ERG Council: Pride in Mentorship

"Pride in Mentorship" is a dynamic panel discussion exploring the transformative power of mentorship for LGBTQIA+ individuals in educational and professional settings. Moderated by a College Now staff expert on mentorship, this session features LGBTQIA+ identifying and ally mentors and board members who will share their personal experiences and insights. 

Through candid conversations and real-world examples, panelists will delve into the unique challenges and triumphs of navigating careers and education as LGBTQIA+ individuals. They will illuminate how mentorship can foster a sense of belonging, provide crucial support in overcoming obstacles, and empower individuals to achieve their full potential. 

"Pride in Mentorship" will provide attendees with practical tools and strategies for cultivating meaningful mentoring relationships that promote authenticity, allyship, and advocacy within the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Format: Panel Discussion 

Platform: Zoom 

Speaker Bios:  

 Moderator: 

 Madeline Rife 

Madeline Rife joined College Now in August 2014 as the Mentoring Program Manager with a background in youth and education. In her role as Senior Director, Madeline oversees all aspects of the College Now Mentoring Program, which currently serves over 1,700 mentor/mentee pairs. From 2010 to 2012, Madeline served in the United States Peace Corps in Ukraine, teaching English as a Second Language and working as a youth development professional. Upon her return to the United States, she became the Global Youth Programs Officer at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs where, for 18 months, she managed a Model United Nations program for over 1,000 local students, as well as long- and short-term youth exchange programs with young people from Iraq, Kosovo, and Mexico. Madeline served as a mentor in a formal program during her undergraduate years and many times informally during her teaching career in Ukraine and is today a mentor for Esperanza, Inc and the Cleveland Clinic; she understands first-hand mentoring’s challenges and rewards. She attended Georgetown University School of Foreign Service where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service in 2009.  

Panelists: 

Roy Bottigi 

Roy is an IT leader and LGBT ERG leader at Lubrizol. He is also the President of the Board for LGBTQ+ Allies Lake County. Previously, he served on the steering committee for Cleveland HRC. He has spoken at LGBT conferences and events on topics such as Trans Equality in the Workplace, How to be an Ally, and Transitioning from Allyship to Advocacy. Additionally, they are a College Now Mentor. 

Andrew Watterson:  

 Andrew is an experienced sustainability and environmental, social governance (ESG) practitioner who leverages his expertise corporate responsibility and organizational development to guide organizations toward creating a positive impact on society, people, and the planet, while creating positive financial returns. He holds a deep belief in power of authentic leadership and being purpose driven as a means of creating an enduring positive reputation.  

Andrew launched blue csr strategies in 2020 and leads client engagements to support positive ESG impacts. His work includes helping organizations understand “what matters most”, strategy development, reporting and program management. Blue csr serves as an extension to many internal ESG teams and companies both large and small.  

Prior to launching blue csr strategies in 2020, Andrew held leadership positions in both public and private sector organizations including GOJO Industries, KeyBank, BrownFlynn (now an ERM Company) and the City of Cleveland, OH. His responsibilities included sustainability, corporate responsibility, communications, diversity & inclusion, and community & governmental affairs.  

Jehlani White 

Jehlani is a 3-year board member and the Interim Program Director at Colors+ Youth Center, a mentor at College Now Greater Cleveland, a Program & Community Impact Manager at Chosen Collective, and community ambassador at Haus of Transcendent. A Posse and Point Foundation Scholar, he earned a Sociology degree from Oberlin College in 2019, receiving the Norm Robertson LGBT Activism award. He taught ESL in rural China and obtained a Master's in Public Health with a concentration in social and behavioral sciences and certificate of LGBTQ+ Health from Kent State University in December 2024, where he helped conduct a Greater Cleveland LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment. He is grateful to be able to learn and be among community across different sector as a 2022 Foundation for Philanthropy fellow and now 2025 Adolescents Health Advocates fellow.