Abigail Nields Hillman

FOUNDER AND OWNER
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT COACH & APPLICATION COACH

Abigail holds a BA magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Yale University and an MAT from Brown University. After cutting her teeth at Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, NY and Newton North High School outside Boston, she has been working one-on-one with students on academics and applications since 2003. Abigail’s easy rapport with young people allows her to identify and mirror to them why and how they are unique. Her instinct for what college admissions offices are looking for helps her guide students to tell their stories, not just in the personal statement, but holistically throughout the application. Abigail’s bespoke method has proved wildly successful, not just in terms of where students are admitted, but in how they feel about themselves at the end of the process. 

  • I have always loved stories.

    As a little girl, I was either reading a story or acting one out on stage. At Yale, tales of the past captured my interest, so I majored in history, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. My thesis, History in Black and White, which examined the representation of African Americans in U.S. history textbooks and the disconnect between historiography and classroom history, forced me to grapple with how we tell our national story.

    Inspired, I decided to pursue a career in education which combined my love of history with my interest in theater and storytelling. I taught at the St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn, then earned my MAT from Brown University. After teaching US and Modern World history (AP, Honors, standard) at Newton North High School outside Boston, I had twins (later followed by a singleton) and began tutoring exclusively.

    My penchant for spinning narrative provided a natural segue into working on college essays. I quickly learned that the value of the process lay not in getting a kid into college, but in empowering them to recognize what makes them special then express these strengths in their own words. The work is deeply gratifying and I am lucky to have met so many extraordinary youth.

    Over time, I became an expert on the application process, consulting with families in addition to providing essay support. I soon began to work with transfer and graduate applicants and expand into new fields. College graduates returned for help with resumes and cover letters (targeting employers just as they had targeted colleges in their supplemental essays). With increased confidence, I branched out into corporate and non-profit work.

    The essence of communication is narrative. History, religion, mythology, advertisements, and politics all rely on story to make them effective and digestible. Since we are in charge of which stories we tell and how we tell them, it’s imperative that we are intentional about our choices.

    My work is deeply collaborative, often intimate, and always a pleasure. Whatever your needs, I’d love to help you tell your story.

Jackie Kasher

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Jackie brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the pre-college process to her role as Director of Communications. She excels at interpersonal communication and her commitment to nurturing the inherent strengths of children and young adults is unparalleled. With a master’s degree in Special Education and Reading and having raised two college-aged children, Jackie is sensitive to the needs of both parents and students. Jackie is a seasoned educator, mentor, and coach. With a Master’s degree in Special Education, Jackie’s professional journey includes roles within the profit and nonprofit sectors and includes teaching for Haverford Township School District, coaching teachers and principals at Children’s Literacy Initiative, and teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. When not supporting parents and children, Jackie brings her exuberant energy to her family, which includes a rotation of lively foster dogs.

Katryna Nields

COLLEGE MATCHING COACH

Katryna is a natural communicator and factoid collector (in high school she could name every senator in the Virginia State Senate, every country in the world, and every Adirondack 46R). She spent the 90s as a touring musician playing concerts and workshops at colleges all over the country with her band The Nields. She has worked at the Loomis Chaffee School, Academy of Charlemont, and the Bement School. After stewarding her children through the college admissions process, Katryna became an informal guide to dozens of friends (and sisters) and realized she has a preternatural ability to match kids with their perfect fit. With a BA from Trinity College, Katryna is currently getting her IECA certification.

Sarah Abarbanel

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (ELEMENTARY SCHOOL)

Now based in Hudson, New York, Sarah received her MFA from Bard College and her BA from Brown University where she graduated both magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. In addition to being an artist, she has over ten years of experience teaching students of all ages in schools such as Packer Collegiate, Saint Ann’s School, and Bard College. An Orton-Gillingham trained tutor, Sarah works with elementary grade students to develop reading, writing, and executive functioning skills. Passionate about meeting children where they are, Sarah delights in developing creative learning strategies tailored to the individual student with the ultimate goal of building confidence. She believes in the power of establishing routines and cultivating learning environments that feel playful, warm, inviting, and fun! 

Bethel Adiele

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (STEM, WRITING, HOMEWORK HELP)

TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR

Bethel Adiele is a Laidlaw Foundations Scholar from Columbia University who graduated pre-med. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research in Public Health and the Humanities, through which he received first place award in the annual Columbia Undergraduate Research Symposium. Outside of his academic and research work, Bethel provided mentorship, SAT prep, admissions counseling, and essay writing support for low-income and underprivileged students from his high school. Based in New York City, Bethel is preparing to apply to medical school. He spends his free time meeting and conversing with people, reading books, and learning to play the guitar.

