Find A Youth Mentor

How It Works

1
Select Preferred Mentors
Add three mentors that best fit your needs.
2
Tell Us About Your Child
Fill out a quick form to help us match your child.
3
Apply and Get Matched
Your child gets matched with a mentor based on your preferences.

Samantha James

Female / 25 / Oregon

Will meet with: Kids, Young Adults

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: Yes

Howdy! My name is Sam and I live in Oregon, but I’m originally from Washington. I have experienced all types of alopecia. I was originally diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 8, alopecia totalis when I was 9, and universalis when I was 10. While my hair/eyebrows/eyelashes have partially grown back since then, I choose to wear wigs (the one in the photo is from Amazon if you want to match!) because I think that they are fun! I have been dancing since I was 3, and have danced competitively, collegiately, and now professionally with the Portland Winterhawks! Alopecia doesn’t stop me from doing the things I love - I use wig glue and wigs to hold my hair secure! In my free time, I love line dancing, going to concerts, reading, and crocheting. I sometimes forget that I have alopecia quite honestly, and focus on the joy in life. I cannot wait to meet you!

Erin Kim

Female / 19 / Connecticut

Will meet with: Kids, Young Adults

Type: Alopecia areata patchy, Alopecia universalis

Language(s): English;Spanish

Accepting mentees: Yes

Hi! My name is Erin, and I am a first-year student at the University of Chicago. I grew up in several different places, including Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Connecticut. While living in Korea, I was diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis at thirteen and lost all of the hair on my head and body within two weeks; by the third week, I was completely bald. Adjusting to such a sudden change in my appearance was difficult, especially at such a young age. I wore a wig for the first few months after my diagnosis, but as an athlete, I quickly realized that I did not want alopecia to prevent me from participating in the activities I loved. A few months later, my hair began to grow back, bringing another adjustment as I learned to become comfortable with very short hair and a changing appearance. Since then, I have become increasingly involved in the alopecia community and have shared my experiences in hopes of helping younger people feel less alone. Through the NAAF Youth Mentor Program and National Conference, I have had the opportunity to connect with children and teens with alopecia, support families, and create spaces where young people can feel comfortable being themselves. My own experience with alopecia has taught me the importance of confidence, community, and having someone who understands what you are going through. Languages spoken: English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.

Natalie Wong

Female / 22 / Georgia

Will meet with: Kids, Young Adults

Type: Alopecia areata patchy, Alopecia totalis

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: Yes

Hi guys! My name is Natalie Wong, and I’m a recent graduate from the University of Georgia with a degree in Environmental Health Science. I hope to become a pediatric dermatologist and pursue research in Alopecia in the future! My journey with Alopecia had its ups and downs: I was diagnosed with Alopecia when I was 5 years old, and I completely lost my hair when I was 6 years old. My eyebrows and eyelashes would grow and fall out throughout high school and college. Regardless, overtime I learned to love myself, to be more confident, and to surround myself with supportive friends. I even was able to convince my classmates to vote for me for “Best Hair” for my senior superlative (I still can’t believe I won). I love wearing colorful, floral headbands to highlight the fact that I DON’T have hair. It’s sort of my signature style :D. I can’t wait to meet with my mentee and share my experience with Alopecia! Apart from that, I’m into film photography, traveling, watching movies/shows, tennis, pickleball, makeup, cooking, collecting vinyls, and listening to music. My favorite genres are kpop, rnb, and jazz, but I honestly love all so give me recs! These are a few of my interests, but I’m open to try out new things!

Camden Kantaparn

Male / 19 / Virginia

Will meet with: Kids, Young Adults

Type: Alopecia areata patchy

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: Yes

My name is Camden Kantaparn, and I’m a student at the University of Virginia. I’m originally from Northern Virginia, just outside Washington, DC. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata at 19 months old and have stayed involved in the alopecia community, including as a youth mentor. Outside of school, I enjoy traveling, lifting, trying new restaurants, playing video games, and planning trips with friends.

Maia Campbell

Female / 26 / Indiana

Will meet with: Kids, Parents, Young Adults

Type: Alopecia areata patchy

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: Yes

Hello! My name is Maia Campbell and I'm from Indiana, but recently moved to Boston, MA. I recently graduated from Butler University with my master’s degree and am not working as an oncology physician assistant! Most of my free time is spent outside, reading, playing tennis and golf, or doing creative activities like scrapbooking and crocheting. I’m also a huge IndyCar fan and was an Indianapolis 500 Festival Princess in college. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata at age 2 and tried every treatment under the sun, then eventually decided to lean into being different and have fun with wigs, hats, and headbands! I began wearing wigs in high school and eventually lost all my hair in college. I’m currently in a clinical drug trial for alopecia and have seen amazing results so far! Though there were times I struggled to cope with bullying, self-esteem, and mental health struggles, I’ve always found such great encouragement and resources from people in the alopecia and NAAF communities. Alopecia awareness and education have always been important to me, and I’ve found the most comfort in having a “teaching” mindset when someone asks me about alopecia. Whether it be holding a fundraiser for NAAF, doing a research project on alopecia, or being open about it on social media, there is so much power in education. I am very excited to become a youth mentor and look forward to meeting more people in this community!

