Meet the Team
Shana Greenblatt Janoff
Client Services & Research
Shana has been a valued member of our team for many years. She works closely with both clients and programs to find right-fit opportunities for student growth and development.
She has served as substitute teacher and volunteer leader in the public schools and local community, promoting academic and enrichment programs, extracurricular learning and the performing arts.
Shana has chaired large-scale fundraising programs, fostering community and teen opportunities. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Boston University. Having raised two children, Shana is well-versed in the navigation of personal, academic, summer, extracurricular and career development.
Deborah Friedman Lesser
Gap Experience Specialist
Deborah Friedman Lesser coaches students and parents on creating meaningful gap year experiences. As an international educator, a certified personal and professional development coach, and a global program manager, Deborah brings 15 years of experience to designing gap years that are aligned with her clients’ specific passions, interests and needs. Deborah empowers clients to discover themselves, the world and their distinctive place in it by supporting them before, during and after their experience.
Deborah received her Master’s degree in International Education from the SIT Graduate Institute where her thesis, The American Gap Year, has been presented both domestically and internationally. Her in-depth experience with gap year stemmed from running gap year programs and she has vast experience working directly with youth on experiential programs in over 20 countries with various organizations. Deborah continues to consult for Avenues: The World School by providing expertise on how to run safe, educational, and mission-driven global programs.
Deborah’s coaching experience began when working for UNICEF’s P²D program, a non-traditional career development program for staff members and their families. She is a certified life coach, trained by The Coaches Training Institute and accredited by the International Coach Federation.
Born and raised in New York City, Deborah attended the Horace Mann School. In her junior year, she participated in The March of the Living, an international youth program to Poland and Israel. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a BA in Communication Arts and a minor in Business. During that time, she studied abroad in Sydney, Australia. Deborah has been to over 30 countries.