Our Undergraduate College Admissions Consultants

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Aliesha Ibikunle

Former Assistant Director of Admission
Carnegie Mellon University

2 years in Carnegie Mellon University Admissions
5,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, Aliesha spent two years reading applications from domestic and international applicants for all seven colleges that make up Carnegie Mellon University. As part of her role, she traveled nationwide to major cities to meet with high school guidance counselors, juniors, and seniors to outline the competitive admission process, and advise on how to stand out.

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She spent two years reading thousands of applications and conferring with colleagues over applications in the most competitive schools of Business, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science.

Her extensive experience as a tutor, Academic Counselor for English, along with her degree in English contribute to her ability to help students craft unique and distinct application essays as an Admission Consultant with Solomon Admissions.

Aside from college admissions, Aliesha continues to spend time tutoring students in English and helping students achieve their college goals.

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Aurora Kearney

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
New York University

Former Admissions Reader
Northeastern University

2 years in NYU Admissions
1 year in Northeastern University Admissions
7,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Aurora graduated from NYU College of Arts and Science in 2012 with a Bachelors in Journalism and History. Two years after graduating, Aurora began her career in education working as an academic advisor for Masters students at NYU. It was working as an advisor that she discovered her love of working with students 1 on 1, and working in an educational setting.

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After a couple of years of working as an academic advisor, she pursued a Master's degree in Counseling from NYU, which she obtained in 2018.

After graduation, she embarked on a 9 month trip around the world, before starting her role as Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU. In the NYU admissions office, she read first year and transfer applications for all 10 of NYU's undergraduate colleges, and managed enrollment goals specifically for Tisch and Steinhardt. She was also a member of the athletics committee which manages admission for recruited athletes, and oversaw the internal transfer process for NYU students seeking to change majors and internally transfer to other NYU schools. After two years in this role, she realized her biggest passion was working closely with students, and switched to a college counselor role at a prep school. She loves helping students discover what really matters to them so that they can make the best choice when it comes to choosing their home for the next four years.

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Gabriel Lazarin

Former Admission Counselor
Stanford University

2 Years in Stanford University Admissions
3,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Gabriel Lazarin holds a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and a MS in Genetic Counseling from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston. He worked for two years as an Admissions Counselor in the Office of Undergraduate Admission at Stanford, where he reviewed approximately 3,000 applications from across the United States, met with candidates in individual and group settings, and delivered information sessions in local communities.

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Christina Lopez

Former Dean of Enrollment Management
Barnard College

Former Dean of Admissions
Barnard College

Former Application Reader
NYU, Stern & Tisch
UC Berkeley

20+ Years in College Admissions and Enrollment
10,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Christina Lopez is a senior enrollment leader with two decades of experience at highly selective institutions, including Barnard College and New York University. She earned her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and her M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from NYU’s Steinhardt School.

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Across her NYU and Barnard tenure, she directly read tens of thousands of applications and held leadership responsibility over the review and final decision process for more than 100,000 applicants. Her experience includes evaluating applicants for NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and Stern School of Business and serving as an external application reader for the University of California, Berkeley.

At Barnard College, she served as Dean of Enrollment Management and previously as Dean of Admissions, providing executive leadership over admissions and financial aid strategy. She had final authority over admissions decisions, signed all admission decision letters, and directed the evaluation and selection process for an applicant pool averaging approximately 13,000 first-year and transfer applicants.

She also led financial aid modeling, recruitment strategy, and communications planning while managing and developing large professional teams. This executive-level perspective gives her a deep understanding of how selective institutions build a class and balance academic and institutional priorities. She brings that insider knowledge to her work with families, helping students present their strengths with clarity and strategy while guiding parents through the complexities of selective admissions with a realistic and informed approach.

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Vanessa Pius

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Dartmouth College

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Sarah Lawrence College

2 years in Dartmouth College Admissions
2 years in Sarah Lawrence College Admissions
2,500+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Vanessa has five years of selective college admissions experience and has worked with students all over the country as both an admissions officer and consultant. Vanessa believes the college application process can be empowering: she helps students identify what they value in a social and academic community, and consider mutual fit with every school they add to their list.

