• Position
    • Primary Discipline
    • Expertise
    • Approach
    • Methods
    Members
    Renee Spencer
    Faculty Member
    Social Work
    Professor
    Boston Unversity
    School of Social Work
    rspenc@bu.edu
    Biographical Info

    Renée Spencer is a professor at the Boston University School of Social Work whose research interests include youth mentoring, adolescent development and gender. Much of her research focuses on the relational processes at work in more and less successful youth mentoring relationships. She also studies innovative approaches to mentoring for special populations of young people, including foster care and military-connected youth. She has published widely and serves as a member of several boards and committees, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Research Advisory Council.


    Rebecca Stelter
    Researcher
    Education/Special Education, Psychology
    Research Scientist
    innovation Research & Training
    rstelter@irtinc.us
    Mentoring Central
    Twitter
    Yafit Sulimani-Aidan
    Faculty Member
    Social Work
    Professor
    Tel Aviv University
    Tel Aviv University
    yafitsoul@gmail.com
    Anu-Riina Svenlin
    Researcher
    Social Work
    University teacher, PhD Student
    University of Jyväskylä
    Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius
    anu-riina.svenlin@chydenius.fi
    Chelsea Tambunting
    Other
    Education/Special Education, Psychology
    Director for Special Projects
    Marymount Academy
    chelseatambunting@gmail.com
    Manolya Tanyu
    Researcher
    Education/Special Education, Psychology
    Senior Researcher
    American Institutes for Research
    mtanyu@air.org
    Website
    Research Summary

    Manolya has recently worked on a randomized control trial funded by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Program (OJJDP) that examined the implementation processes and outcomes of enhanced mentoring approaches at 32 mentoring agencies in rural, urban, and suburban communities across 13 states in the U.S. https://www.ojjdp.gov/research/evaluation-of-the-mentoring-enhancement-demonstration-program.html


    Biographical Info

    I am deeply interested in bridging research and practice in mentoring to advocate for its benefits.
    I have worked on multiple mentoring research/evaluation studies since my graduate school and have a strong knowledge base in youth mentoring. I do both US-based and international work on issues related to youth development and prevention. I am looking for opportunities to collaborate with researchers and practitioners to grow our knowledge base, network and learn from others. I am also interested in engaging young people in data-related activities as peer researchers and as part of youth-adult partnerships. I have trained college students on data collection and evaluation skills in the past and mentor many junior staff at my workplace. Internationally, I am in particular interested in program implementation and outcomes evaluation with refugee youth and training youth as peer researchers.


    Heather Taussig
    Faculty Member
    Psychology, Social Work
    Professor
    University of Denver
    Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect
    heather.taussig@du.edu
    Fostering Healthy Futures
    Heather Taussig
    Faculty Member
    Psychology, Social Work
    Professor
    University of Denver
    Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect
    heather.taussig@childrenscolorado.org
    Fostering Healthy Futures
    Biographical Info

    Heather Taussig, Ph.D., is a Professor at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect at the University of Colorado. Dr. Taussig’s research focuses on developing and testing prevention programming for maltreated children with child welfare involvement. She developed and directs the Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) program, an evidence-based mentoring program for children in foster care that was developed and tested with funding from the U.S. National Institutes for Health. FHF is being disseminated through community-based organizations and a teen adaptation is being tested in a randomized controlled trial funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Dr. Taussig recently completed data collection for a 10-year longitudinal study of youth in foster care, funded by the U.S. National Institute of Justice, and she is beginning a study of ecological factors leading to juvenile justice involvement for youth in foster care through funding from the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Dr. Taussig’s work includes research on youth mentoring, adolescent risk behaviors, dating violence, and child welfare system outcomes. Dr. Taussig currently serves on several review panels and community collaboratives as well as on the Research Board of the U.S. National Mentoring Resource Center. She served on Colorado Governor Ritter’s Task Force on Foster Care and is an awardee for her work on child abuse and neglect from the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.


    judy taylor
    Other
    VP
    Mentor management systems
    Mentor management systems
    judy@strother-taylor.com
    Biographical Info

    Mentor stakeholder


    Alexandra Telitsyna
    Researcher
    Psychology, Social Work, Sociology
    Associate professor
    National Research University Higher School of Economics
    atelitsyna@hse.ru
    Research Summary

    This study examines the different perceptions about the role of mentors between at-risk youth who are institutionalized versus those who are family-based in the Russian Federation. The present study was conducted using a survey questionnaire with respondents between ages 15 to 23 in Moscow. Data analysis was conducted on 1110 responses using Pearson’s chi-squared test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and t-test. Results indicate that institutionalized at-risk youth, more than their family-based peers, perceive the mentor to be their friend; a person with whom they can establish a close and trusting relationship. For family-based respondents the mentor is perceived as a professional who teaches them certain educational and vocational skills. This has implications for the recruitment and training of mentors.