Sadie Basila

APPLICATION COACH AND ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR

Parents and students alike rave about Sadie, shaking their heads in wonder at her ability to go above and beyond as an educator while earning her law degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She earned a full scholarship after acing the LSAT, spending every semester on the Dean’s List at Bates College (where she double majored in Politics and Economics), and earning 5s on six AP exams. When she’s not sharing tricks for acing standardized tests, Sadie keeps her students organized and accountable as they check off application boxes and craft their essays. In her spare time, Sadie loves embroidering and making music.

Anna Catone

APPLICATION COACH & ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (ANALYTIC & CREATIVE WRITING)

Anna earned her AB in English and creative writing at Princeton University where she won both the Bain-Swiggett Poetry Prize and the Francis Lemoyne Page Thesis Prize. After graduating magna cum laude, she went on to earn both an MA in English at Middlebury College (where she was the Reginald and Juanita Cook Scholar) and an MFA in creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College. She worked in numerous editing and publishing roles in addition to jobs at arts organizations including Harvard University, David R. Godine, Publisher, the PEN American Center, the Poetry Society of America, and The New Yorker before discovering her love for teaching. She has taught nearly all age groups both creative writing and English, with her most recent position being at Boston College. She is a published writer and has been poetry editor at The Cortland Review for almost fifteen years.

  • One of my more rewarding classroom experiences was teaching a number of students in their first year seminar and then serving as their thesis director a few years later when they were pursuing MFAs in creative writing. It was remarkable to see their growth.

    What astonished me was the way in which they each came to deepen a set of concerns they had at the beginning of their college experiences, to turn it over in their minds, to rework that set of ideas or problems, intellectual pursuits, questions, and even for some, passions. They deepened their understanding. They found other ways of looking and rethinking: they found possibilities in these tangled up ideas, ways of coming to know themselves better that could only be their work, their efforts, authentic to each of them.

    I love engaging in this same process with high school students seeking to identify their own story and develop a voice, uniquely their own, in their college admissions process. This aspect of writing — the development of voice — seems to me the most compelling piece of teaching writing.

    When you complete your application for college, you are identifying who you are to a stranger. It is a ridiculous task. You are trying to create a voice on a page that resonates when someone begins reading. If you fake it or you try to present yourself as someone other than who you are, your reader will know. This is the task: to be yourself. To find the voice to tell your story. I love helping people do that. I hope I can help you.

Marcia Custer

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT COACH & APPLICATION COACH
ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (SPANISH, WRITING, HISTORY)

Marcia graduated summa cum laude from Kent State University, where she studied Art History, Spanish, and Dance. After earning a post-bacc in performance at Bryn Mawr, she worked as a theatrical creative producer, cultivating and presenting people’s stories. She’s taught at several arts institutions and universities, taken her creative work on national tours, and received the Andy Warhol Foundation’s Satellite Grant. ​​Marcia also works with neurodiverse clients who have ADHD, ASD, and other learning differences. She supports individualized learning plans and reinforces practices that allow students to thrive academically and socially. With recent experience managing her own application process for a Masters in History (acceptances to UChicago, University of York, Trinity College Dublin, among others) she appreciates the rigorous and disciplined steps required of the contemporary college applicant. She looks forward to coaching students and helping them find their authentic voice and way along the path!

  • I am a deeply rigorous student, creative professional, and tutor. I believe that the best way to inspire others, in both art and education, is through asking questions, honing a deeply empathetic rapport with others, and finding joy in all of it. Learning can be thrilling! I bring this enthusiasm to my tutoring sessions, offering individualized and compassionate coaching strategies to help students find their own threads and motivations for doing the work — with a healthy dose of outside accountability. With years of experience amplifying voices and honing storytelling skills as a dramaturg, educator, and tutor, I know that all learning is grounded in creativity.

    I found my passion for scholarship early, as a voracious reader and questioner of authority. I hit my stride in high school where I was able to take IB courses and appreciate the global perspective that I so craved. As someone with so many passions, my college studies were interdisciplinary. These multiple perspectives inform everything I do. This summer, as I pored over manuscripts at El Monasterio Escorial in Spain, I thought of the creativity required of women as they navigated power, the Church, and accessing their own spirituality, education, and bodily autonomy.