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She has deep experience in every step of the admissions process, including shaping school lists, interview practice, finding a compelling essay topic, and employing in-depth research to align an application story arc with what colleges are looking for. Vanessa led marketing and communication efforts at both Dartmouth and Sarah Lawrence and loves putting those skills to use helping students shape their stories and share their voices.

Vanessa graduated with the highest honors from Smith College and has taught college essay writing workshops for low-income and immigrant communities.

Edgar Preciado

Former Admissions Officer
Princeton University

3 Years in Princeton University Admissions
4,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Edgar earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish & Portuguese at Princeton University in 2018. After graduating with highest honors, Edgar returned to his alma mater to work as an Admission Officer. He served on Princeton’s Admission Committee and evaluated thousands of student applications annually.

He was a member of Princeton’s Diversity Outreach Team and oversaw the recruiting and reading process.

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His portfolio includes co-teaching an admissions class through the Princeton University Preparatory Program, planning and leading various professional development events regarding diversity and inclusion, managing student ambassador blogs, and voting in Early Action and Regular Decision committees.

As an undergraduate at Princeton University, Edgar developed a skillset in coaching students in writing and oral advocacy. He served as a debate coach to middle and high school students and worked as a writing center fellow to undergraduate and graduate students. Edgar is currently pursuing his Juris Doctorate at the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, which has allowed him to develop his oral and writing skills further. At Solomon, Edgar hopes to help students find, design, and skillfully present their application narratives as they navigate the stressful admission process.

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Kiara Reece

Former Assistant Dir. of Intl. Undergraduate Admissions
University of California, Berkeley

Former Admissions Counselor
Vanderbilt University

6 Years in Undergraduate Admissions
7,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Born and raised in Music City—Nashville, Tennessee—Kiara Reece is a seasoned college admissions professional with a passion for empowering students to take ownership of their educational journeys.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Northern Kentucky University and will earn her Master of Social Work (MSW) from NKU in May.

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Over the past six years, Kiara has worked in admissions and college counseling across a range of public and private institutions, including UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Belmont, and Northern Kentucky University. She has reviewed more than 7,000 applications and worked closely with students from all walks of life—first-generation college students, international applicants, and those navigating the college process with limited resources or support.

At the heart of Kiara’s work is a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives. She specializes in helping students discover their strengths, find the right college fit, and approach the admissions process with clarity and confidence. From building thoughtful college lists to demystifying financial aid, Kiara provides holistic, equity-centered guidance that sets students up for long-term success—not just at the point of college entry, but far beyond.

With a unique background that spans admissions, counseling, DEI leadership, and student wellness, Kiara is committed to creating pathways for opportunity and helping every student feel seen, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Benny Rivera

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Columbia University

2 years in Columbia University Admissions
3,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Benny brings nearly a decade of experience in college admissions. Benny served as Assistant Director of Admissions at Columbia University, where he conducted information sessions and outreach programming, recruited students interested in both Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, reviewed and evaluated applications using a holistic admissions approach, and presented candidates to the admissions committee.

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Benny also contributed to specialized initiatives, including reviewing applicants for competitive STEM scholarships in collaboration with faculty, as well as partnering with Columbia College and the School of Engineering Alumni Relations teams’ outreach to admitted students with the help of alumni from both schools' alumni network, by coordinating several Welcome Receptions for incoming admitted students around the globe.

During his time at Columbia University, Benny developed a comprehensive approach to admissions that blends strategic recruitment, data-informed decision making, and personalized student engagement. He worked cross-functionally with faculty, alumni relations, and student services teams at Columbia University to align recruitment efforts with institutional priorities and enhance the overall student experience.

His work has focused on building diverse, high-achieving incoming classes through thoughtful recruitment and through holistic application review. Throughout his career, he has helped shape undergraduate admissions processes while reviewing thousands of applications. As a First Gen student himself, he’s especially passionate about expanding access to higher education and helping students navigate the admissions journey.

McKenna Rogan

Former Admission Officer
UCLA

Former Admissions Reader
Northwestern University

Former Associate Director of Admissions
Lake Forest College

2 years in UCLA Admissions
1 year in Northwestern University Admissions
3 years in Lake Forest College
6,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

McKenna Rogan began her career in admissions as an undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied Psychology-Neuroscience-Philosophy (PNP) and Drama while working in the Admissions Office.

