Our Board
Prospect Academy of Colorado is building a strong governing board with the capacity to effectively lead the school, including appropriate financial, academic, and organizational oversight. The school will be adding Board members thoughtfully and strategically in the future to ensure the Board has diverse membership and the skills needed to effectively govern Prospect Academy.
If you are interested in serving on the Prospect Academy Board in the future and would like to be considered at the time of recruitment, please send an email to Tim Farmer, Board Vice President, at Tim.Farmer@prospectacademyco.org.
Learn more about the role of a board member by reading the position description.
Safia Welty-Rupe
Board President
Safia Welty-Rupe has spent most of her professional life working in television and film production. She worked as a show runner for shows such as “Tiny Paradise” (HGTV), “Alaska’s Ultimate Bush Pilots” (Outdoor Channel), “Alaska’s Wild Gourmet (Outdoor Channel), “Simply Delicioso” (Food Network), and “Emergency Vets” (Animal Planet). She has also worked as a producer, field director, and writer on shows such as “Living Alaska” (GAC), “Tiny House Big Living (HGTV), “House Hunters” (HGTV), “Giada’s Weekend Getaways” (Food Network), “Emergency Vets,” “Surprise by Design (Discovery Channel), “Unwrapped” (Food Network), “Honeymoon Hotspots” (Travel Channel), “Dream of Italy” (PBS), “Love Yurts” (DIY), “Prospectors” (Weather Channel), and “Dude, You’re Screwed” (Animal Planet).
After leaving the TV/production industry, Safia started a company called My Bakery Basket, which specializes in low-sugar, organic baked goods. Safia has a B.A. from Indiana University in Television/Film Production.
Safia is an active member and leader of the many communities of which she is a part. Safia is the parent of a teenage son with autism, and she is dedicated to creating a quality school environment for students that is part of the public education system, in order to give exceptional opportunities to all students who have special learning needs.
Tim Farmer
Board Vice President
Tim Farmer graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in English in 2007, and then became a 7th grade reading teacher through the Teach for America program in Jacksonville, Florida. Starting in 2010, he worked for several non-profit teacher organizations, meeting and working with hundreds of teachers across the state of Florida and then Colorado. In December of 2014, he graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College Of Law and is currently a partner at Miller Farmer Law firm, which focuses primarily on serving charter school clients.
Tim, his wife Victoria, and three children live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Their son Madox was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2018 and Tim joined the board of directors of Prospect Academy in 2019 with a desire to develop a strong educational option for students, like Madox, with unique talents and special needs.
Jennifer Manera
Board Secretary
Jen Manera is a parent of a student of Prospect Academy and lives in Golden, Colorado, with her husband, son and two dogs. She also has a daughter who is seeking her Psychology degree at the University of Colorado.
Jen is a strong advocate for her son who was diagnosed with High functioning Autism and ADHD at the age of six. Professionally, Jen owns a PASA (Program Approved Service Agency) and has 14 years of experience in working with adults who have disabilities.
Jen is a proponent for equality within schools and the community and an effective example in living a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Eric Lorenz
Board Treasurer
Eric Lorenz is a Prospect Academy parent and currently works as the Controller of Centennial Woods, a company in Laramie, Wyoming. He has over 20 years of experience as an accountant and controller in the manufacturing, utility, and energy sectors. Eric holds a B.S. in Business Administration with options in Accounting and Finance and an M.B.A. with an option in Management Science, both from California State University, East Bay (formerly CSU-Hayward).
Sam Carwyn
Board Member
Sam Carwyn has been dedicated to her community with her entire professional career spent in the non-profit sector. She focuses primarily on youth, families, reproductive justice, and supporting individuals who have experienced violence. As an advocate, she centers her efforts on those who are most marginalized, which has included youth in foster care, the Black community, disAbled individuals, LGBTQIA+ youth, and adults. She is devoted to creating accessible, inclusive, and uplifting environments collaboratively.
She earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in Child, Youth, and Family Studies. In 2015 she obtained a MA in Teaching from the College of Saint Mary. She taught secondary students in Special Education before moving into teaching at the local community college. She currently attends the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities working towards a Master of Divinity degree, with Social Transformation as her concentration. Grounded in her faith, she works to advance justice and equity.