​I earned a B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. in English from UC Irvine, where I taught upper- and lower-division writing and literature courses. A dedicated educator, I have 7 years experience as a college counselor and academic advisor, helping students achieve their college dreams. I have guided students through every aspect of the college admissions process, from developing a strong college list to securing good recommendations to filling out the Common Application. I especially enjoy watching my students grow as they grapple with their application essays. Committed to the idea that everybody has unique stories to tell, I encourage my students to dig deep within to discover who they are and what matters most to them.

​My former students have been admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Columbia, Caltech, Penn, U Chicago, Brown, Duke, UC Berkeley, Rice, Dartmouth, Amherst, Williams, Cornell, and many other top schools, but I am committed to helping students of all abilities, all interests, and all backgrounds find the college that is perfect for them. I am continually updating my knowledge base by researching and visiting colleges and universities across the country.