Dedicated individuals with a passion for mentoring

Board of Directors

Clear Direction Mentoring was founded in 2014 by a student outreach group at NYU. Clear Direction Mentoring is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has had amazing success in empowering STEMM students to retain talent in our field. We break down barriers and empower our Fellows from historically marginalized and excluded backgrounds to achieve their dreams in STEMM. Our work wouldn’t be possible without our incredible leadership team!

Paola Leon-Kucera

Executive Director

Dr. Julia Derk

Board President

Dr. Shushan Sargsian

Director of Early Career Opportunities and Board Member

Cheryl Loudd

Board Member

Mark Ostrander, MPA

Board Member

Jasmine Fischer

Board Member and Former CDM Fellow

Dr. Dionna Williams

Board Member

Ibrahim Abdel Wahab

Board Member and Former CDM Fellow

Arwa Kassamali

Board Member

Mentors

We recruit the most passionate, thoughtful, dedicated STEMM experts we can find to be mentors for CDM.

Fellows

Our Fellows are nothing short of amazing. Each year, through partnership with research labs at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, several of our Fellows participate in paid summer research internships, culminating in a final project.