Our Team
DR. Ilan Goldberg
Founder and President
Ilan Goldberg, MD, graduated from Amherst College, magna cum laude, with a double major in Chemistry and Philosophy. He earned his medical degree from McGill University and completed his residency training at Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program (Harvard Medical School). Dr. Goldberg completed a fellowship in medical ethics, also at Harvard Medical School.
In the course of his academic career, Dr. Goldberg has been awarded teaching honors from Tufts Medical School and Harvard Medical School for excellence in medical student education.
In his personal time, Dr. Goldberg is most commonly found supporting his children in their various curricular and extracurricular endeavors, groaning about the NY Giants (it’s been a tough decade-plus!), and going down internet rabbit holes related to cosmology and astrophysics.
melissa baroff, ph.d.
Instructor
Melissa Baroff, Ph.D., graduated from Northwestern University with a BA in Classics. She then earned her Ph.D. in Classical Studies from Duke University. During her tenure at Duke, Melissa taught a variety of courses to middle school, high school, and university students including courses related to history, gender, literature, and democracy. Melissa has also contributed to pedagogical research and development for the St. Louis Art Museum, the Women’s Classical Caucus, and Duke Graduate school.
A proud New Englander, Melissa grew up in New Hampshire and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy. She attended a variety of summer camps as a child and particularly enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and jogging. When not working with students or reading ancient texts, Melissa enjoys sewing and spending time with her dog, Billie.
Jessica connors, MA
Director of Programming; Instructor
Jessica Connors, MA, graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in European Studies. Jessica has always valued physical fitness and exercise and served as a certified personal trainer, as well as a group fitness instructor while she was living in Seattle, San Diego, and Florida. These experiences allowed her to connect deeply with her clients and inspire positive change in their behaviors and routines.
She obtained her MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University and has taught English and traveled extensively in the continental United States and abroad. More recently, Jessica completed an intensive, 14-month program at Landmark College (Putney, VT) designed for teachers and other professionals, earning a Certificate in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity with a specialization in Executive Function.
Jessica has been very active in CrossFit as a participant and as a coach. She maintains a book review blog, reads all genres of fiction avidly, and is writing a murder-mystery novel.
Jacki rubin, ms
(on maternity leave)
Instructor
Jacki Rubin, MS, pursued both her BA and MS degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Florida. She weaves her passion for yoga and nervous system regulation with her knowledge of speech, language, and social communication in her work as a Speech Language Pathologist. As a natural healer and educator, she creates space for clients of all backgrounds to feel safe and supported. Her research-based practice is most influenced by the work of Dr. Steven Porges (the Polyvagal Theory), Dr. Shari Geller (Therapeutic Presence), and Marshall B. Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication). Jacki is a registered 200-hour Yoga Instructor and received yoga teacher training at The New School of Yogic Arts in Brookline, MA. She is also certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Outside of work, Jacki enjoys yoga, live music, expressive writing, pottery, and art. She feels fulfilled by quality time with her husband, pup, and friends. Being in nature feels grounding and acts as a much appreciated contrast to her busy lifestyle in the city.
beth grannan, BA
Instructor
Beth Grannan, BA, graduated from Colorado College earning a BA in Spanish. After graduation, she taught Spanish to middle and high school students at a local private school until the birth of her first child. While on maternity leave, she completed her first 200-hour yoga teacher training and ultimately earned a 500-hour yoga teacher certification and then a 600-hour yoga therapy certification.
Beth has taught a wide range of students, from preschooler to senior citizens in chair yoga, in her restorative and vinyasa classes. She is passionate about sharing a practice that has offered her strength, support, and clarity.
When Beth is not teaching yoga or working one-on-one with yoga therapy clients, she enjoys walking along Boston’s Emerald Necklace, hiking in the Blue Hills, and traveling. She grew up in Colorado, California, and Massachusetts, but now feels most at home in Boston, where she lives with her husband, two college-aged children, and her dog.
Abigail Crine, ph.d.
Career Counselor
In addition to her role at Semester Off, Abigail has served as the Assistant Director of Career Development at the Hiatt Career Center at Brandeis University. Abigail Crine, Ph.D., holds the following degrees: BA, English and psychology, UMass, Boston; MEd, counseling and guidance, Westfield State University; and PhD, clinical psychology, California Graduate School for Family and Marital Therapy.
Dr. Crine has been incorporating a newer career counseling approach developed at Stanford’s Life Design Lab, Designing Your Life, which applies design thinking to help an individual figure out their career path. She enjoys employing this cutting-edge approach with our Semester Off students.