    Biographical Info

    Dr. Alexandra Telitsyna works as associate professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics at the Centre for Studies of Civil Society and Non-profit sector, in addition to playing a lead role in the Board of Directors in Fundraisers Association of Russia and NGO Association “All together”. She is the Ex-Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Russia. She sits on the Committee of Child Protection at Public Chamber and some others, is a spoken widely about sector issues at many International conferences.


    Sara Thurlow
    Other
    Education/Special Education
    Program Coordinator
    Promise Partnership
    University of New Brunswick
    sara.thurlow@unb.ca
    Promise Partnership
    Biographical Info

    I am a certified elementary school teacher working as a program coordinator for the University of New Brunswick's Promise Partnership program. We run an at lunch and after school mentoring program at a local K-5 school. 85% of the students that attend this school live in poverty. Our focus is combating poverty through increased literacy. Our mentors meet with their mentees once a week for an hour to read, do sight word practice, and play games together. We also offer a High School tutoring program that focuses on high school completion. Students from priority neighborhoods are bused onto campus after school and fed supper in our cafeteria. They then head over to our classrooms and receive homework support in small groups with a University student tutor. Students get help with homework, writing resumes, applying for post secondary and much more. Through the generous donation of a local business we are able to provide a scholarship for students wishing to attend UNB after high school.


    Yvonne Ualesi
    Graduate Student
    Education/Special Education, Psychology, Sociology, Other
    Mrs
    University of Auckland
    Te Puna Wānanga School of Māori and Indigenous Education
    yvonne.ualesi@gmail.com
    Twitter
    Biographical Info

    Yvonne M Ualesi is a Doctoral Scholar and PhD Candidate at the University of Auckland. She is of Samoan, Tokelauan and Fijian descent. She is a registered primary school teacher in Aotearoa NZ and currently completing her PhD at Te Puna Wānanga - School of Māori and Indigenous Education within the Faculty of Education and Social Work. She is currently working on the research to inform the cultural adaptation of Campus Connections Aotearoa a unique youth mentoring programme at the UoA originally developed at CSU in the US. Her study is a strengths-based approach underpinned by indigenous theories and references that contribute to positive youth development and youth mentoring. She is exploring key elements of Culturally Sustaining and Safe Practice in Youth Mentoring Aotearoa NZ.


    Levi van Dam
    Postdoctoral Fellow
    Psychology, Social Work
    Dr
    Dutch YIM foundation
    University of Amsterdam
    l.vandam@uva.nl
    Website
    Twitter
    Research Summary

    Doctorate in child psychology 'Who and what works in natural mentoring?
    A Relational Approach to Improve the Effectiveness of Youth Care'


    Biographical Info

    Educated as a child psychologist, I currently work as an innovator and researcher developing and evaluating new (treatment) programs for youth with special needs.


    Migchiel Van Diggelen
    Faculty Member
    Education/Special Education
    dr.
    Open University of the Netherlands
    migchiel.vandiggelen@ou.nl
    Website
    Twitter
    Biographical Info

    Migchiel van Diggelen is an assistant professor in Educational Psychology at the Open University of the Netherlands. He has completed his Ph.D. on the effects of self-assessment on teachers' competencies in coaching students’ reflection skills at the Eindhoven University of Technology. His research interests include professional learning of teachers, feedback, formative assessment, mentoring and coaching and quality assurance. Van Diggelen is an experienced teacher trainer, educational developer and educational researcher and has initiated, coordinated and participated in numerous (large-scale) educational innovation projects. He is also a board member of the Higher Education division of the Dutch Society for Educational Research (VOR).


    Hanne Vandermeerschen
    Researcher
    Sociology
    dr
    HIVA - KU Leuven
    hanne.vandermeerschen@kuleuven.be
    Biographical Info

    I am a sociologist and senior researcher at HIVA, a research institute which specializes in policy-oriented research and forms part of the university of Leuven (Belgium). My research focuses on the integration of immigrants.


    Vijayalakshmi Vasudevan
    Graduate Student
    Education/Special Education, Psychology, Public/Social Policy, Social Work, Sociology
    I am the Alice from the Wonderland

    viji.lakshmi.kannan@gmail.com
    Rachel Vinciguerra
    Other
    Public/Social Policy, Social Work
    Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Specialist
    Strong Women, Strong Girls
    rvinciguerra@swsg.org
    Research Summary

    Her evaluation work is centered on principles of culturally-responsive and youth-centered evaluation. She uses mixed-methods approaches including quantitative data analysis, focus groups, arts-based evaluation, and other participatory methods.


    Biographical Info

    Rachel Vinciguerra has a Master of Social Work with a Human Service Management concentration and a Master of International Development focused on NGOs and Civil Society. Rachel specializes in designing and adapting monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities to suit the strengths and capacity of nonprofit organizations. She is trained in qualitative and quantitative inquiry and analysis including focus group facilitation, qualitative coding, and data analysis using SPSS, Tableau, and Excel. Her evaluation work is centered on principles of culturally-responsive and youth-centered evaluation. In that context, Rachel has participated in Black Girls Equity Alliance working groups in Pittsburgh, centering the lived experiences of black girls in the city, since 2017.

    Rachel recently conducted a program evaluation of a girls' empowerment program in Haiti producing reports in English and Haitian Creole for stakeholders. She has also worked with a newly-formed foster care agency in Haiti to guide the development of their theory of change and logical frameworks before designing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan and training staff. Academically, Rachel specializes in gender equality initiatives locally and internationally. She was the coordinator of the Gender Equality in Public Administration research group at the University of Pittsburgh which partners with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to research and make recommendations for increased gender equality in public institutions worldwide. She was the Gender Intern for UNDP at the Regional Hub for Asia and the Pacific in 2018.


    Timo von Oertzen
    Faculty Member
    Psychology, Other
    Prof. Dr.
    University of the Federal Forces Munich
    Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development, Berlin
    timo@unibw.de
    Research Summary

    My main interest is in Quantitative Psychologiy, but I'm also interested in the effect of child- and youth mentoring. I'm heading a longitudinal evaluation study of the mentoring program biffy, which is a formal mentoring program for children in Kreuzberg, Berlin. The program is designed to forge long-lasting mentoring relationsships, which works well for my research interest is in long-term outcomes of long mentoring relationships both in the menteess and the mentors.


    Biographical Info

    I have a PhD in Computer Science from the University of the Saarland, Germany, and a Habilitation in Psychology from the Humboldt University, Berlin. I was research group leader at the Max Planck Insitute for Human Development from 2005 unitl 2010 and Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia from 2011 to 2015. Since 2016, I am a full professor at the University of the Federal Forces in Munich, Geramy.


    Jasna Vucak
    Researcher
    ass.prof.
    DNOOM
    SOOM
    jasna.vucak@yahoo.com
    Research Summary

    Numerous scientific projects of the European network for prevention and health promotion (EUROPREV), Association of teachers in General practice family medicine (ATGP/FM) as associate or principal investigator or Ministry of Health

    1. 2001.-2003. “Say yes to non-smoking ”, project on organizing practical schools for people who smoke - research associate
    2. 2002. -2005. “Prevention and health promotion in clinical practice: the views of general practitioners in Europe – principal investigator
    3. 2008-2012. “Effectiveness of the intervention, regional distribution of total risk for cardiovascular disease in family medicine, patients' attitudes about prevention” - The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb. The project was reported to the Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry (ISRCTN 31857696) - principal investigator
    4. 2011. FP7 project "The appropriateness of prescribing antibiotics in primary health care in Europe with respect to antibiotic resistance - APRES", implemented in nine European countries – research associate
    5. 2010.- 2015. "EUROPREVIEW Patient study" - principal investigator
    6. 2016.-2019. "EUROPREV III Study" - principal investigator
    7. 2019. – present “Mentorship in postgraduate vocational training in family medicine” – project manager


    Biographical Info

    1985.-1988. postgraduate study of Otorhinolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery
    Zagreb, Croatia
    Postgraduate study of Otorhinolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery, Medical School, University of Zagreb, Croatia
    1988. Master of science
    2003.-2005.
    Zagreb, Croatia
    Specialization of Family medicine, Medical School, University of Zagreb, Croatia
    Specialist in Family medicine
    2003.-2006. Phd study
    Zagreb, Croatia
    Medical School, University of Zagreb, Croatia
    PhD
    1988. Master of science
    2013. Doctor of Philosophy – PhD
    2015. Primarius
    2015. Assistant Professor of Family Medicine


    Sarabjit Wallia
    Faculty Member
    Education/Special Education, Psychology
    MD
    Entendido, India
    inme Learning, India
    sarabjit.wallia@gmail.com
    Research Summary

    I have to 2 key areas of research.
    1. Transference of learning in the Outdoors
    2. Powers of outdoor pursuits in the space of mentoring


    Biographical Info

    I have been working with children and young adults for the past 2 decades with the space of mentoring. My playground is the Outdoors. I have a Masters in Outdoor and Environmental Education from La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia. I have recently started a counselling and mentoring organisation - Entendido (conscious effort to understand).