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She went on to earn an M.Ed. in Higher Education from Pennsylvania State University and has worked in a variety of admissions roles at UCLA, Lake Forest College, and Northwestern University. This combination of experience has given her insight into the highly selective admissions processes at public and private institutions of varying sizes. She has evaluated applications from first year and transfer students in all 50 states and all continents (except Antarctica).

McKenna helps students navigate the complex world of college admissions by first developing a clear sense of what they're looking for in a school. Based on this clear vision, she then guides students in identifying their strengths and crafting an application that fully encapsulates their unique fit for a particular campus. McKenna's approach encourages a sense of agency and confidence in students as they prepare to take on new challenges in the collegiate environment.

Lida Roman

Former Application Reader
Stanford University

Former Director of High School Admissions
New York City Public Schools

1 Year in Stanford University Admissions
7 Years in NYC High School Admissions
3,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

At Stanford, Lida, as a member of the admissions team, evaluated thousands of competitive applications to identify top candidates.

As Director of High School Admissions for New York City Public Schools, she managed admission to the city’s most competitive schools and guided families through a complex, merit-based process.

She holds an M.S. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University, where she contributed to education research.

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Lida leverages her experience as an evaluator, admissions leader, and researcher to help students develop authentic narratives, make strategic extracurricular choices, and submit compelling applications to selective colleges. She is dedicated to guiding students in expressing intellectual curiosity, academic growth, and purpose-driven goals that resonate with admissions committees.

Prior to her work with Stanford, Lida served as Director of High School Admissions for New York City Public Schools, overseeing admissions to the city’s most competitive public high schools. In this role, she supported tens of thousands of students and families annually in navigating a complex, merit-based admissions landscape.

Lida holds an M.S. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University and was part of a Fulbright team at Columbia University. She leverages her deep knowledge of selective admissions and her background in education policy to help students craft compelling, authentic applications. Lida is passionate about helping students uncover and articulate their intellectual interests, ensuring they present their strongest, most authentic selves to colleges and universities.

Wesley Rosamilia

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
University of Chicago

4 Years in University of Chicago Admissions
7,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

While working in college admissions and athletics, Wes Rosamilia evaluated over 7,000 applications and 14,000 college essays. Wes’ ability to help students find their authentically persuasive voice as they share their narrative has resulted in a 75% admission rate and over $500,000 in academic scholarships at institutions such as Williams College, Amherst College, Johns Hopkins, The University of Chicago, and more.

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Ashley Sanders

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
The University of Chicago

4 years in University of Chicago Admissions
5,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Ashley earned her Master’s degree from the University of Chicago before working in the undergraduate admissions office. In her four years there, she reviewed thousands of applications, led information sessions on highly selective admissions and workshops on essay writing, and worked on both the summer and equity and access teams. On the summer team, Ashley reviewed applications and planned programming for UChicago’s summer classes for high school students.

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Madeline Schloss

Former Assistant Director of Admission
Northwestern University

Former Application Reader
Northwestern University

Former International Admission Counselor
The Ohio State University

3 years in Northwestern University Admissions
3.5 years in The Ohio State University Admissions
15,000+ applications read and evaluated

Madeline Schloss brings a decade of diverse college admission experience to the Solomon team.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from The Ohio State University, Madeline joined the international admission team at her alma mater.

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In her role, she helped students and their families navigate the admission process, meeting with families 1:1, leading workshops and information sessions, and planning large-scale campus visit programs. She reviewed thousands of first-year and transfer applications annually.

Madeline then joined the international admission team at Northwestern University, where she supported students and their families through the application process. She served as the university’s primary admission contact for students in Latin America, led workshops and information sessions, and oversaw the admission office’s international student ambassador team. She reviewed thousands of applications, making decisions in admission committees and selecting candidates across Northwestern’s six undergraduate schools.

Madeline then switched sides of the desk, working as a college counselor at a high school in Guatemala, where she supported students in their applications to universities in the US and internationally, before returning to Northwestern to serve as an application reviewer and then working as a college admission consultant.

