Mentoring in Parks and Recreation Initiative

Dudney Sylla serves as Program Director overseeing and supporting special projects including MENTOR’s work on informal mentoring, education, and guide on the intersections of mentoring and masculinity. Previously, Dudney worked as a Design Consultant for the Office of Human Capital – Diversity Programs at Boston Public Schools and as a Program Manager at Jobs for the Future. Dudney holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and a Master’s in Education from the University of Washington.

Desireé Robertson is the Director of Training and Product Design for MENTOR. In this role, she is responsible for driving and executing MENTOR’s vision for quality training development and product design including ensuring that our products, tools and trainings are developed with best practices in adult learning theory, and instructional and information design. She works with a team to research, develop and implement quality products, tools and trainings that includes work with the National Mentoring Resource Center and the Mentoring Connector. Prior to MENTOR, Desireé gained extensive experience in mentoring, program management and development, curriculum development, training and professional development by directing the local mentoring Affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee and with organizations such as Girls Incorporated of Memphis, Inc.  In Memphis, she was a Sociology adjunct professor for over a decade at Southwest Tennessee Community College, Christian Brothers University and the University of Memphis.  Nationally, Desireé has been a National Technical Assistance Provider for the National Mentoring Resource Center and also served as a member of MENTOR’s Mentoring Affiliate Advisory Council (MAAC). She holds a graduate degree in Sociology from the University of Memphis. Her research and areas of interest include critical mentoring and supporting college students in finding meaningful mentoring opportunities.