is the parent of Crossroads graduate Scarlett ’25, 10th grader Sunny and sixth grader Liv.  

Margot Golden Tishler is the owner and manager of StrapCharms, a business that manufactures jewelry to secure straps on children’s clothing. She has an associate’s degree in graphic design from Pratt Institute and has done freelance graphics work for Quantity Entertainment, Yardwork Films and Legal Action Center, New York City. Margot co-founded West Coast Innovations, a company that builds custom tables and bars. She serves on the board of trustees and board of directors for the New York Times and is an advisory board member of Facing History & Ourselves. Margot is parent to Crossroads sixth grader Owen and fourth grader Amos.

Shilpa Wali, MD has over 25 years of experience as a practicing physician. After attending St. George’s Medical School and completing her internal medicine residency at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Shilpa completed a second residency, in neurology, at the University of California, San Diego. In addition, she completed a fellowship in electrophysiologic studies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Shilpa serves on the board of Music Mends Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting those with neurodegenerative disorders through music. She is parent to recent Crossroads graduate Brij ’25 and eleventh grader Shiv. 

The following trustees, who both joined the board in September 2014, termed off during the 2024-25 school year: 

Emilio Diez Barroso is the chairman and CEO of NALA Investments LLC, a private investment holding company with operations in energy, transportation, real estate technology and media. During his time on the Board, Emilio contributed his expertise to multiple committees including those for Finance, Investment and Governance. He also served on the Policy Review Task Force and, for two years, served as environmental sustainability liaison. He is parent to Crossroads 11th grader Sienna and alumna Mila ’24. 

Tracy Seretean is Academy Award-winning director and producer of “Big Mama,” a documentary about the difficulties facing grandparents raising their grandchildren in the U.S. She is the owner and CEO of Birthmark Productions, a documentary film production company. As a trustee, Tracy served on multiple committees, including those for Development, Finance, Capital Campaign, Crossroads Fund and Governance. She was also a member of the Campaign Advisory Committee and the Equity & Justice Advisory Council. Tracy is parent to Crossroads graduates Farol ’23 and Arden ’23.