Lisa Limtiaco

director

Lisa Limtiaco studied Biology at Washington University in St. Louis and earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California at Berkeley, where she received a Dean’s award for her research. While she was a partner in a private practice in Northern California, she taught professional development and management courses. After several years, she took a sabbatical and completed a theology degree through the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. Currently, she is an associate optometrist in a Beverly Hills group practice, specializing in vision rehabilitation. As the recent director of Westfield Residence, she is applying development skills to her role as a mentor and program director. She has a passion for helping students and young professionals to reach their full potential and to integrate faith, purpose, service, and leadership in their work environments. She enjoys hiking, biking, and anything outdoors!

Bridget Higgins

assistant director

Bridget Higgins is an educator, specializing in character and leadership for young women.  Having received her BS from Notre Dame, she taught interdisciplinary science and math for several years at Montrose School, in Medfield, Massachusetts.  At the same time, she worked as a Resident Assistant at Bayridge Residence in Boston, directing formation programs and residence life.  She left the front end of the classroom to attend a two year laureate program at the Università di Santa Croce in Rome, specializing in integral human formation.  She now teaches at Notre Dame Academy in addition to supporting the formational programs at Westfield.  As a native Pittsburgher, she is relishing the sunshine of Southern California.  She speaks Spanish and Italian, and has traveled extensively domestically and abroad.  Her passions are nature, theater and bluegrass music.  Her favorite authors include Dante, Hemmingway, and LM Montgomery. 

Maria elena De bellard

Assistant director

Debbie studied Biology at University Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela and then obtained a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at City University of New York. From there she moved to California to work as an Embryologist at Caltech and later on at California State University Northridge. In 2013 she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Indonesia where she researched the nervous system of jellyfish. Currently she conducts research in the joined field of evolution/development, while mentoring a large number of undergraduates. She is an avid biker, climber and hiker; no distance or rock is too hard for her to tackle!