Our Team

Our mentors are trained to provide resources, opportunities, and experiences for their clients. They undergo detailed background checks, are insured, and undergo fingerprinting. Additionally, mentors review case notes with supervisors weekly. COVID safety protocols are implemented per CDC guidelines.

Mentors

**Ryan Phillips**
Ryan has a long history with the mentoring and consulting services that the Bodin Group provides. As someone who has benefited from Bodin's specialized care, he has a strong conviction to see that care extended to others. His time at a wilderness therapy program and therapeutic boarding school lends a unique perspective to mentoring, allowing him to share his journey with those who have gone through such programs themselves. In joining the mentoring team, Ryan is able to pursue his passion: helping others find their own way to success and personal growth. In his spare time, he hikes as often as he can, practices guitar, and quotes the tv show *Psych* just a little too much.

**Hannah Bodin**
Prior to joining the Bodin Mentoring team in July of 2020, Hannah cultivated an extensive background in working with kids and young adults through teaching dance, photographing school portraits, and working as a summer camp counselor. She continues to mentor incoming college freshmen at her alma mater to help curb new academic, social, and emotional difficulties. This, in combination with overcoming some of her own personal challenges, has equipped her with the skills to assist others. With a degree in Biology and Professional Writing, she hopes to eventually further her education with the goal of becoming a therapist.
In her free time, Hannah likes to rock climb, do yoga, discover new podcasts, and explore the Bay Area with her quarantine dog (an occasional mentoring session visitor). Her favorite part of being a mentor is stepping outside of her comfort zone alongside her mentees by trying new things together.

**Jenna Smith**
A Bay Area native and long-time camp counselor, Jenna is excited to work with teens and young adults to explore new local activities. Since starting at Bodin in 2020, she has acquired new hobbies alongside her mentees, including watercolor painting and rock climbing.
Jenna is incredibly passionate about the importance of mental health, and aims to help those who need an extra push achieve their full potential. Her degree in Psychobiology helps her more deeply understand the complex interactions between the brain and body. She believes strongly that developing a balanced lifestyle filled with social activities, exercise, hobbies, and self-care, is key to success.
On any given day, you’ll likely find Jenna playing volleyball, maintaining her extensive collection of houseplants, or trying out a new cookie recipe.

**Grant Willig**
Prior to joining the Bodin Mentoring team in 2023, Grant worked for several years as a volunteer and mentor at the Foundation for College Education in East Palo Alto. After growing up in Redwood City and graduating with a degree in History from UC Berkeley he spent several years working as a tutor on the peninsula helping high school students with their social studies work. He has spent the better part of the last decade as a corporate and technical recruiter, providing him with a deep breadth of knowledge around resume and cover letter writing as well as general job search skills. Grant plans to return to school to pursue a license in Marriage and Family Therapy
In his free time, Grant likes to play disc golf, see live music, hike, and go to the gym. He has a passion for fitness and nutrition that he enjoys sharing with others.

**Will Johnston**
Will is a Bay Area native and graduate of Tulane University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Having spent much of his youth playing sports, Will loves working with a team to achieve a common goal. Since college, he has been working in sales in Bend, Oregon and in San Francisco, CA.
Working as a counselor for baseball camps in high school, Will developed a passion for working with adolescents and is excited to continue that with Bodin. Will enjoys the company of people from all walks of life and makes it his number one goal to be emotionally attuned so that the relationship feels comfortable. Will plans to pursue a graduate degree in counseling and is excited to work with mentoring clients in a different capacity while he builds his clinical skills.
In his free time, he can be found playing tennis, golf, hiking, spending time with friends and taking his intramural basketball league much too seriously.

**Megan O’Neill**
Prior to joining the Bodin team, Megan lived in Oregon for 8 years where she obtained her degree in Family and Human Services from the University of Oregon. Throughout her career, Megan has been dedicated to helping individuals navigate difficult transitions and advocating for second chances. Her work with youth and adults in reentry programs focuses on empowering others with the tools they need to create lasting change.
Outside of work, Megan is always on the move—whether she’s traveling to national parks, solo camping, or hiking new trails. She’s passionate about cooking, reading, and staying active at the gym. An adventure seeker at heart, Megan loves discovering new places, experimenting with recipes, and getting lost in a good book.

Tristan Jones-Diez

Tristan was born in San Jose and grew up along the coast of California. He has spent the past several years working directly with patients in clinical settings as a TMS technician while simultaneously pursuing his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Southern New Hampshire University.

Tristan’s passion lies in helping individuals recognize their strengths, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward independence. As a high school student, Tristan enrolled in the Middle College program at De Anza College. This experience helped him realize the benefit of programs that offer both individualization and independence - as well as close personal connections. We at Bodin are lucky to have him pay that experience forward in his role as a mentor.

In his sessions, Tristan emphasizes providing practical support and encouragement, helping teens and young adults develop the skills they need to thrive, such as assistance with job searches, resume building, and interview prep.

Tristan also encourages social engagement by helping mentees step outside their comfort zones - and to have fun. Outside of work, Tristan likes to stay active, whether in the body through hiking or basketball or in the brain through reading sci/fi and medieval fantasy novels and comics. He is hoping one day to write his own! (Or at least write an ending to Game of Thrones that satisfies him)

Cassie Smillie

Cassie grew up on the Peninsula, and is our resident badass! She played Water Polo for 4 years at Indiana University, and was a two time All American. Cassie then played professional water polo in Europe for 4 seasons, and returned to coach at both Stanford and later at Washington and Jefferson College.

Today Cassie juggles being a Bodin mentor for young adults with a career in real estate, as well as raising a young family together with her husband. And she still found time to travel to support Team USA in Paris for the Olympics last year.

As a mentor Cassie works with young adults who are in need of motivation and guidance to forge a path towards independence. Cassie's strength when working with a young person is her energetic and positive approach to most things, her natural ability to take on a challenge - and, as a former coach, her insistence that a plan is matched with a strategy and an action item.

Cassie will help her mentees practice everyday skills such as finding a job and communicating with their employer, as well as with developing daily routines and a healthy lifestyle.

You’ll often find Cassie treating herself to an iced Starbucks matcha latte and reading fiction. Currently, she’s working toward a “12 books in 12 months” challenge.

Our Team

Mentors

Leadership