Who We Are

MENTOR Georgia is a statewide affiliate of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, and provides the leadership and infrastructure necessary to support the expansion of quality mentoring relationships across Georgia.

MENTOR Georgia is housed within and coordinated by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development and serves as a clearinghouse for training, resources, and public awareness. In addition, MENTOR Georgia provides links between MENTOR’s national efforts and local organizations and programs that foster and support quality mentoring relationships.

To learn more about MENTOR Georgia’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and values visit our about section.

  • Staff
    • Leslie Hale – Executive Director, MENTOR Georgia | Public Service Faculty Member, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development

     

    Supporting staff:

    • Charlie Bauder – Communications Manager, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development
    • Shirley Reyes – Program Coordinator, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development
    • Eva Scott – Program Coordinator, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development
  • Advisory Board

    The MENTOR Georgia Advisory Board’s role: provide advice, insight, and thought leadership, often from unique vantage points approaching youth, youth development, and statewide systems. The board is composed of systems-level youth development professionals, educators, and business leaders who support the collective impact of MENTOR Georgia by leveraging services and contributions across their professional and personal networks. 

    • Michael Armstrong, Board Chair – Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power and Potential
    • Sandy Welfare, Board Vice Chair – Momentum Advisory Collective
    • Elise Brockenberry – Graduate Student, Georgia State University
    • Maranie Brown – BlackRock
    • Brad Bryant – Retired, education, fundraising, and law 
    • Stacey Chavis – Campaigns Academy
    • Monty Green – Elevance Health
    • Gabe Kuperminc – Georgia State University
    • Katie Landes – Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network 
    • David Meyers – J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development 
    • Careshia Moore – Compete to Succeed Educational Resources
    • Cathy Smith-Curry – Department of Juvenile Justice
    • Eli Velez – The Latin American Association
  • Provider Council

    The MENTOR Georgia Provider Council plays a crucial role in informing MENTOR Georgia’s understanding of the needs of youth mentoring programs. Made up of leaders from mentoring programs and direct service practitioners, the Provider Council ensures the direct services that MENTOR Georgia provides are in tune with the needs of programs and organizations.

    • Megan Arthur – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta
    • Kimberly Bennett – Cultivating a Lifetime of Legacy 
    • Elton Dixon – Enay Coaching 
    • Wesley Fondal – Starbase Robins 
    • Jennifer Herring – UNG First-Gen mentoring initative 
    • Lynn Hill – Boys & Girls Clubs of North Georgia 
    • Amy McIntosh – Live 2 Create
    • June O’Neal – The Mentors Project
    • James Rayford – Gwinnett County School District 
    • Toya Russell-Phillips – Girls of Excellence, Inc. 
    • Rolandria Tolbert – Central Georgia Technical College REACH Mentoring Program 
    • Jessica Washington – Usher’s New Look 
    • Chris Woods – Artportunity Knocks