Niki Shahrrava

Female / 30 / New York

Will meet with: Kids, Young Adults

Type: Alopecia areata patchy, Alopecia universalis

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: Yes

Hi everyone! My name is Niki and I was suddenly diagnosed with alopecia a couple of years ago, which caused patchy hair loss in my scalp and eyebrows. Since then, I have tried various treatments in an effort to manage my condition; however, I continue to experience cycles of hair loss and growth. Despite the ups and downs, I have learned to embrace my alopecia and see it as a part of who I am. While the physical effects of alopecia can be difficult, the emotional impact can be just as challenging. I decided to get involved with NAAF because I understand the importance of finding support and compassion from individuals who have undergone similar experiences. I am eager to share my story and offer encouragement and guidance to those affected by alopecia to help them feel less alone in their journey.

Margaret McGraw

Female / 27 / New York

Will meet with: Kids, Parents, Young Adults

Type: Alopecia areata patchy

Language(s): English;French

Accepting mentees: Yes

Hi! I'm Margaret McGraw, a 25 year old working for a fintech company and living in New York City! I've had Alopecia since I was a little kid and wore a wig until this past year. I ran the New York City Marathon in 2022 to raise awareness for Alopecia Areata, and during that process, I stopped wearing my wig all together. I'm an active person who enjoys running, hiking, playing tennis and walking around/exploring! I'm a huge Francophile, and speak French fluently. I love to cook, watch new tv shows, hang out with friends, and read new books! 

Serena Kas-Mikha

Female / 22 / Michigan

Will meet with: Kids, Parents, Young Adults

Type: Alopecia areata patchy

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: Yes

Hi! My name is Serena Kas-Mikha and I am 20 years old. I live in Michigan and I’m a social work student. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, listening to music, and going to the gym. I developed Alopecia Areata when I was 9 years old. I lost my eyelashes, eyebrows, and developed bald spots around my head. I would get about 6-7 patches at a time. In 2020, I lost almost all my hair and it happened suddenly. I was devastated and I allowed what I was going through to take over my life and alter the way I felt about myself. It took a toll on my mental health, but I was lucky enough to have supportive people in my life who helped me through it. It’s been a journey filled with ups and downs but it’s one I’m so grateful for. As my hair eventually began to grow back, my experiences have become a part of who I am. Alopecia has taught me self-love and that my worth was never defined by the number of hairs on my head. In the midst of your struggle, it can feel like you’re alone, but I promise you’ll get to the other side of what you’re going through. Lean on the people closest to you, they want to help, you don’t have to face anything by yourself. As a mentor, I hope I can help someone feel less alone, loved, and supported throughout their journey.   

Caylee Harder

Female / 25 / Kansas

Will meet with: Kids, Parents

Type: Alopecia universalis

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: No

Hello! My name is Caylee Harder. I’m 19 years old. I have lived in the Kansas City area my entire life. I have Alopecia Universalis now, but it started out as alopecia areata when I was younger. I was first diagnosed with alopecia when I was in 3rd grade. I did the typical steroid shots, and it disappeared for a while. Then it came back up in middle school but worse than ever. I tried everything to try to get my hair back, but nothing was working. Now 7 years later I have no hair on my head, arms, legs, and parts of my face. I am currently a sophomore in college majoring in elementary education. I’ll be attending Emporia State in the spring next year. I enjoy photography a lot. I take a lot of photos and people and things around me. I also LOVE arts and crafts (even if I’m not that good at it.) I’m so excited and really looking forward to getting to meet you as soon as possible and help in any way I can!

Kristy Li

Female / 24 / California

Will meet with: Kids, Parents

Type: Alopecia areata patchy

Language(s): English

Accepting mentees: No

My name is Kristy Li and I’m a sophomore at UCSD majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. When I was one year old, I became infected with the chickenpox virus. Unlike other kids who break out in itchy sores, my immune system went haywire. My hair started falling out and soon stopped growing in patches. I was diagnosed with alopecia areata, a condition I only became aware of when I was about five or six years old, and my peers began to bully me. This was really hard on me since I was so little and thought that I didn’t look pretty or cute, like my peers. I started figure skating a few years later, and learned that beauty is within, and when I figure skated, it made me feel beautiful. I love reading and doing arts and craft because it took my mind away from reality. It took me a long time to be comfortable and confident in who I am. I would be more than happy to share my experience with you and support you on your journey!