    Lindsey Weiler
    Faculty Member
    Applied Sciences
    Assistant Professor
    University of Minnesota
    lmweiler@umn.edu
    Christopher West (Cieslinski)
    Researcher
    Applied Sciences, Other
    eMentor
    open
    Washington U. previously
    westchris1@aol.com
    Research Summary

    Two years in Poland I extended my studies in practice and research of a post communist Europe implementing laws and acts to recover and transfer to a free market.
    Study found that those nations met to agree on acknowledging and accepting each others professional and academic credentials.
    HOWEVER, those same laws identified institutions of higher learning as the best qualified to evaluate foreign education qualifications - still giving the institutions instructions. So that those most qualified often denied applications saying they had no authority - slowing economic recovery


    Biographical Info

    My doctoral dissertation - Poland At Law: Pragmatic Quid-Pro-Quo Nostrification was formally published last year.
    However due to the COVID-19 classrooms have closed at Washington U. and I have offered to mentor students remotely.
    My parents were displaced persons of WWII relocated to the US and here I was born. English is my Second Language and Polish is-was my first.
    I studied Latin in parochial school and Spanish in secondary. I was assigned to study Vietnamese at the US Defense Language Institute. I volunteered with the US Peace Corps to Poland that is where I met my wife - working in Denmark Germany and the Netherlands.
    I returned and was called upon Webster U Chair to teach International studies giving me the opportunity to compose coursework at the undergrad level and one for Wash.U. at grad level. Also, founder of the Center for International Studies by the Disabled, nonprofit 501(c)3 involved identifying European universities and composing questionnaires regarding accessibility then downloading the mail replies into a database system. closed for lack of funding


    Alastair Wilson
    Researcher
    Education/Special Education, Public/Social Policy, Sociology
    Mr
    University of Strathclyde
    Intergenerational Mentoring Network
    al.wilson@strath.ac.uk
    Intergenerational mentoring
    Research Summary

    Developing community based mentoring for children and young people from working class and poor backgrounds;
    ■What’s Going on Now? An audit of youth music in Scotland. This project, commissioned by Creative Scotland, is designed to revisit and update on the issues highlighted in the What’s Going On? report of 2003 which was an audit of youth music in Scotland. It has a particular focus on inequality and music provision;
    ■creating school-based resources to increase understanding of people with learning disabilities;
    ■understanding local council understandings and responses to SAC and PEF funding initiatives;
    ■developing literacy support for young people in areas of social/economic disadvantage.


    Biographical Info

    Alastair's work is focused on different aspects of inequality - identifying and challenging the processes that create and sustain it. Along with Katie Hunter he has led the development of an intergenerational mentoring programme that supports children and young people in terms of early literacy development and access to and progression through higher education (www.intergenerationalmentoring.com). This work has created the Intergenerational Mentoring Network which is independent social enterprise supporting different aspects of school and community development. He is currently (2019) leading a research and development project aimed at understanding local council understandings and responses to SAC and PEF funding initiatives in education. A recently completed project has examined the impact of tuition fees in music provision in schools and the impact on children and young people from working class and poor households.


    Harry Wilson
    Other
    Education/Special Education, Public/Social Policy

    Sanford Educational Programs
    National University
    hwilson2@nu.edu
    Research Summary

    While with the government funded several mentoring research projects including a focus on cross gender and cross race mentoring.
    Through the Federal Mentoring Council, encouraged evidence based mentoring and marshalled the resources of 52 federal youth programs that allowed for mentoring or where mentoring was a principal focus. Along with HHS partners, developed an executive order that created the Inter-agency Working Group for Youth Programs (www.youth.gov) where mentoring and other youth program designs that work are showcased.


    Biographical Info

    Youthwork professional 1978-2000, Associate Commissioner Family and Youth Services Bureau 2001-2008, OJJDP Coordinating Council 2001-2012, Dept. of Justice. Founder and Co-Director of the Federal Mentoring Council 2002-2012. Currently Sr. Consultant on the Sanford Education Project a relationship based educational intervention is changing the world, one classroom, one program, one relationship at at time. Also helping Colleges and Universities in Indiana develop AOD prevention frameworks and establish student ally training where students mentor and support new students in mindfulness and monitor and refer for substance use and self harm.
    Was the lead on the President's Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents initiative. Developed mentoring initiatives and took them to scale.


    Fatih Yilmaz
    Researcher
    Public/Social Policy, Social Work
    Research Fellow
    Beyond the Horizon ISSG
    fatih.yilmaz@behorizon.org
    Website