Meet the Team

Kimberly Schaefer

Board Member

Kimberly Schaefer graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara where she earned a degree in Economics and Accounting. She currently works in the Department of Treasury as a bank regulator specializing in anti-money laundering and counter terrorism regulations for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Prior to joining the OCC, Kimberly worked as a senior regulatory consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. She volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA of Orange County and previously mentored high school students through Minds Matter of Los Angeles. Kimberly is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist. Her expertise in financing and commitment to giving back to her community is a huge asset to Mentor Me Learning; Kimberly is an essential part of our sustainability and capacity to provide young leaders with scholarships to participate in our Youth Empowerment Programs.

Jueun Steinhaus

Board Member

Juen Steinhaus has a lifetime of experience with progressive education and diversity programs in Southern California.  She grew up in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, earning a scholarship to one of the most progressive K-12 schools in the LA area. She then went on to earn her BA at UC Berkeley and a Masters Degree in Education at UCLA. Jueun has been a classroom teacher for 7 years, worked in Alumni Relations and Fundraising Development, and is committed to being an advocate for young people. She is also a special advocate for Asian American issues and active with the Asian Personal Exchange (APEX).  Her unique experiences gives Mentor Me an added perspective that helps us focus on student-centered and diverse programming, recruiting powerful partners in the Southern California community and acquiring funding for our youth leadership scholarship programs.

Lachelle Carrozza

Board Member

Lachelle Carrozza is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and innovator.  Her adult journey began at the University of California Irvine where she earned a full athletic scholarship playing Division I soccer while working toward her degree in Social Ecology.  She then made the biggest decision of her life and decided to drop everything to start a family - which catapulted her into a life of service in her community and assisting small businesses to succeed along the way.  She was also the president of NALS (National Association of Legal Secretaries) of Orange County during her days in Corporate America. She has labored tirelessly to empower the youth around her as a valued mentor, organized multiple outreaches and lead various fundraising campaigns.  Due to her extensive experience and relationships through volunteering, leading and coaching she will play an integral role in bridging the gap between MentorMe and the community. Her diversity, forward-thinking and passion make her a crucial part of this organization.

Leslie Carrera-Silva

Board Member

Leslie Carrera-Silva is an educator, arts advocate and yogini. She has worked for a few school districts within Orange County, also serving as a Spanish dual language teacher for primary grades. Being multilingual and having lived and worked in other countries herself, Leslie is passionate about multiculturalism. Growing up she had a love of the performing arts which led her to the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. She believes that an arts-rich education is profoundly enriching. When she is not teaching young students in the classroom, she can be found teaching hot yoga to adults. She has practiced yoga since 2005 and has taught in Europe and Australia. She holds a multiple subject teaching credential and Masters in Education from Cal State Fullerton.

Marissa Nadjarian

Board Member

Marissa Nadjarian is an Educational Consultant specializing in service learning teaching methodologies. She received her degree in Psychology, with a minor in Education from the University of California, Berkeley, and later completed her Master’s Degree in Education with Pepperdine University. During her nine-year career as an elementary educator at The John Thomas Dye School, in Los Angeles, CA she also served as Co-Director of Service Learning. Now as a consultant, Marissa works with educators to further develop social action curriculum- this includes program development, curriculum resources and workshops for schools and organizations such as The Museum of Tolerance's Tools for Tolerance® program in Los Angeles. Marissa also advises for The Educators Consortium for Service Learning, where she develops professional development curriculum and networking opportunities for administrators, teachers and parents engaged in service learning.

Jessica Clanahan

Board Member

Jessica Clanahan graduated from Cal Poly Pomona, where she earned a degree in Political Science with a minor in International Relations. Diplomacy and negotiations were foundational skills she learned through her participation in the National Model United Nations program. She went on to attend Chapman University where she earned her Masters in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling and Professional Clinical Counseling. She has now served for 5 years as a middle school counselor in Garden Grove Unified School District.  In her experience and present service as a School Counselor, Jessica has found that students are in need of in depth social emotional support and personal exploration to help them identify their interests and best selves. This passion began when working with Mentor Me Learning's founder to support students in after school organizing, mentorship and community involvement many years ago. Jessica is committed to working with youth so they can find their best selves, connect with community and reach out to others for support.