Madeline’s range of experiences gives her a unique perspective on the college admission process. With a warm and encouraging approach, she helps students navigate its complexities with confidence and clarity - guiding them to craft compelling, competitive applications.

Drew Scopelliti

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Columbia University

7 Years in Columbia Admissions
8,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Drew earned his BA in Economics from Columbia College and his MBA from Columbia Business School.

As Assistant Director of Admission at Columbia University, Drew was the athletic liaison for tennis, golf, and wrestling, and developed an alumni summer jobs program for incoming students and academically advised students in their freshman and sophomore years through Columbia’s rigorous Core Curriculum.

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Drew went on to lead the alumni effort that supported two of the largest fund-raising campaigns ever undertaken by Northwestern and Columbia Universities as Executive Director and Associate VP at each university's Alumni Associations.

Drew has spent years in private business developing partnerships between the nation’s top universities and banks and insurance companies. The revenue generated from these partnerships has helped fund countless higher education goals at all the top ranked schools in the nation. Not only does Drew have a highly developed sense of what the top universities seek, but also a keen sense of how to position students in highly competitive admission pools to stand out and optimize their specifically compelling qualities.

Samantha Shepard-Guerinoni

Former Admission Counselor
Stanford University

Former Assistant Director
Simmons University

3 Years in Stanford University Admissions
3 Years in Simmons University Admissions
2,900+ Applications Read and Evaluated

After graduating from Stanford University, Samantha joined the Office of Undergraduate Admission at her alma mater. During her three years there, she evaluated and advocated in committee for up to 1500 students from across the country and led on- and off-campus information sessions for students, families, counselors, and teachers.

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In addition, Samantha collaborated with the Athletic Liaison (Assistant Dean) to the Department of Athletics on all matters related to the admission process and selection, including meeting with coaches and recruits to discuss academic requirements, admission process, and student-athlete experience, and to evaluate athlete transcripts and was also the chief liaison to EPGY (Education Program for Gifted Youth) departments and online schools. After her time as an Admission Counselor, Samantha continued involvement with Stanford undergraduate admissions and alumni by serving as the 2013-2014 Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter Chair for Stanford University Outreach Volunteer Alumni Link (OVAL) and later as a Leadership Team member of the Stanford University Black Alumni Association of Boston.

Samantha has a Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania and was a Ph.D. student in an interdisciplinary program of History and Sociology at Tulane University.

Frank Sierra

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
University of Chicago

2 years in University of Chicago Admissions
3,500+ Applications Read and Evaluated

After graduating from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Sociology, Frank Sierra joined his alma mater’s Office of College Admissions to continue his passion for education. As an Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago, Frank has read and evaluated over 3,500 applications. He also facilitated essay writing workshops for high school students and offered information sessions on applying to highly selective universities.

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Outside of reading applications, Frankie also worked with their in-house marketing team by coordinating their email communications and overseeing the development of their social media channels.

Frank enjoys helping students understand the power of “fit” in their college search. Combining his marketing expertise with his higher education experience, Frank understands the importance of building an application that reflects students’ personal journeys.

James Simon

Former Admissions Counselor
The University of Chicago

Former Admissions Counselor
Loyola University Chicago

1 year at The University of Chicago
3 years at Loyola University Chicago
6,000+ First Year and Transfer Applications Read and Evaluated

In addition to reading first-year and transfer admission applications at The University of Chicago and Loyola University Chicago, James earned a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees in Education from Loyola University Chicago.

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These experiences provide him with the ability to guide families through the college application process with an emphasis on highlighting each student's true potential and innate curiosity.

With four years of experience in college admissions and over 10 years of experience serving as a college counselor at selective private high schools, James has partnered with over 1,000 families from all points on the national and global map. Additionally, he has participated on multiple college leadership boards providing admission and recruitment advice to national universities.

James brings his experience in college admissions, college counseling, and college advisory boards to help each student create a unique application to best support each student's goals.

Brandi Smith

Former Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
Vanderbilt University

Former Senior Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Admissions
Emory University

6 Years in Vanderbilt University Admissions
3 Years in Emory University Admissions
13,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Brandi is dedicated to helping young people navigate the ever-changing college admission landscape. She has close to 20 years of expertise in the colleges admission profession.

