Families Forward Learning Center Welcomes Newest Board Members

Families Forward Learning Center announced Tuesday it had welcomed Stephanie M. Colletta, DDS, Veronica Jones, MD and Susan Marki to its Board of Directors.

In a statement, Families Forward said each brings their strength in community and business leadership and is poised to share their time and talents in support of Families Forward Learning Center’s mission of preparing families living in isolation and poverty to succeed in school and in life through two-generation learning programs.

Dr. Stephanie Colletta is a general dentist with advanced training in the treatment of sleep related breathing disorders. She graduated from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco before entering private practice, first in Chicago, then Los Angeles. Her undergraduate career involved extensive volunteer work in underserved schools while she pursued her degrees in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (B.S.) and American Ethnic Studies (B.A.) at the University of Washington in her hometown of Seattle. She is currently on hiatus from private practice and has chosen to stay home full-time to focus on her two young daughters, Olivia (3) and Mia (1). Stephanie is passionate about the power of community, kindness, and the joy and fulfillment experienced when in service to others.

Dr. Jones joined City of Hope in 2015 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgery. She earned her undergraduate degree with honors from Stanford University before receiving her medical doctorate with honors from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. While in medical school, she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) National Medical Honor

Society. Dr. Jones continued her postdoctoral training at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX, with a categorical general surgery internship and residency. At Baylor, Dr. Jones was honored as chief resident of the year. In 2014, she completed a Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Emory University. Board?certified in surgery, Dr. Jones is the recipient of several honors and awards. She holds active memberships with several professional societies and is heavily involved in community outreach, speaking frequently at numerous events across Southern California. Dr. Jones lives in Pasadena with her husband, Benjamin Jones, and their four children.

Susan Marki is the owner of Marki Financial Services, LLC an investment advisor that helps families and small businesses reach their financial goals. She is also a part-time Assistant Professor, teaching entrepreneurship at the Art Center College of Design. Prior to this, she worked in investment banking in both New York and London. She graduated with a degree in economics from Dartmouth College. Susan grew up in New York state with parents who were deeply committed to supporting their community. Now that her three children are grown, she said she wants to build stronger connections with her own community and help foster the educational opportunities she was lucky to have. Susan lives in La Cañada with her husband Fred. She loves to cook, garden, play tennis and read.