Staff

Hi! I was born in the Dominican Republic, but raised in Boston. I received my BS in Psychology in May 2021 at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. I have been with Steppingstone since summer of 2020, where I started with the organization's first virtual summer as an intern. I continued interning through the Academic Year and now I am so excited to be an Advisor! I look forward to making connections with scholars and families, and partnering with them on their way to success!

Ja’Nell is a long-time nonprofit and youth development specialist with nearly 30 years experience. Coming from a family of public servants, Ja’Nell has served in various communities including Newport and Bristol Counties (RI) Southcoast Massachusetts and most recently Providence, RI. Ja’Nell’s goal is to be of service to those in the community who are most vulnerable and in need. Living by the motto “ If I can help somebody.”, she has worked with a number of populations including youth, college students, adults with disabilities and children on the Autism Spectrum. Ja’Nell is an accomplished dancer in both West African and Middle Eastern dance forms. For the past 12 years she has used this talent to help support victims of domestic violence by participating in a global “Shimmy Mob” event with dancers from around the world. In her free time she also enjoys reading, gardening, her pet snake and spending time with her 2 adult children and 4 grandchildren.

Sage graduated from Marlboro College in 2019 with a degree in "Sociology: Education and Social Justice," after completing two undergraduate internships at Steppingstone in both Admissions and Advising. Coming into this position with experience in education, youth mentorship, and social work-related roles, Sage approaches youth work through a lens of supporting children in being critical- and independent-thinkers who feel confident in both their self-concept and ability to navigate the world around them. In xyr free time, you can find Sage reading, hiking, or enjoying a podcast.

Hi! My name is Yamiles Urena, but I usually go by Yami. I am an Academy Advisor for Steppingstone scholars and families. I am Dominican, but New York born, and Boston raised. I graduated from MCLA in 2018 with a BA in Sociology and Child and Family Studies. I love traveling, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends very much! I am a very passionate Latina dedicated to giving back to my community by cultivating the opportunity for growth, learning, and success for youth of color.

Jane Ventrone began her career at Steppingstone as an Advisor with The Steppingstone Academy in 2006. Before moving into the Vice President of Academic Programs role, she served as the Senior Director of Teaching and Learning. Prior to joining Steppingstone, Jane taught 7th grade Language Arts as a Teach for America corps member in Philadelphia. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Boston College, an M.S. in Elementary Education from Saint Joseph's University, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. Jane serves on the Board of Directors of Riverbend School in Natick, MA and she also enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling.