Our 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.

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Rosemary Coleman

Board Member

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.

Ariel Gutierrez

Board Member

Born in Central America, Ariel is the first-generation in his family to go to college, earning an AA at Edmonds Community College and transferring to Central Washington University for his BS in Business Administration, Management and Program Operations. Ariel worked in strategy and operations at META for many years and is now at Amazon. "I want to show, by example, that with effort and hard work we can persevere and succeed". Ariel has mentored many students since TMP began in 2021.

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Amber Hoak

Board Member

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.

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Jeff Kennedy

Board Member

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.

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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.

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Kathryn Neal

Board Member

Kathryn is a strategic leader with over 25 years of experience building high-impact partnerships and driving policy change across public and private sectors. As former Senior Director of International Policy at Microsoft, she led global collaborations with governments, universities, and multilateral organizations to promote innovation, digital inclusion, and responsible AI. A dedicated advocate for education and mentorship, Kathryn joins The Mentoring Project’s Board of Directors to help expand opportunities for students through the power of mentorship.

Julia Schechter

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. Prior to starting TMP, I served as Interim Associate Dean of Student Engagement at Richmond, the American International University in London. I hold a BA in Politics is from UC Santa Cruz, MA in Ed & Policy Analysis from Stanford University and Doctorate in Ed. from Seattle U with a focus on students with disabilities and their transition to college. I have diverse experience as an educator, working in the policy world, the classroom and the non-profit sector as Founder of College Access Now (2005).

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Dr. Michelle Terry

Board Member

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.”

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Rabia Nadeem

Director, Program Operations

After serving two years as an AmeriCorps VISTA, I’m excited to step into the role of Director of Program Operations with The Mentoring Project. In the past, I have worked as a recruiter, HR team member, and project manager with various nonprofits, and I’m eager to contribute all of my experience to this role. I strongly believe in the transformative power of education and am committed to supporting students and serving the community to help them reach their full potential.

AmeriCorps VISTA

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Allison Skalak

VISTA Community Impact Lead

I am a recent graduate from the University of Washington School of Public Health with a degree in Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health. I’ve always been passionate about leadership, from serving as a Panhellenic Delegate for the Phi Mu Eta Beta Chapter to volunteering as a Farm Hand at the UW Farm. In my senior year of college, I worked on my capstone project, which allowed me to lead community partnerships and expand the UW Farm CSA with value-added products. Most recently, after completing a six-week leadership fellowship with New Roots Institute, I was drawn to The Mentoring Project, where I hope to bring my skills in leadership, communication, and outreach to increase equitable access to educational support.

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Abby Cea

VISTA Community Impact Lead

I am a recently graduated Public Affairs student at Seattle University with a passion for leadership, community engagement, and social justice. With hands-on experience in both the public and private sectors, I bring strong communication skills, a collaborative attitude, and a drive to make meaningful contributions wherever I go. I am eager to pursue a career in public service or nonprofit work—particularly in areas that support vulnerable communities and promote policy solutions rooted in equity. I'm especially interested in roles that combine policy, advocacy, and direct service to create systemic change.

Advisors

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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.

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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.

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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