Debosir Ghosh

TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR

A Duke University Neuroscience major with minors in chemistry and biology, Debosir is also an experienced test prep tutor. He has been working professionally for four years, primarily focusing on SAT and ACT test preparation as well as other subjects such as Algebra 2 and Pre-calculus. Debosir's teaching philosophy involves catering to the student’s preferred learning method — oftentimes a combination of visual, verbal, and spatial approaches. He believes that standardized tests can be methodically and strategically solved in a stress-free way through content instruction, review, and time management. Debosir is also an accomplished classical musician who performs regularly. He believes in the value of music and often volunteers his time to play in the local community. In addition, he is a passionate aviator who plans to receive his flying certifications someday.

Ashley Lefrak Grider

APPLICATION & STUDENT DEVELOPMENT COACH

Ashley's essays and humor writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Real Simple, and other publications. As a writer, she understands the challenges and rewards of turning messy first drafts into carefully crafted prose. Her warm, personable style of engagement encourages students to talk, think, and write their way toward successful self-presentation. Ashley holds a BA in Comparative Literature from Princeton, a BSN from University of Pennsylvania, and an MFA from Yale School of Art.

  • I am a writer but I did other things first. I was a competitive swimmer and a photographer, an art professor and a nurse. I was (and still am) an editor in the health and education sectors.

    After years of working with students throughout the admissions process, I have become aware of just how many application sections, beyond the main essay, provide an opportunity to craft the student's story. This is why I start with questions, lots of them! Conversation lays the foundation for our work. It allows me to get to know all the nuanced ways a person is unique, to understand strengths and struggles, interests and dreams. This trusting, helping relationship is the wellspring from which words and ideas flow. It allows me to hear the student’s voice and allows us, together, to ensure a singular voice comes through.

    My objective is to help young people grow in self-awareness and articulate what is most important to them. What a wonderful thing to get to do! I welcome any questions about my process.

Galit Higgins

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING COACH

Galit is an empathetic and intuitive listener who loves working with students and their families. Through evaluations and conversations with the student, parents, and potentially teachers, Galit identifies the executive function challenges that are creating roadblocks and creates a specific plan catered to each need. She has a particular interest and fascination with helping students who struggle with task initiation and completion, time management, organization, and working memory. Galit holds a BA in Comparative Literature (summa cum laude) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has worked in academia for over fifteen years at institutions such as MIT, Brandeis University, Wellesley College, and Walnut Hill School for the Arts.

  • I truly believe that Executive Functioning skills can be taught and learned. Endless reading and a series of EF classes, including “Fostering Independent Executive Function Skills,” “Discover the Powerful Internal Language Model for Managing Executive Functioning Deficits,” and “Practical Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement by Reducing Anxiety and Increasing Executive Function Skills” have armed me with an array of tools to share with my students. I deeply admire the work of Sarah Ward, Peg Dawson and Mike McLeod.

    I live in Massachusetts with my partner and two kids. When not singing to show tunes on my Peloton and creating serene, organized spaces in my home, I love to read about child development and take a great power nap.

Reese Hillman

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR & TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR

Reese is a National Merit Finalist who scored in the 99th percentile on both her PSAT and her SAT (including a perfect 800 in math). A student at Bates College, she sings a cappella with the Crosstones and plays Ultimate Frisbee.

Rhonda Hyde

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (STEM AND BIOLOGY)

Originally from the Bronx, New York, Dr. Rhonda Hyde attended Yale University where she earned her B.S. degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. At Harvard, she earned her Ph.D. in Neurobiology by studying the genetics of behavior using the model organism C. elegans.  After graduate school, Rhonda accepted a post-doctoral research position at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she contributed to research involving the genetics of lipid metabolism. She is currently an AP Biology teacher and one of four Instructional Coaches at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep.

  • Although I enjoyed research, I’ve always been drawn to teaching. I’m grateful for the dozens of inspiring, dedicated teachers who helped me along my own intellectual and personal journey. In 2013, I transitioned to a high school teaching career. I enjoy helping students get excited about science, but more importantly, I strive to help them develop the character traits to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens.

    In my free time, I like reading and baking.

Ben Lash

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (STEM, MATH)

Ben Lash graduated from Yale with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering and Applied Physics, continued with a Master’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and started a PhD at UC Merced, but discovered a love of teaching. He has taught physics, Pre-Calculus, Algebra 1+2, Computer Science, Chemistry, and AP Environmental Science. Ben also serves as the eleventh grade level chair and has run resume and application letter workshops for his primarily first-generation aspiring college students. While A STEM expert, he was offered a position as a Yale writing tutor, has spent many hours writing and editing papers both scientific and not, and conducts local interviews for the Yale Admissions Office. 

