School Board

Board Chair:

Carol Neel is Professor of History at Colorado College, where she has taught since 1980 and held multiple chairships in the History Department and the Faculty Executive Committee. She received her B.A. in Classics from Bryn Mawr College in 1976, and her M.A., then Ph.D. in History from Cornell University in 1981. Dr. Neel has published several books and many articles on medieval family and spiritual life, and is a specialist in twelfth-century religious communities. Among her teaching interests are child rearing patterns throughout the European and American pasts, a topic which her own four children have given her great interest and some insight. [2nd term: January 2027]

Board Vice-Chair:

Katherine Brophy is one of the founders of Thomas MacLaren School. She served on the Board of Directors from 2008-2014. From 2014-2021, she worked at the school as Director of Enrollment and then as Director of Communications and Marketing. From 2009-2023, she served on the MacLaren Parent Service Association Steering Committee. Mrs. Brophy attended Saint Mary’s College (IN) and double majored in English Literature and French. She and her husband have six children, all of whom graduated from MacLaren. [1st term: December 2025]

Board Secretary:

Khristine Prickett Vadala is a Key Account Manager at Glory Global Solutions working with top tier financial institutions for the past twenty years. She attended San Diego State University, graduating with a BS in Marketing. She has over 25 years experience volunteering within the Colorado Springs community with schools, non-profits and other worthy organizations. She has one child who attends MacLaren, and one who has graduated. [2nd term: July 2026]

Board Treasurer:

Purvi Sittner has over 15 years of experience as a financial professional. She has a strong background in financial management and software implementation for non-profit organizations. Her educational background includes a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Auburn University. She is serving as Board Treasurer for the Rock Ledge Ranch Living History Association, and has many years of experience as a volunteer treasurer for various scout troops and PTA organizations. She is currently serving her sixth year on the MacLaren Parent Service Association Steering Committee and served for two years on the MacLaren School Accountability Committee.  She has two children who have attended Thomas MacLaren. [1st term: July 2026]

Board Directors:

Dan Cooper has worked for the past twenty years as a software sales manager at Oracle Corporation. He is a Colorado Springs native, born at the Air Force Academy and raised in District 11 schools. He studied history at the University of Colorado followed by time spent studying Russian language in the US and Russia. He has two children attending MacLaren. [1st term: December 2026]