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Brandi has experience in both application evaluation and decision making, college counseling, financial aid and scholarship advising and selection, and essay review and writing. She spent the majority of her professional career at Emory University and Vanderbilt University, serving as a college counselor at an elite independent JK-12 school, and creating and leading a college counseling office in a large suburban public school. Her dedication and leadership within the college admissions field has garnered her an expansive professional network.

Brandi served as a Board Director for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and as President of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC). She has also served on advisory boards for several college admission offices as they review their policies and work to make their processes more equitable and student-centered. In addition, Brandi is regularly invited to speak on trends and best practices concerning college admissions at educational institutions across the country. She also presents at regional and national conferences and has been featured in several publications, webinars, and podcasts.

Alex Sotiropoulos

Former Associate Director of Admissions
The University of Chicago

6 Years in University of Chicago Admissions
10,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Alex Sotiropoulos is a former Associate Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago, where he spent six years evaluating applications and serving as a voting member of the admissions committee. He earned his BA in Political Science from the University of Chicago and his MBA with Honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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After his time in admissions, Alex moved into management at the Kellogg Company, where he led strategy and marketing for major national brands, including Rice Krispies Treats and Pop-Tarts. His work on the Pop-Tarts Bowl campaign earned a Cannes Lions Grand Prix and further deepened his approach to storytelling and positioning, which he now applies to the college application process.

Alex draws on his experience evaluating applicants and leading marketing for iconic brands to help students build clear, strategically positioned applications. He focuses on what makes each student unique and ensures their academic profile, extracurricular activities, and essays align to a compelling narrative. His experience advising NCAA Division III athletic programs at UChicago also gives him a unique perspective on recruiting and evaluating student-athletes.

Laura Smith

Former Undergraduate Admissions Reader
Northwestern University

2 Years in Northwestern University Admissions
1,500+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Laura graduated cum laude from Northwestern University where she studied Theatre and International Studies. She returned to Northwestern to join the Office of Undergraduate Admission, where she read applications for all six undergraduate schools from prospective students all over the United States.

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She has a keen understanding of what colleges are looking for in building an incoming class, and is passionate about helping students tailor and highlight their academic and extracurricular achievements to maximize chances of admission. Laura enjoys building relationships with students and their families, and aiding them in navigating the college application process from start to finish.

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Matthew Tatelman

Former Admissions Reader
Northwestern University

Former Director of College Counseling
Dwight-Englewood School

1 Year at Northwestern University Admissions
2 Years at Dwight-Englewood School
1,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Matthew has worked with thousands of students and families through their college process for over a decade. Matthew served as the Head of Counseling at the United States Consulate affiliate School, the American School of Dubai (ASD), as well as Director of College Counseling at one of the top independent schools in the Tri-State region.

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Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston, as well as a Master of Education from Springfield College. His interest in education has led him to earn advanced degrees and certifications in Educational Leadership.

Matthew is passionate in supporting his students as they learn more about themselves throughout the college process. Matthew looks to help students tell their individual story the most effective way possible to maximize their potential of gaining admission into highly selective institutions. He has successfully supported students to gain admission to each of the top 20 institutions in the US, as well as top universities in the U.K. and Canada.

Each student is unique in personality, interests, and experiences. Matthew’s expertise helps students frame their application so that it is an authentic representation of their unique story.

Philana Tenhoff

Former Associate Director of Admissions
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Former Associate Director of Admissions
Macalester College

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Macalester College

Former Admissions Counselor
St. Olaf College

3 Years in MIT Admissions
9 Years in Macalester Admissions
4 Years in St. Olaf Admissions
20,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

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Philana earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts with a music concentration from St. Olaf College and a Master of Science in Project Management and Master of Arts in Management from St. Mary’s University in Minnesota.

In her 16-plus years of admissions experience, Philana prides herself in building relationships with her students and breaking down barriers, and creating policies and programs to provide access to higher education for all students.

