APPROACH
With nearly two decades of experience in selective college admissions and independent school college counseling, I have devoted my career to helping students discover who they are through an intentional process that culminates in a sense of pride about where they’re headed. Blending warm guidance with structured support, I aim to empower students to find clarity in their purpose while taking ownership of their journey. I value clear partnership with parents and believe that collaboration and communication are key to supporting students well.
Together, we’ll tackle the college process as an exploration of self, carefully structured to ensure you feel grounded rather than overwhelmed. Many families have called me their “calm in the storm,” as I provide steady, compassionate guidance and an organized framework to reduce stress and build confidence. Through individual meetings, essay workshops, mock interviews, and consistent feedback, I serve as both coach and cheerleader. I delight in learning each student’s story and helping them translate their experiences into compelling narratives that showcase their character, spirit, contributions, and promise.
My services include guidance on course selection, extracurricular engagement, building a balanced college list, strategic mapping of deadlines, step-by-step support through application platforms, interview preparation, navigating financial aid and scholarships, and – at the heart of it all – developing strong, authentic essays.
I currently live in Southern California and primarily offer remote services. Outside of counseling, I’m a certified yoga teacher who loves reading, skiing, volunteering with animals, and spending time outdoors with friends, family, and my labradoodle, Daisy, who is registered as a service animal and available upon request to join in-person sessions if helpful to reduce stress and provide comfort.
I would be honored to support your family through this process – from discovery to celebration.
EXPERIENCE
Mayfield Senior School: Co-Director of College Counseling, Academic Dean, Testing Coordinator
Deerfield Academy: College Advisor
Deerfield Academy Experimentory Program/EXP: Head of Community Life
St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program: College Counselor
Colorado College: Assistant Director of Admissions
Paul Smith’s College: Admissions Counselor
Bates College: Admissions Fellow and Admissions Interviewer
Phillips Brooks House at Harvard University: English Teacher for Refugee Youth Enrichment Summer Urban Program
New England Consortium on Assessment and Student Learning: Researcher
EDUCATION
Columbia Teacher’s College: College Advising Program Certificate
Bates College: Cum Laude, BA in Anthropology with Honors, minor in Theater
Lakshmi Rising: 200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Training
MEMBERSHIPS
BACKGROUND
I began my work on the college side, first as an Admissions Fellow and Admissions Interviewer at Bates College, then as an Admission Counselor at Paul Smith’s College, and later as Assistant Director of Admission at Colorado College. After reading thousands of applications and advocating for students in selective admission committees, I transitioned into college counseling work, including roles as a College Advisor at Deerfield Academy, College Counselor for the St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program, and Co-Director of College Counseling at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, California. In 2021, I completed the College Advising Program at Columbia Teachers College.
Prior to my work in admissions and counseling, I conducted academic research about how students experience the transition from high school to college, and wrote an honors thesis about global education trends in South Africa. I have been compelled to promote educational access since teaching English as a second language to Somali refugees in Maine and Boston teenagers through Harvard University’s Summer Urban Program. These experiences cemented my belief that college success is not about fitting a mold, but about understanding who you are and finding institutions that will value and empower you.
