Team.
The Mentoring Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, operated by AmeriCorps/VISTA and volunteers. The Project relies on the support of partnerships with community organizations and educational institutions to refer students, mentors and lend expertise. The Mentoring Project shares the AmeriCorps commitment to treating all persons with dignity and respect while building a diverse, equitable, inclusive environment where benefits and opportunities for advancement are accessible to all.
Board of Directors
Julia Schechter, Ed.D.
Founder & Director
I was inspired to start The Mentoring Project from my days as a Completion Coach at South Seattle College where I worked with many dedicated students who persisted despite tremendous barriers. As an educator who has worked in the policy world, the classroom and the non-profit sector, my hope is to continue to make a difference by taking initiative, as I did when I started College Access Now back in 2005. My most recent role as Interim Associate Dean of Student Engagement at Richmond, the American International University in London exposed me to the challenges of the global student experience. My BA in Politics is from UC Santa Cruz, MA in Education Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University and Doctorate in Education Leadership from Seattle University. My doctoral research was in the area of students with disabilities and their transition to college. The Mentoring Project has long been an idea in my head but “lockdown” has gifted me the time to launch it- onward ho!
Jeff Kennedy
Jeff has been a mentor with The Mentoring Project since 2021 and is motivated to help students connect with the knowledge and resources he wishes he had when he was navigating through school and career. Currently a Senior Data Analyst at Microsoft, Jeff graduated with a BA in East Asian Studies from Stanford University
Amber Hoak
Amber Hoak is a first-generation college graduate with a BA in math from UW (2013) and an MS in Information and Communications Technology from the University of Denver (2017). She received an undergraduate ROTC scholarship and served in the Air Force as a software engineer prior to working as an engineer at Microsoft Research.
Weishung Liu
Treasurer
Wei is a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft Research and Incubations and has been a Mentor with The Mentoring Project since 2021. Wei has stayed with her initial student, mentoring him in Mandarin as he successfully transferred from Seattle Central College to the University of Washington (UW). Wei holds a BFA in Industrial Design and a BA in Comparative Religion from the UW and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Rosemary Coleman
Rosemary joined The Mentoring Project board because she values the transformational power of mentorship. She brings thirty years of experience as a senior development professional and community volunteer. Most recently, she served as a volunteer reading tutor and Advisory Board Chair for Seattle Reading Partners, volunteer TalkTime facilitator with King County Library System and volunteer audiobook editor for the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library.
AmeriCorps VISTA
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Rabia Nadeem
AmeriCorps VISTA Program Manager
I have come a long way from being a South Asian amateur blogger living and raising a family in Dubai to working as a full-time Recruiter in Prague. But the trajectory of my life changes entirely when I started working for non-profit organizations in the USA. My life on three continents; Asia, Europe, and now in North America is a treasure trove of learning, unlearning and relearning experiences. I have no scruples in saying that my journey as a young graduate student was a topsy-turvy ride, and there were times when I wished for a guiding star to navigate me and help me through life's journey. Nevertheless, I’m ready to give back and serve wherever I can. I’m excited to be a part of The Mentoring Project to bring the best mentors in our community and connect them to those who need a guiding star.
Abdirisak Hussein
AmeriCorps VISTA Program Manager
Abdirisak Hussein, from Kent, Washington, is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor's in Arts, Media, and Culture. "As a first-generation student, having a mentor is a great resource to help you navigate through your journey, and I hope to do my part to keep that cycle going. This project is not just a chance to give back, but also to grow alongside a community of driven and talented individuals. I am beyond excited to join the mentoring project because it aligns perfectly with my passion for empowering others and fostering growth."
Advisers
Jon Fine
Jon brings deep experience with non-profit leadership, governance and fundraising to The Mentoring Project having served as CEO of the United Way of King County for 19 years. Jon currently teaches non-profit management at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics and serves in various community leadership roles including advancing the Seattle Colleges. Jon often rides a bike up Queen Anne Hill, one of Seattle’s steepest — this can-do spirit will help move The Mentoring Project forward.
Brianne Murphy-Sanchez
Ms. Sanchez is the Dean of Student Achievement at South Seattle College. Brianne brings to The Mentoring Project her expertise on student financial aid, college affordability, scholarship or grant aid and financial literacy. She has a BA in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.
Dr. Michelle Terry
Dr. Terry is a Pediatrician at Seattle Children’s & a Professor at the UW medical school. She holds an AB in Human Biology from Stanford University and an MD from Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Terry is both a mentor and career panel moderator with The Mentoring Project. Terry believes “that each person has a unique blend of talents, aspirations, and achievements. By nurturing growth and adaptability, individuals can successfully navigate their life paths.”
Janet Williams, Ph.D.
Dr. Williams is Professor Emerita of Clinical Psychiatric Social Work in the Dept. of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has worked with many different areas of psychopathology, including psychotic, mood, and anxiety disorders. Janet has lived in Seattle for about five years and is looking forward to bringing her expertise in mental health to support young adult mentorship.
Partners.