Philana started her admissions career at St. Olaf College recruiting students, giving presentations, interviewing applicants, evaluating applications, and overseeing the overnight hosting program and several multicultural recruitment programs. She then served first as an Assistant Director and later as an Associate Director of Admissions at Macalester College. There she coordinated the multicultural recruitment program for underrepresented students, served as an advisor to the Director of Admissions and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, and participated in several campus committees. During her tenure, she implemented several initiatives leading the student population from 19% domestic students of color to consistently over 30% each year. Prior to her work as a consultant, Philana served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Director of Multicultural Recruitment at MIT. As a senior member of the Admissions team, she served as a strategic advisor to the Director and Dean of Admissions and assisted with training application readers to review applicants from underrepresented student populations. She represented the Admissions Office on campus committees and served as the liaison to several departments and student and alumni groups.

Philana also worked for one year as a Part-time Independent Educational Consultant prior to joining Solomon and was successful in acquiring admissions for her students into institutions such as MIT, U Michigan Ross School of Business, Vanderbilt, NYU, and more.

Colin Tessier-Kay

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
University of Pennsylvania

4 Years in University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Admissions
10,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Colin Tessier-Kay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Global Studies from St. Lawrence University and a Master’s degree in International Relations and International Economics, with a concentration in China Studies, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

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Colin brings over four years of experience in higher education, having served as an Admissions Counselor and Assistant Director of Admissions in the Undergraduate Admissions Office at the University of Pennsylvania. In these roles, he evaluated thousands of domestic and international applications across the University’s schools, including the Wharton School, College of Arts and Sciences, Penn Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Colin also assessed applications for the University’s prestigious dual-degree programs, such as the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology (M&T), the Huntsman Program, and the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER).

In addition to his evaluation responsibilities, Colin participated in multiple selection committees to shape final admissions decisions and led extensive recruitment efforts, traveling to all 50 U.S. states to engage with prospective students and school counselors. He is passionate about guiding students through the college search and application process, helping them identify schools that align with their interests and goals. Currently based in the Washington, D.C. area, Colin works as a Research Fellow at a foreign policy think tank

Trinity Thompson

Former Admissions Counselor &
Former Diversity Admissions Associate,
Stanford University

10+ Years in College Admissions & Counseling
3,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Trinity Thompson earned her B.A. from Stanford University, where she double majored in English (Creative Writing) and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, graduating with honors. She also holds an M.A. in Sociology from Stanford, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from UC Riverside, and an M.S. in General and Special Education.

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At Stanford, Trinity served in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where she reviewed applications, participated in committee deliberations, and made recommendations on admission decisions. She also supported outreach initiatives focused on expanding access for students of color, international students, and students from low-income backgrounds.

After Stanford, Trinity began her career with Teach For America, eventually teaching and college counseling at competitive independent schools, including The Masters School in NY and Ramallah Friends School. She later worked as Director of Experiential and Community-Based Learning at The College Preparatory School, contributing to both student programming and admissions review.

Beyond schools, Trinity has held leadership roles in college access programs including Education Programs Manager at Catalyst Network Foundation and Site Director at Education Unlimited. She remains involved with Stanford Admissions as an OVAL alumni interviewer and has worked as an independent college consultant for more than a decade, helping hundreds of students gain admission to top colleges and universities.

Anna Thysell

Former Admissions Reader
Princeton University

5 Years at Princeton University
7,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Anna worked as an Admissions Reader for Princeton University for five admissions seasons. In this role, she read and evaluated over 7,000 undergraduate applications from across the country including Questbridge applications.

Anna holds an undergraduate degree from Elon University and a master's degree from New York University. Additionally, she served as a Team Leader for AmeriCorps NCCC's Central Region, where she supervised a team of ten young adults.

She also spent five years working all over the world for an ethnographic market research firm, helping organizations and companies better understand their customers.

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After college, Anna served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member working in Program Development for a school district in the state of Washington. In this position, she also ran a weekly college readiness class for ninth to twelfth graders who were hired and employed as tutors and mentors for elementary school students. From this experience, Anna learned she enjoys working individually with students to help them navigate through the entire college application process - from researching colleges, applying for scholarships and financial aid, writing strong personal statements and essays, and finding the schools that best fit each student.

Celeste Tini

Former Associate Director of Admissions
Princeton University

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Johns Hopkins University

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
New York University

2 Years in Princeton University Admissions
1 Year in Johns Hopkins University Admissions
3 Years in NYU Admissions
20,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Mrs. Tini earned her Bachelor’s Degree in communications and sociology from Boston College and her Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from New York University. As Associate Director at Princeton University, Celeste conducted application review for over 2,000 freshman students and presented competitive applicants for admissions committee consideration.

