About Us

Melissa Mayo

Executive Director

402-715-4164 Ext. 1

Melissa serves as the Executive Director of MENTOR Nebraska where she leads a team dedicated to strengthening and advocating for youth mentoring across Nebraska.

Melissa was previously the Senior Programming Director at MENTOR Nebraska where she led expansion efforts of Success Mentors and STRIVE refugee mentoring in several Nebraska school districts while supporting evaluation and operations functions for the organization. She has spent her career dedicated to youth through leadership roles at the United Way of the Midlands, Latino Center of the Midlands, Partnership 4 Kids, and Heartland Family Service. She has a strong track record of diversifying funding support for programmatic growth, successfully implementing and replicating youth development models serving system-impacted youth, leading multi-county initiatives, and collaborating with nonprofit organizations, school districts, government entities, and corporate partners to create purposeful community partnerships.

Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nebraska - Omaha. She is a 2011 graduate of the Nonprofit Executive Institute and past board member of the South YMCA.

Karima Al-Absy

Associate Director of Advancement and Organizational Strategy

402-715-4164 Ext. 4

Karima started at MENTOR Nebraska in 2020 and is currently the Associate Director of Advancement and Organizational Strategy. In this position, she oversees internal and external data, grant management, and quality assurance matters for the organization. Prior to this role, Karima also served as an Educational Consultant for MENTOR Nebraska.

Karima has previously worked as the Mentoring & Tutoring Coordinator at Kids Can Community Center. She is also an experienced writer and editor with a background in organizational culture and team development. Karima earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Creighton University and a master’s degree from New York University.

Christopher McCroy

Associate Director of Training & Program Development

402-715-4164

Christopher serves as the Associate Director of Training & Program Development. In this role, he coordinates training offerings, supports school districts and community organizations implementing intentional mentoring initiatives, and expands research and evaluation activities in the mentoring sector.

Christopher is a critical and passionate educator who aspires to create a community where young people know they belong, matter, and have equitable opportunities to reach their full potential. Prior to joining MENTOR Nebraska, Christopher served as a Higher Education Academic Specialist for the William H. Thompson Learning Community housed at the University of Nebraska – Omaha. In conjunction with the Susan T. Buffett Scholarship foundation, he ensured the successful matriculation from high school to college for low-income, first-generation college students.

Christopher graduated cum laude from Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in Religion and minor in Education Studies. He earned a master’s degree in Higher Education and Organizational Change from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Susie Owens

Director of Strategic Partnerships

402-715-4164

Susie serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at MENTOR Nebraska where she oversees training and consulting services while creating partnerships with nonprofits, corporations, higher education institutes, and donors to expand mentoring opportunities across Nebraska.

Susie is a highly-skilled nonprofit and education leader with 10+ years of experience in executing and measuring programs. In her previous roles at the Greater Omaha Chamber, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and College Possible, Susie developed onboarding, leadership, and training programs. She has a background in workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is passionate about making Nebraska a more inclusive and equitable place.

Susie earned a bachelor’s degree in Child, Youth & Family Studies, and a master’s degree in Leadership Education from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

Teresa Riesberg

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

402-715-4164 Ext. 5

Teresa joined MENTOR Nebraska in 2016 and currently serves as the Associate Director of Marketing & Communications.  In her role, Teresa raises the visibility and awareness of MENTOR Nebraska’s work by managing and executing all external and internal digital communication strategies. She brings public awareness to the value of mentoring by leading public relations, advocacy, and government relations for the organization.

Teresa earned her bachelor’s degrees in journalism & mass communication and kinesiology & health from Iowa State University.

Fred Whitted

Associate Director of Outreach & Engagement

402-715-4164

Fred serves as the Associate Director of Outreach & Engagement for MENTOR Nebraska where he brings stakeholders together to increase quality mentoring opportunities for young people in Nebraska. He convenes current member organizations and builds new relationships across Nebraska to expand the number BIPOC led, BIPOC serving, geographically distinct, and diverse mentoring models. He also leads efforts to increase youth voice and choice in our sector by implementing nationally recognized youth engagement strategies.

Fred is a relationship-focused education leader who brings people together to achieve collaborative goals and create meaningful partnerships. In his previous role at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Fred served as the Greek Life and IDEA Coordinator where he provided strategic leadership in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion while advising 15 fraternities and sororities. He also has 4+ years of experience developing and implementing comprehensive programming to support high school and college students through his work at TRiO in Metro Community College and Urban League of Nebraska.

Fred earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Peru State College and a master’s degree in education from Concordia University.