Jan Fielder
Jan Fielder has a deep passion for supporting students who struggle in traditional academic settings. Her passion was fueled by the challenges her family faced in trying to find an appropriate learning environment for her son. Because Fusion changed the trajectory of her son’s life, she understands firsthand the impact it can have in a child’s life. As such, she is committed to supporting families and students who need a Fusion education.
A lifelong advocate for families, Jan is a Certified Parenting Coach and Workshop Facilitator who brings an integrative mind body spirit approach to her work with individuals and parents to help them successfully navigate life’s challenges. She is the Founder of Finding Self-Compassion, and a graduate of the University of Vermont, University of Denver Law School and Columbia University where she received a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology.
Jan is a long time Fusion Scholarship Foundation supporter and currently serves as the Board Chair and Executive Director. She resides in Westchester County, NY and in her free times enjoys hiking, biking and skiing–as well as coaching her husband and three adult children!
Venessa Kayrell
Venessa has a deep passion and love for education having spent the last 25 years ensuring that students both locally and globally are able to access the best education while growing into their best selves. Currently Venessa serves as the National Director of Schools and Partnerships at Cortica Behavioral Health, a leader in whole-child health for neurodivergent populations.
Venessa began her career as a math and science teacher at Fusion Academy—eventually serving as the Head of School at Fusion Academy in Mission Viejo California. From each of her roles, Venessa has seen how a one-to-one education changes lives—starting with the students and resounding outward through the entire family system. Venessa is driven by the fundamental belief that every child deserves a safe, nurturing space to grow emotionally, socially, and academically, and is thrilled to serve on the Fusion Scholarship Foundation Board so that many more students can experience the magic of Fusion Academy.
Venessa holds a BS in Biology from California State University, Dominguez Hills. A lifelong resident of Orange County, California, she loves spending time with her two children at the beach or wandering through museums. She is also an avid salsa and bachata dancer!
Susan Mordecai
Susan has served as a special educator in the Vermont school systems for 25 years and is passionate about supporting unique learners. A leader in the field of Social Emotional Learning, she is the Founder of Mindful in Vermont which provides instruction and consultation services to students, educators, administrators and parents.
Susan is a passionate advocate for students and families who struggle in traditional learning environments. As such, she has developed an innovative and highly effective curriculum and approaches to engage students in their academic learning as well as emotional growth. A lifelong learner and practitioner of contemplative practice including meditation and yoga, she brings a unique perspective on how best to support students in their educational journey. Susan currently serves on the Fusion Scholarship Awards Committee.
Susan holds a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University as well as certifications in contemplative studies. Susan lives in rural Vermont where she enjoys long walks and downhill skiing! An accomplished writer of flash fiction and prose poetry, she is a vibrant member of her local writing community. Susan also enjoys tending her beautiful vegetable and flower gardens.
Jenn Pavan
Jenn brings an extensive academic and professional background in Advertising, Marketing Management and Business Administration to her role as the Board’s marketing advisor. As co-owner of Northwoods Wholesale Outlet, a unique brick-and-mortar retail and e-commerce business in Michigan, Jenn and her husband Michael are passionate about making the outdoors affordable for families. Jenn promotes youth involvement in nature and literacy through the company’s Kids Club, which she initiated. Jenn is a graduate of Michigan’s Northwood University.
A passionate supporter of families, Jenn serves as a private support coach to families newly diagnosed with rare diseases and chronic illnesses, where she helps to educate them on navigating healthcare options, insurance, school, and new life journeys. She is a strong advocate for supporting medical special education rights in schools and within society.
Jenn has two amazing boys at Fusion Global Academy. She is so passionate about their positive experience that she has helped prospective families understand the beauty of Fusion as a Parent Ambassador. Jenn enjoys gardening, creative projects, spending time with her family, traveling, eating great food, and having adventures!
Susan Saxe
Susan E. Saxe is a senior risk management professional with a focus on credit risk. After a successful career at Morgan Stanley and as a consultant to financial institutions, she is now fully retired and able to turn her full attention to her passions which include the Fusion Scholarship Foundation.
Susan is the proud parent of a Fusion Academy graduate who proceeded to college and is now employed in the nonprofit sector. Her daughter’s successful high school experience at Fusion has fueled Susan’s desire to help others take advantage of the opportunities Fusion can provide for students who are struggling.
Susan has served on the Boards of the Risk Management Association, the Financial Women’s Association, and the Finance Committee of the Mount Holyoke College Alumnae Association. She is currently Secretary of the Bay Shore Yacht Club and Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Fusion Scholarship Foundation. Susan graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and lives in New York City with her daughter. While not focused on Fusion, she enjoys sailing, travel, and playing strategy games.
Robin Storfer
As an ADHD and Executive Functioning Coach, and Founder of Take Flight Coaching, Robin is passionate about supporting families within the neurodiverse and ADHD communities. Robin’s passion was born by her own personal experience when her son–a recent Fusion alum- was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. Robin understands firsthand how a supportive and knowledgeable environment can make a difference in a child’s life by creating a circle of support for not only the child affected, but for the family as well. As such, she is committed to assisting families in accessing support and resources when dealing with different academic, social and emotional challenges.
Committed to bringing knowledge and understanding to those supporting the ADHD community She volunteers at the CADDAC (Centre for ADHD Awareness Canada) and the CADDRA, (Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance). Robin holds a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from New York University, and an honors degree in Sociology from Western University. She currently serves as Board Secretary and on the Scholarship Awards Committee. Born and raised in southern California, she now lives in Toronto, Ontario with her husband and two beautiful boys. She loves to read, be active outside, garden, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
Jess Vecchiarelli
Jess Vecchiarelli brings over two decades of experience in strategic communications, brand storytelling, and community engagement to her role as Director of Marketing and Communications at the Fusion Scholarship Foundation. With a background spanning corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors, Jess excels at aligning purpose-driven messaging with powerful outreach strategies that build connection and amplify mission.
Prior to joining Fusion, Jess led global communications and executive alignment initiatives at Mastercard, helping drive strategic visibility and cohesion across teams. She has also held key roles at the Westchester District Attorney’s Office, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Summit School at Nyack, where she shaped campaigns that inspired action and fostered meaningful change.
A transformational event host and founder of The Aligned Path, Jess designs immersive retreats and experiences that blend personal growth, leadership development, and community-building. Her deep commitment to equity and advocacy was evident in her leadership of Ossining for Fair Funding, a grassroots initiative that helped secure historic gains in public education funding.
Shea James
Shea James is a 2024 graduate of Fusion Academy’s Woodbury campus. She currently leads operations for her family’s philanthropic organization, the JVK Foundation, where she is gaining valuable experience in finance, leadership, and strategic giving.
A passionate advocate for personalized education, Shea’s belief in the Foundation’s mission is deeply personal. Her own Fusion experience, along with that of her sister—who is on the autism spectrum—showed her how transformative individualized learning can be. She is committed to helping ensure that students like them can access Fusion not as a last resort, but as an aspirational opportunity for growth and discovery.
Beyond her philanthropic work, Shea is an artist and storyteller. She is developing an animated film that blends her interests in performance and production, and she performs in a traveling community theater company that raises funds for charity. Shea views storytelling as a powerful tool for building empathy and inspiring social impact.
A lifelong learner, she also enjoys studying languages—currently exploring Italian, Spanish, French, and Russian—as a way to connect with cultures around the world.