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She advised prospective students, parents, and high school counselors regarding admissions policies, procedures, and academic programs. Celeste also planned and implemented recruitment strategies and trained adjunct readers and new admissions counselors through the application review process.

Celeste also worked to recruit and evaluate domestic and international applications from Johns Hopkins University specifically for The Whiting School of Engineering and the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. She also nominated and selected students to research-oriented, selective merit based scholarships. She served as the liaison to the Whiting School of Engineering and member of the committee which reviewed candidates for admission to the highly selective biomedical engineering program. At New York University she focused her efforts on recruitment and building strong personal relationships with families domestically and internationally. In her role as Assistant Director of Admissions at New York University, Celeste evaluated and had final authority on admissions decisions on all applicants to the College of Arts and Science and Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She served as the liaison to faculty and administrators in compiling artistic review results for Music and Art programs in Steinhardt as well as nominated and selected prospective students for high-achievement merit scholarship programs. Celeste looks forward to demystifying the admissions process while helping applicants clearly and effectively showcase their talents and passions. As a first-generation college student, Celeste takes exceptional pride in helping students achieve their dreams.

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Hakim Walker, College Admissions Consultant

Hakim J. Walker PhD

Former Admissions Officer
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Former Teaching Professor and Residential Advisor
Harvard University

2 Years in MIT Admissions
2,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Hakim earned his B.A. in Mathematics from Boston University. As a first-generation college student, he experienced the transformative power of a world-class education first-hand, and he developed a passion for higher education and college admissions.

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After graduating from BU, Hakim served as an admissions officer at MIT, where he read domestic applications from every U.S. state and territory, as well as international applications from India and the Middle East. In addition to participating in committee decisions, Hakim conducted statistical research into qualitative predictors of student success at MIT. He also spent his summers counseling minority applicants through the MITES and E2 programs.

Hakim went on to earn his Ph.D. in Mathematics from George Washington University, where he won a university award for excellence in graduate teaching. Upon receiving his doctorate, Hakim joined the mathematics faculty at Harvard University, where he taught and coordinated large introductory courses for 6 years. While at Harvard, Hakim also served 5 years as an academic and residential advisor for first-year students, which gave him deeper insight into student life at Harvard and other Ivy League schools.

Throughout his career, Hakim has helped countless high school students strengthen all aspects of their applications to college. He served as an SAT tutor through Upward Bound at BU and Legal Outreach at Columbia University. Hakim has also organized and led college essay writing workshops at various high schools.

Jina Walker

Former Admissions Reader
Northwestern University

Former Admissions Reader
Boston University

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Le Moyne College

1 Year in Boston University Admissions
1 Year in Northwestern University Admissions
1 Year in Saint Louis University Admissions
7 Years in Le Moyne College Admissions
6,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

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Jina joined Solomon Admission Consulting with over eighteen years of experience in selective college admission and college counseling. Most recently, she served on the Board of Admission for Boston University, where she evaluated applicants from a range of demographics for various programs, including Kilachand Honors College, Questrom School of Business, and Questbridge. Additionally, while residing in Chicago, Jina supported the Northwestern University Admission Committee in their assessment of freshman candidates, gaining extensive knowledge of the University’s extremely selective standard and criteria for admissions. This, in addition to eight years of admission experience with Saint Louis University and Le Moyne College, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Education, has provided her with valuable knowledge related to college admissions.

Previously, Jina committed four years as a College Counselor for St. John’s School, a nationally recognized and respected K-12 independent school known for its longstanding tradition of academic achievement, including a large percentage of National Merit Finalists and Advanced Placement Scholars, resulting in highly selective college admission. Her work continued during her time as Associate Director of College Counseling for Bullis School (Potomac, MD), where each year she counseled approximately 125 sophomores, juniors, seniors, and their parents through college research, application, and selection.

For Jina, the most rewarding aspect of her career has been building relationships with students and guiding them through a significant and important process. She has proudly helped hundreds of students and parents navigate the college search and selection process.

