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. Dr. Goldberg is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and Philosophy at Framingham State University (FSU), and the course he teaches at Semester Off is eligible for college credit through FSU.
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.
elizabeth brogden, ph.d.
Instructor
Elizabeth Brogden, Ph.D., graduated from Barnard College with a BA in English and subsequently earned her MA and Ph.D. in literature from Johns Hopkins University. She has taught and tutored writing at the college and graduate level for over a decade at institutions in the US and Germany, including Johns Hopkins, University of Munich, Rhode Island School of Design, Harvard University Extension School, and Harvard Medical School. Elizabeth’s own scholarship and essays have appeared in a variety of print and online journals. In addition to her role at Semester Off, Elizabeth works as a freelance editor and is the mother of a preschooler. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and collecting "treasures" with her daughter on long strolls in Cambridge, MA.
Jessica connors, MA
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.
Karly Knight mongeon, MA
Director of Marketing and Outreach
Karly Knight Mongeon, MA, pursued both her undergraduate and graduate studies in education at Brock University (Ontario, Canada). Originally from Canada, Karly is a heart-centered, enthusiastic individual who searches and thrives for personal engagement and transformative experiences in all that she pursues.
After her formal education in Canada, Karly moved to Bangkok, Thailand where she taught at The American School of Bangkok (ASB), an accredited international school with a concentration in mindfulness. It was in Thailand where Karly’s deep interest and passion for mindfulness and yoga began.
Karly was comprehensively trained in the Philippines as a 200-Hr Yoga Instructor and spent much of her time in Thailand learning about traditional meditative practices and attending silent retreats. Karly utilizes the ancient practices of yoga and mindfulness to increase self-awareness, self- compassion, and introspective thinking in herself and her students. Karly regularly attends workshops and trainings to enhance and diversify her knowledge in yoga, mindfulness, neuroscience, and the mind-body connection. Outside of work, Karly enjoys yoga, pilates, swimming, nature walks, writing guided meditations and traveling to any and all corners of the world. Karly is deeply fulfilled by spending quality time with her husband and family.
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.
meredith wadsworth, BA
Instructor
Meredith Wadsworth, BA, graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in Media Studies and a minor in Entrepreneurship. She spent several years working in the fashion industry in New York City before pivoting into the world of health and wellness. She became certified as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (INHC) and Integrative Health Practitioner (IHP) and began working with individuals to create improvements in their health and wellbeing. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2019 and has since acquired thousands of hours of experience teaching to groups and individuals, all in the spirit of helping others to feel more embodied and empowered while experiencing more joy and vitality. In addition to her career teaching yoga and coaching, Meredith is a ceramic artist with a studio in Brookline. She is continually exploring the myriad of ways that these ancient and therapeutic practices of yoga and pottery can promote self-awareness, self-discovery, and self-expression.
Meredith grew up in Wellesley and now lives in Boston's South End. When she's not in the yoga or pottery studio, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, biking around the city, cooking, reading, listening to podcasts, spending time in nature, and traveling, near and far.
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.