With 17+ years in nonprofit leadership, Jeanine was thrilled to join the MENTOR RI team in April 2024. She has always been passionate about supporting youth through developmental relationships and healthy activities. Having raised four children of her own she is thankful for all the mentors who helped give her children the confidence to pursue their dreams. She has an M.S. in Human Services, a B.S in Health, Recreation & Physical Education from Springfield College, and is a certified Business Coach & Consultant.
Jeanine owns two horses named Xena and Storm. They compete in Internation Mountain Trail Horse Obstacle Challenges.
After a career in the news media, Marc landed with MENTOR Rhode Island in 2009, eager for a chance to see people at their best, as mentors, helping and supporting others; rather than at their worst, as the subject of another tragic news story. Marc is a graduate of Emerson College with a B.S. in Journalism.
He uses his communications skills to help spread the word about mentoring, and his chameleon-like adaptability to support MENTOR Rhode Island’s leadership and staff with any issues or jobs that may arise. He takes pride in being the guy others turn to when they need help. In 2023, he really took things to the next level when stepped into the role of Interim President & CEO. Marc is an avid hockey fan, what some would call a rink rat. He plays & still uses his broadcasting voice as the public address announcer for his high school alma mater’s hockey team. Marc is a transplanted country-boy from the Quiet Corner of northeastern Connecticut. He currently lives in North Providence with his wife and daughter.
Cathy was a mentor for over 10 years with MENTOR Rhode Island, so it just made sense that upon retiring from a 32-year career with the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support Services, she took a part-time position supporting the team.
She is very passionate about the program and has seen first-hand the rewards of mentoring, having had the same mentee from first grade, through middle school, graduate high school and go on to college. She continues to mentor today. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the gym, golfing and traveling.
Marisol has served as a Violence and Injury Preventionist for over two decades. She studied Criminal Justice and Sociology at the University of Connecticut and later at Quinnipiac University. Her strong leadership and people skills have fostered a genuine ability to connect with others.
She is excited to take her experience in that field into the world of mentoring. She is skilled at program management and has a strong ability to create and implement special projects and evidence-based practices specifically targeting diverse socio-economic underrepresented communities. A native of Puerto Rico, who comes from humble beginnings and a large family, she is bilingual and a Qualified Medical Interpreter. She knows the power of advocacy, remaining resilient and hard working. Marisol loves spending quality time with her family, traveling abroad, cooking for friends, writing and being near the ocean. She recently moved from Connecticut to Rhode Island and lives with her partner in this crazy adventure called life with her two siblings and two furry girls, Sox and Lambeau. Marisol truly believes we must live life to the fullest, be the best version of ourselves and enjoy the ride; for we are only guaranteed today.
Christopher has always had an interest in empowering youth. While he was earning his Master’s in Education from Rhode Island College he worked for Rhode Island Youth Theatre where he was the Director of Education and a mentor to two high school students.
Now, channeling his passion for children and mentoring, he is happy to be responsible for developing MENTOR Rhode Island’s partnerships within the community and training mentors, program staff, and those who regularly work with children. His work provides access to quality mentors and mentoring programs for hundreds, if not thousands, of children throughout Rhode Island. Being a mentor himself, he understands the vast power a mentor can have on a child. When Christopher is not working, he is usually singing and dancing around the office, or on a stage at a local community theatre. He loves going out to eat and napping whenever the time permits.
Thanks to numerous mentors throughout his own life, Ross has seen first-hand the benefits that mentoring can bring to those of all ages. He graduated with a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Rhode Island and has a passion for cultivating and developing interpersonal communication skills and relationships.
While earning his degree, Ross discovered his passion and motivation to better not only the lives of the people around him but the greater community as well. This experience led him to his current position at MENTOR Rhode Island, where he works to further community engagement through recruitment of volunteers to serve as positive role models for young people in statewide school-based mentoring programs. When not working with the team, Ross can be found playing board games with friends, jamming to EDM and rock music, reading fantasy epics, or outside hiking and playing tennis.
Destiny Manston, serving as the Data Systems and Program Associate, has two years of experience supporting programs through training and technical assistance. With expertise in data and community engagement, Destiny leverages this background to conduct training for specialized projects and assist programs by adopting a holistic approach to meet their individual requirements.