Timothy T. West

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Duke University

Former Application Reviewer
Stanford University and Rice University

10 Years in Duke, Stanford, and Rice Admissions
5,700+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Timothy (Tim'm) earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University where he began his career as an Admission Officer before the pursuit of graduate degrees from The New School for Social Research (MA) and Stanford University (MA).

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For more than two decades Tim'm has worked as a university professor teaching Cultural Studies, Philosophy, English, and Creative Writing which he has also had the privilege of teaching at the high school level where these subjects are available. As a former high school instructor, Tim'm brings valuable insight to how students can translate both academic and extracurricular assets from the high school experience to colleges. His various work experiences across the United States have given him broad insights on a variety of college campuses. He takes special pride in helping students find colleges that are a good "fit".

He understands the "science of admissions" to be a balanced approach to rigorous review of academic assets and the personal qualities that are sometimes harder to communicate without the expertise of good counsel. Professionally, Tim'm currently serves as a Senior Managing Director at Teach For America.

David Williams II, College Admissions Consultant

David S. Williams II

Former Assistant Vice President, Director of Admissions
Rice University

Former Director of Admissions
Rutgers University - Newark

Former Associate Director of Admissions
University of Delaware

3 years in Rice University Admissions
2 years in Rutgers University - Newark Admissions
2 years in University of Delaware Admissions
5,000+ applications read and evaluated

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As a leader in college admissions, Dr. Williams has helped thousands of students realize their dream of pursuing higher education. He firmly believes that students should research and become a student of the institution before they become a student at the institution. By doing so, students can feel confident in submitting compelling applications that demonstrate their genuine interest. In addition to being a former college admissions director, Dr. Williams has an extensive background in academia, including a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Maryland. He is also a published author and has taught several undergraduate and graduate-level courses.

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Faith Yates-Wykle

Former Admissions Counselor
University of Pennsylvania

Former Admissions Counselor
Smith College

5+ Years in College Admissions
2+ Years in Penn Admissions
30,000+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Faith earned her B.A. in Classical Languages and Literatures and English Literature from Smith College with honors before pursuing graduate work in classical philology at Duke University and the University of Pennsylvania. Her career in admissions began at Smith, where she interviewed and reviewed students from all over the world, and grew at Penn, where she oversaw recruitment, evaluation and selection, while gaining intense familiarity with other domestic and international geomarkets.

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Faith read applications for Wharton, CAS, Engineering, and Nursing. She also led review and selection for the Pre-First Year Program, provided support for the Kelly Writer’s House, and read for multiple of Penn’s CDD programs, including VIPER and DMD, while gaining exposure to Huntsman, LSM, NHCM, and M&T.

While enrolled at Smith College, she engaged with students and their loved ones as a Gold Key Guide, later serving as Gold Key chair and helping the organization navigate the pandemic. Faith’s zest for college admissions is rooted in a love of stories and empowering students and their families to understand, share, and capitalize on their own unique narratives to find their best fit.

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Peter Zimmerman

Former Admissions Reader
Stanford University

3 Years in Stanford University Admissions
2,500+ Applications Read and Evaluated

Peter Zimmerman is a Senior Admissions Consultant with Solomon. Peter earned his Bachelor’s Degree from The College of William and Mary in Art/Art History, with minors in Anthropology and Japanese Studies.

He graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa - the United States’ oldest honor society for liberal arts colleges.

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Mr. Zimmerman was one of the first students ever to receive W&M’s prestigious 1693 Scholarship - one of the most distinguished scholarship programs in the country, emphasizing student-led research and academic excellence. In addition, he was awarded W&M’s Martha Wren Briggs Scholarship for academic distinction in Art History. He also attended the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Mr. Zimmerman joined the Admissions team at Stanford University in 2012, where he spent three years working on the undergraduate admissions team, reading and evaluating applications. During that time, he read many thousands of applications from 31 different countries and 26 states in the US. In 2016, he joined Solomon Admissions Consulting after 15 years of experience in music marketing, non-profit communications, magazine editing, copywriting, and admissions work. At Solomon, Mr. Zimmerman has worked with families from all over the country and globe to build strategic, compelling applications for undergraduate and graduate programs.