Board of Directors

My commitment to my community is clear and unwavering. My professional and community involvement center around my staunch belief that equity and justice are achievable. As a mom of a fifth grader (Caetano) and sixth grader (Joaquim), I am committed to the Odyssey community and to ensuring that we apply all our resources to best serve the needs of our students and community. I have nonprofit and elected board experience and will apply my lessons learned to my governance role on the Odyssey School Board.

Professionally, I have dedicated my career to projects that make real improvements to people’s lives with roles within reproductive justice, public health, Latino/a policy research and civil rights advocacy. I have worked in the US and globally with organizations that specifically work to ensure that women and girls have access to the most basic healthcare and health education. I continue this work today as Director of ReproCollab at the Caring for Colorado Foundation.

My passion and drive comes from my family. I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents who made their lives in the US while serving in the United States Marine Corps. I grew up around the world – seeing first-hand the beauty and inequities of communities both on and off-base.  I pass along my lessons learned on to my own children to encourage them to work for equity even on the playground. Their kindness, respect and activism in their community is my greatest joy.

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My name is Alex Hannum and I have been an Odyssey parent since the fall of 2020. This year our daughter Bria will be in Lori’s 4th Grade Crew and our son Maxwell will be in Anne’s First Grade Crew. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to see our kids learn, grow and thrive at Odyssey! I’ve been lucky enough to accompany both on adventure trips, where I’ve been able to see the Odyssey “Special Sauce” in action! In addition I’ve been a member of the Family Council since 2020, which my wife Sara will be co-chairing this year. Outside of Odyssey, I’m a Vice President/Senior Project manager for a large commercial roofing contractor that focuses on high end projects like hospitals, schools and prisons. In that role I get to lead multiple teams manage project budgets, to ensure they are completed on time and on budget. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Colorado State University and am a graduate of the Future Executives Institute, an intensive 3-year Masters level course at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. In our free time, our family loves to hike, visit the pool and enjoy relaxing evenings together watching movies.

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As a Professor of Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, I manage a research program focused on infectious disease biology and the immune response to infectious agents. My training includes a B.A. in Microbiology, a Ph.D. in Immunology, and postdoctoral studies on microbial pathogenic mechanisms. I have also been heavily involved in teaching and training of graduate and medical students and currently direct the University of Colorado Immunology graduate training program. My wife, our three children, and I enjoy camping, hiking, biking, and various other outdoors activities. We joined the Odyssey community in 2014 and I was elected a parent representative to the board in 2019. I transitioned to a community director in 2022.

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Keri Melmed is High Point Academy’s Executive Director. She has been working in education for over 25 years, both as a classroom teacher and in school leadership; in various schools in California, New York, and Colorado. Since Fall of 2013, Keri has led the High Point Academy community. Prior to High Point Academy, Keri was a school leader in DPS and most notably was the Administrative Director at Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning (RMSEL). RMSEL is a flagship Expeditionary Learning school as well as a hub of innovation focused on student character development and building strong school culture. Keri saw firsthand the ways EL empower staff and families to work together to ensure that the needs of students are met academically, socially, and emotionally to graduate passionate civic minded individuals. Ms. Melmed graduated Magna Cum Laude in history from University of Colorado, Boulder and later attended Columbia University, Teachers College where she earned her Master of Arts degree in Education. Keri has two boys that share her love of mountain biking, skiing, and hiking. Her husband is a ceramic artist and teaches visual arts at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora.

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