Staff

Colby Swettberg, Ed.M, LCSW | Executive Director

(617) 224-1305

Colby joined AFC Mentoring in July 2009. As a former educator, Colby earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University, and later turned her focus to child welfare and social services earning a Master’s degree in Social Work from the Simmons School of Social Work. Colby came to AFC after working at The Home for Little Wanderers for seven years where she opened and oversaw a group home for LGBTQ teenagers, did clinical work in adoption and family stabilization team services, facilitated support groups for foster and adoptive families, and provided training and consultation nationwide on sexual orientation and gender identity issues.

Melissa Chu, LCSW | Director of Programs and Evaluation

(617) 224-1301

Melissa has a B.A. from Wellesley College and received her Master’s in Social Work from Simmons College in 2011.  Melissa first got involved with AFC as a one-to-one mentor for three years, and has been working at AFC Mentoring since 2006. Melissa oversees our programming staff, working to train, match, and support mentors and mentees.  She is continuously working to improve programming, evaluate program performance, and partner with outside organizations.

Jill Rowell | Development & Operations Manager

(617) 209-5307

Jill joined AFC Mentoring in May 2011.  A native of upstate New York, Jill specializes in nonprofit capacity building, which includes organizational development, program strategy, and financial growth.  Prior to joining AFC, Jill was the acting Chief of Staff of the Rochester/Genesee Valley Foodbank which also included management and oversight of a hydroponic vegetable farm and full service kitchen that provided more than 2,300 fresh, from scratch, meals every day for at-risk children.  Jill holds a BA degree from Canisius College and has executed three major nonprofit capital campaign projects between Buffalo and Rochester that have raised in excess of $45 million dollars.

Jill is passionate about nurturing and cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit. She has assisted and participated in several small business development projects and hopes to one day create a fully sustainable agricultural education facility, giving opportunity to youth and helping them to realize and reach their true potential.

Alaina Rosenberry, LCSW | Program Supervisor

(617) 224-1102

Alaina joined AFC Mentoring in September 2010 as an intern from Simmons School of Social Work. Alaina comes to AFC with experience in issues of homelessness and youth education from her work at St. Mary’s Women and Children’s Center and Crittenton Women’s Union. Alaina completed her second clinical internship at Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic where she provided individual and family therapy to children, adolescents and adults  who have experienced trauma. Alaina completed her Masters in Social Work in May 2012 and serves AFC as a Program Coordinator and Support Specialist working to build and support long-term one-to-one mentoring relationships for youth in care. 

Evan Hubbard, LCSW | Program Coordinator

(617) 224-1303

Evan joined AFC in February 2012. He received a Masters of Social Work from Wheelock College in 2010, where he specialized in working with LGBTQ youth involved in the foster and adoption care system. In 2007, Evan worked at True Colors Inc., a mentoring program for LGBTQ youth in care, and has continued to volunteer at their annual ‘Our True Colors’ conference. Following his passion for helping LGBTQ youth in care, he worked at Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays) to help youth and their caregivers develop and foster healthy relationships and environments. While at Greater Boston PFLAG, Evan facilitated nine support groups, ran trainings statewide, presented at conferences and provided 1-to-1 support for parents and youth. Most recently, he worked at Elm Brook Place helping adults with psychiatric disabilities transition back into the workforce.  Evan is excited to return his focus to the population that motivated him to pursue a career in social work.

Ellen Thomas | Development Coordinator

(617) 778-1312

Ellen joined AFC in August 2010 through the AmeriCorps VISTA program.  She earned a BA from the University of Rochester with majors in History and Political Science. Ellen has experience working with youth at The Wilson School Summer Camp in St. Louis, MO.  Prior to working at AFC, Ellen completed an internship at the Human Rights Campaign.

Emily Heaton | Recruitment, Outreach & Communications Coordinator

(617) 224-1302

Emily joined AFC in August 2011 to serve through AmeriCorps and the Highland Street Corps as an Ambassador of Mentoring and the Recruitment & Outreach Coordinator.  Emily works to recruit and inform potential mentors in addition to her time spent working on marketing and communications at AFC.  She is a graduate of the University of Illinois, having majored in English and Anthropology.  Emily has experience serving youth as an intern at a Crisis Nursery in Urbana, Illinois, and mentored a young person for three years in high school and college.  Emily finished her AmeriCorps service year in June 2012 and continues on at AFC, working to provide youth in care with committed adult mentors!

Olivia Orr | Office Coordinator

(617) 830-5528

Olivia joined AFC in September 2012. She graduated from Bowdoin College with a major in Sociology and minor in Music. She held several positions with the Bowdoin Upward Bound program, including Office Assistant and Activities Coordinator. Olivia also worked as the Bridge                         Program co-director in 2011, which aims to ease students’ transitions from high school to college. Olivia is excited about this new opportunity to share her skills with an organization that benefits the lives of youth.