David Liebmann

APPLICATION COACH AND ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (WRITING, HISTORY)

David holds master’s degrees from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education where he was a 2020-21 Sustainability Fellow, Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English where he was the John M. Kirk, Jr. Scholar at Lincoln College, Oxford University. At Middlebury, he earned a BA cum laude in a major he designed examining the intersections of people and the environment. David has served as a head of school, assistant head of school, admissions coordinator, and teacher in independent schools for more than 30 years. His first love is the classroom, and he has taught English and the humanities to ninth through twelfth graders. He enjoys developing student agency and voice in writing and helping students find and share their passions through language. An avid reader and writer, David has published in magazines ranging from Net Assets and Independent School to Birding and Pittsburgh Quarterly.

  • I have always loved words. In second grade, I started to write my first book. I typed two pages of science fiction and gave up, but I never lost my desire to be a writer. As a high school student, I embraced poetry and fiction and joined the student literary magazine as a contributor and editor. By the time I started college, I found writing fun and easy, a way to express myself and a way to shape my life.

    When I graduated from Middlebury, I became a teacher in an environmental studies program for 11th graders called Chewonki’s Maine Coast Semester. There, I learned how to bring out the best from students as they became authors of not only essays, but of their lives. I came to see that language was a vehicle for students to share how they understand the world and what makes them unique.

    I’ve found that with coaching and support, every student can find their voice and describe what they love. Conveying interests and passions authentically makes a student jump out in a class and on college applications, too. Because I’ve worked with thousands of young people from India to Indiana, I know that there is no single path that colleges expect kids to tread. Instead, schools and universities and their teachers and professors want to read about real people with genuine lives, ideas, and pursuits. Helping students embrace the power of words and convey who they are is my calling and my life’s work.

Emily Goodwin Martin

APPLICATION COACH & ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (STEM, WRITING, HOMEWORK)

MINDFULNESS COACH

Emily earned her BS and MS degrees in Earth Systems from Stanford University. After a short stint working on river conservation issues in her home state of Georgia, Emily returned to California to serve as a Program Officer with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the largest environmental foundation in the US. She pursued her passion for protecting coastal and ocean habitats by developing and implementing a 10-year, $150 million dollar Marine Conservation Initiative focused on US and Canadian ecosystems. With a desire to embed herself in a local community, Emily moved to the small town of Hood River, Oregon to launch an outdoor science school in the Cascade Mountains. An enthusiastic educator and certified mindfulness meditation teacher, Emily facilitates nature connection, rigorous scientific investigation, and personal growth in her high school students.

Zack Pockrose

TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR (ACT) AND APPLICATION COACH

Zack graduated from Brown University with an AB in Environmental Studies. After spending college summers working on Boston-area urban farms, doing Oyster Reef restoration research with the Nature Conservancy, and working as an urban beekeeper, Zack moved to Brooklyn. For the past 5 years, he has been SAT and ACT tutoring with a NYC-based boutique tutoring agency. As Zack delved into this work, he realized he had a knack for presenting material in strategic ways to meet the unique needs of each student, as dozens of happy families would attest. As Zack continued to connect with more students, he felt drawn to college essay work and the space it holds for genuine emotional connection between counselor and student. He values these connections and the chance to help students tell their important stories - stories they themselves often can’t identify at first. Zack encourages them to take the process one moment at a time, focusing on what is directly in front of them and in their control. With consistent, engaged effort, Zack’s students regularly see results that exceed their (and their parents’) expectations. 

When he isn’t connecting with students, Zack is drumming, composing for film and TV, and, most recently, producing a cooking show called Just Veggin’!

Tom Rogers

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (MATH)

Tom earned a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership and his Principal Certification from Villanova University after receiving his BA from the University of Scranton in Secondary Education and Mathematics. He taught everything from pre-algebra to calculus at his alma mater, Methacton High School, from 2003 to 2012 and at Radnor High School where he’s been since 2012.

  • Some people are just meant to be teachers, and I am one of them. I enjoy spending my days with teenagers and seeing their growth and maturation over the course of the year. Although the classroom has its particular energy, I find particular satisfaction in working one on one with students; the moment when the concept breaks through and I see the look of relief and pride on my student’s face is priceless. I chose math because I’m drawn to absolutes; I like knowing that there is a correct answer to the problem we are facing. I live outside of Philadelphia with my wife and three kids, all under six years old. When not teaching, I enjoy running and cheering for the Eagles.