At MENTOR Rhode Island she helps organize and analyze data for the continued improvement and efficiency of the organization. Destiny is a social justice advocate who is always on the lookout for a new creative venture which is currently being fulfilled by a passion for fashion, dancing in The Providence Drum Troupe, modeling, makeup, and tattoos. She values being able to bring unique perspectives and youth involvement into greater discussions about the processes and systems being put in place.
L.A. has found the utmost satisfaction in serving the youth of Rhode Island in many capacities. They graduated with a degree in Theater and Performance and began their journey as a teaching artist for the Gamm Theater.
Not long after, they joined the Center for Dynamic Learning as Program Manager, overseeing the production of 14 full length musicals per year, while also teaching two classes of their own! Finally, they moved to working as after school administrator in both the Woonsocket and North Providence school districts. L.A. was driven to find a position that helped all of these communities systemically – leading her straight into the open arms of MENTOR RI! One day, they’d like to open a nonprofit of their own, serving at-risk youth through various artistic experiences. A true child at heart, L.A. spends their extra time reading spooky books, hiking in spooky places, and watching spooky movies. If you’d like to strike up a conversation with them, showing them pictures of your fur babies or bringing up theater is a great place to start!
A native Rhode Islander, Sandy pursued her dreams by receiving a bachelor’s of science in Elementary Education from RI College in 1998. She taught across grades K-6 for several years before switching gears. She became the Director of an urban arts-based afterschool program which allowed her the fortune to mentor staff and students and provide them with opportunities to find their own passions while developing skills they may not have otherwise known they had.
Sandy knew from the time she was a young girl that she wanted to work with children and, most importantly, be a mom. She married her high school best friend in 2003 and started the family she dreamed of. Mom to 2 beautiful girls, now teenagers, Sandy made her family her priority and is now eager to once again work to help youth. She joined Mentor RI in 2023 and is excited to continue that passion of serving students by providing fulfilling and enriching experiences for both mentors and mentees. When Sandy isn’t at Mentor RI, she loves making memories with her husband and daughters. Playing tennis, going to the beach, hiking, and taking road trips to explore new places are just a few of the activities she enjoys with her family. She is obsessed with sunsets, especially near the ocean. Sandy also has three small fur babies that she adores, a shihtzu, and two mini dachshunds. She can often be found taking them for long daily walks around her hometown of Lincoln.
Native Californian and Air Force brat, Nichole Lewis started with the MENTOR Rhode Island in 2009 as an AmeriCorps Vista and program assistant. Having worked in the non-profit sector since 1991, Nichole has acquired extensive experience and an amalgam of skills perfect for coordinating mentor programs.
She has a passion for community service, youth empowerment, and all things pink and sparkly. Nichole studied elementary, middle school, and secondary education, as well as biology and chemistry at RI College. After definitively coming to the realization that she did not want to be a teacher, she found that MENTOR Rhode Island was the perfect place to continue bringing communities together through youth support. Nichole and her two children are proud Bristolians, Legend of Zelda enthusiasts, and believers in the Oxford Comma.
Tai-lei responsible for coordinating the mentoring programs in the Woonsocket Public Schools and at the Del Sesto Middle School in Providence.
More to come!
Alyssa has always been passionate about working with youth. After an internship with MENTOR Rhode Island, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development from Rhode Island College in 2018. Alyssa works part time as a Program & Administrative Assistant and is our mentor Onboarding Queen!
When she is not at MENTOR Rhode Island, you can find her spending time with multiple different families! Alyssa has been a nanny for almost 10 years and loves spending time with all her “kids”. She enjoys working with children of all different ages. In her spare time, you can find her traveling to her favorite place, Disney World! Alyssa was an intern with Walt Disney World, participating in the Disney College Program in 2015 and 2016. If she is not at MENTOR Rhode Island, you know where to find her! Alyssa is also newly married to her high school sweetheart of 10 years. They currently live in their new condo with their cat Dory!
Ed has had many roles in the organization as a former board member, volunteer, and even dancer in the 2011 Dancing with the Stars fundraising event. Formally employed with NBC 10 WJAR and recently retired from Cox Media, Ed is now officially part of the team.
A passionate supporter of MENTOR RI for more than 15 years, experiencing firsthand the rewards of mentoring is why it’s easy to share and promote the importance of engaging with today’s youth! In his spare time, he is an avid gardener, loves to cook, volunteer with community theatre, and keep up with his two Logottos, Sophie and Zeus!