Staff and Advisory Board

EMILIE LIEBHOFF is the Founder of Moms as Mentors®, co-founder of Invest in Girls, a financial literacy program for high school girls, and former Deputy Director of the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools. Prior to joining NCGS, Emilie 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. 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 is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Moms as Mentors®. 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 NCGS’ 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 science, technology, engineering and math (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. It was at WGBH where Leslie discovered her passion for girls’ education and empowerment while assistant producing Engineer Your Life, an award-winning website that encourages girls to consider engineering as a career. Leslie received a B.A. in Psychology from Haverford College, where she graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.

LINDA LIN is Director of Social Emotional Learning for Moms as Mentors. Linda Lin 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 daughters.

MANDY HICKLING is the Chief Program Officer for Moms as Mentors. Mandy has extensive experience as an educator and teacher trainer, having worked for over 10 years in UK schools and colleges, where she taught and lead curriculum development for economics and social sciences. An avid believer in the power of education to change lives, Mandy Hickling is currently the President of the i.HUG. Foundation, a not-for-profit that works with orphans and vulnerable children in Uganda by providing education, health and other support services. As a mom of 2 children, Mandy understands the daily challenges that being a parent brings and the unique positions moms have in their children's lives. At Moms as Mentors®, she works to create programs that will maximize moms' opportunities to teach their daughters to become confident and competent women, who are open to learning and ready to face life's challenges.

MARGOT SIGUR is our lead STEM advisor and 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.

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