Our Team

The Moms as Mentors team is comprised of an amazing group of dedicated volunteers, including:

EMILIE LIEBHOFF, Founder

Emilie has spent the majority of her career in teaching and administrative positions in the education and nonprofit sectors. Emilie is passionate about girls' development and has spoken nationwide on topics pertaining to the advancement of women and girls, including 21st century skills, mentoring, confidence, advocacy, and leadership. She co-founded Invest in Girls, a financial literacy program for high school girls, and was former Deputy Director of the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools. Prior to joining NCGS, Emilie received her MBA from Cornell University, her Ed.M from Harvard University, and her B.A. from Dartmouth College. She has served on several boards and advisory committees, including the National Girls’ Collaborative Project, the National Conference on Girls’ Education, "Clearing The Path" for MA, and Codman Academy Charter Public High School. Emilie is currently the Assistant Head of School & Director of Admissions at Dedham Country Day School and is also the proud mom of three daughters.

LESLIE COLES, Co-Founder & Executive Director

Leslie has conceptualized, built and rolled out Moms as Mentors’ research-based initiatives dedicated to helping girls become capable women leaders in fields where women remain underrepresented (STEM, entrepreneurship and politics) and helping them develop a healthy body image. She is also currently a project manager at the Playful Journey Lab at MIT. She spent nearly 3 years as the Director of Programs for VentureLab. VentureLab is a nonprofit organization that is helping create the next generation of innovators and changemakers through entrepreneurial learning. Leslie’s work involved designing VentureLab programs that used best practices for promoting girls’ confidence and developing their mindset and skills to develop female entrepreneurial leaders. Her prior role was Director of Strategic Initiatives & Programs at the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, where she took the lead role in implementing programs that advanced their mission to empower girls to be influential contributors to the world. A highlight for her was designing and executing highly-acclaimed national conferences for educators and administrators on such topics as advancing girls in STEM, business and political leadership, media literacy and the healthy development of girls. Previously, she served as Content Producer at WGBH, Boston’s public broadcasting station and PBS’ single largest content provider. Leslie received a B.A. in Psychology from Haverford College, where she graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Her work has received national press, including for CBSnews.com and in the best-selling book VentureGirls.

LINDA LIN, Director of Social Emotional Learning

Linda is a clinical psychologist who is passionate about helping women fight a culture that objectifies them. She is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at Emmanuel College where she teaches undergraduate courses in Counseling Theories and Techniques, Health Psychology, and Adult Psychopathology. Linda earner her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University. An expert on body image, she has published numerous research articles in scientific journals, spoken at scientific conferences around the world, and  been featured in the Washington Post and the U.S. News and World Report.  She is also the proud mother of two children.

MARGOT SIGUR, STEM Advisor and Lead Facilitator

Margot spent 6 years at WGBH Educational Foundation (PBS' leading content provider), creating and leading science and engineering activities for kids of all ages. When not working with kids, Margot was teaching parents, educators, and engineers how to make science and engineering fun, engaging, and approachable. Margot's passion for helping people extends beyond the world of STEM as she also is a licensed massage therapist! Whether she is teaching a Thai massage workshop or developing quality programs for Moms as Mentors®, Margot is passionate about teaching and helping people achieve their full potential.

PROGRAM STAFF

We are fortunate to have fantastic female role models at all of our programs. Moms As Mentors® has a vast network of educators  who facilitate our programs. We also can train your staff to run the program at your school or community organization.

ADVISORY BOARD

SARAH SPENCE ADAMS, PH.D. 
Professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering
Olin College of Engineering

SUSANNE BECK
Managing Director
HQJ Strategies

MARGARET BROAD
Former Head of School, St. Margaret's School for Girls
Former Board President, National Coalition of Girls' Schools

CONNIE CHOW
Executive Director
Science Club for Girls

JOANN DEAK Ph.D. 
Author, Consultant, Educator, Psychologist
The Deak Group

RICHARD FOX
Professor, Political Science
Loyola Marymount University

LISA GLENN
Senior Director, Network Contracting, Alternative Quality Contract
Blue Cross Blue Shield

MELVIN GREER
Founder and Managing Director
Greer Institute for Leadership and Innovation

DIANE HAMMER, M.S. 
Director
Simmons Institute for Leadership and Change

LAURENCE J. KOTLIKOFF
Professor of Economics, Boston University
President, Economic Security Planning, Inc.

PETER KURILOFF, Ed.D.
Professor, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Division, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania
Senior advisor on Group Effectiveness and Career Development, Executive MBA Program, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Research Director, Center for the Study of Boys' and Girls' Lives

LENESA LEANA
Teacher, Counselor, Tutor, Administrator, Author
Former Head of School, Belmont Day School (MA)
Former President, The Elementary School Heads Association
Former Board Member, Association of Independent School in New England

CLARE METHA, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Psychology, Emmanuel College
Staff Scientist, Boston's Children's Hospital
Fellow in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

NIMISHA GHOSH ROY
District Partnership Manager
Code.org

TERESA SPILLANE Psy.D. 
Licensed Psychologist
Harvard Medical School
Massachusetts General Hospital
Former Consulting Psychologist, Isisparenting

JESS WEINER
Founder and CEO, Talk to Jess
Global Self-Esteem Ambassador, Dove®

EMILY WELCH
Process Design Consultant, Human Resources
Bank of America
Registered Attorney, Massachusetts State Bar