My college counseling career started when my nephews asked for my help with their applications and continued two years later when my own son was applying for college. I expanded my reach to include my kids’ classmates, and then I took on a job with a large college counseling company to learn the business. I loved the work, and I loved the students, but I discovered that I didn’t love many aspects of the business: the pressure on the students, the high-pressure sales pitches to the parents, the emphasis on achievement over wellness. So I set out on my own, determined to help kids get into the colleges that are right for them while making the application process rewarding, rather than anxiety-provoking. It’s deeply and richly fulfilling, and I love what I do.
Outside of college counseling, I am an Assistant Professor at San Diego State University and Research Associate at the Institute for Public Health. My courses and research focus on health inequities, maternal, and child health. I also spent 14 years working in child advocacy at a wonderful organization called Voices for Children, several years consulting with nonprofit organizations about how to fulfill their missions, and two years working in a clinical capacity as a social worker in a group home. My bachelor’s degree is in Anthropology from Boston University, my master’s degree is in Child Development from Tufts University, and I spent a year in a doctoral program in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard. My career has been happily devoted to improving the lives of children and youth.
Most importantly, I am a mom (and an auntie) who has sent kids off to college. I know what it’s like to worry about and want the best for our children, and I promise to take care of yours!