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About Me
I have over fifteen years of experience working with high school and college students. Most recently, I served as the Career Center Specialist at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, ranked among the top public high schools in the U.S. In this position, I advised students on every aspect of the college application process, managed the school's scholarship program, organized the college representative visit program, and helped students find summer internships and other enrichment activities. I have also directed college-level study abroad and overseas language programs, and was a Foreign Service Officer for eleven years, serving in Dubai, U.A.E.; Bern, Switzerland; and Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, as well as in Washington.
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I am a resident of Arlington, Virginia, where I live with my husband, dog and cat.
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My education includes an M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University, a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA Extension.
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My professional affiliations include membership in both the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling. ​
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With this unique experience and education, I bring a global perspective to my work with high school students. I encourage them to follow what they love -- and do it well. And I help them find a college that will nourish their unique passions and talents, in an environment that will allow them to develop their confidence and sense of self in the last stage of their adolescence.
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Where a student chooses to go to college should not rest on the perceived prestige of that college, or where that college sits on a list. It's about finding a college that encourages a student to engage, explore and grow, allowing them to recognize their special gifts and talents and identify how they want to give those gifts to the world. In working with students, my approach is to focus on fit, rather than ranking, as the key to a successful and rich college experience.
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