Ananda Rose

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (WRITING, HUMANITIES) & APPLICATION COACH

Ananda Rose holds a doctorate from Harvard University where she taught writing, philosophy, and religion. She has published a book with Oxford University Press and has authored numerous articles in various mainstream publications including Scientific American, The New York Times, and Foreign Policy Magazine. She also holds a Master’s in Spanish from Middlebury College and a BA in English from Brandeis University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was awarded the American Poet’s Prize. Aside from teaching at Harvard, she taught middle school writing and languages, college essay writing to high school students, and ESL and creative writing to adults. She loves helping students of all ages pursue their goals through writing, whether applying to their dreamed-of university, scoring a top grade on a hard-worked high school essay, or composing a short story or poem for the sheer joy of it. When she is not teaching or tutoring, you can find her lost in the mountains, either on her beloved mountain bike or hanging from a cliff halfway up a rock face. And when not biking or rock climbing, she is undoubtedly with one of her three sons who keep her eternally young.

Anda Clark

APPLICATION COACH, TEST PREP & ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (WRITING)

Anda honed her intellectual curiosity, creativity, and deep-rooted dedication to social justice at Reed College where she earned a BA in Political Science. At Cornell’s ILR School, she advocated for women's labor equity and spearheaded early childhood education initiatives. This experience, along with over a decade of supporting students as an academic coach, deepened Anda’s understanding of diverse learning styles. Having scored 1580 on the SAT, Anda is uniquely skilled at helping students refine their critical thinking, bolster their creative problem-solving abilities, and master test-taking techniques. Anda aspires to empower learners by encouraging a spirit of inquiry and fostering a creative process that highlights their distinctive skills and helps them discover their unique voices.

In her free time, Anda enjoys cooking, writing poetry, and exploring the hiking trails of the Pacific Northwest. Currently, she is illustrating a children’s book that celebrates the wonders of nature and the importance of conscientiously caring for our planet.

Will Braithewaite

TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR & ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR (HOMEWORK, WRITING, MATH)

Will grew up in Radnor, Pennsylvania and graduated from Vanderbilt University Magna Cum Laude with a major in History and a minor in English. After scoring a 1580 on the SAT, Will has been working as an SAT and ACT test prep tutor for five years, most recently with Varsity Tutors. He also specializes in tutoring English, calculus, trigonometry, history, and French. Will loves connecting with students and catering to their specific learning styles. He has a natural instinct for understanding what makes them tick and students love him. In his spare time, Will enjoys sailing, playing the guitar, and performing improv comedy! 

Holden Valentine

ACADEMIC & TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR

Holden studied Political Science, history, and literature at UC Berkeley and is now a first year UC Berkeley Law Student. His tutoring journey began as a high schooler in New York, where he developed a passion for helping students from a range of backgrounds define and meet their academic goals. Holden has a wealth of experience in test prep, including the LSAT, SAT, and ACT, as well as college-level and K-12 humanities subjects. With a keen interest in writing, philosophy, poetry, history, and literature, he especially enjoys helping students further their critical and creative skills. In his time away from tutoring, you can find him cycling or playing guitar around Brooklyn. 

Jason Chang

TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR

Jason is a University of Chicago sophomore who scored a 1560 on his SAT (770+ on both Verbal and Math) and achieved a perfect score in the writing section. Jason enjoys modeling optimism and drive to his students. Aside from teaching SAT, he plays tennis and produces music.

Taylor Dillon

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR

Taylor is a physics major at Villanova University interested in pursuing a career in medical physics research. Taylor started tutoring in high school where she earned top grades and scores in AP Biology, AP Physics 1, AP Psychology, AP U.S. Government & Politics, AP Statistics and AP Seminar. She especially loves teaching math at all levels. In her free time, Taylor is involved in Special Olympics and intramural volleyball.

Curtis Bowman

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR

A Villanova University Honors student double majoring in Physics and Economics and minoring in Spanish, Curtis brings an interdisciplinary perspective to his instruction. With four years of tutoring experience, his ability to communicate comfortably but deliberately supplements his academic strengths. When Curtis tutors AP Physics, AP AB/AC Calculus, Chemistry, Algebra 2, and Pre-calculus, he abides by the philosophy that until we understand the fundamentals of a concept or question, we cannot trust our results. In his spare time, Curtis enjoys exercising, experimenting with recipes, and hanging out with friends and family.

Tucker Iverson

ACADEMIC & TEST PREP INSTRUCTOR, HOMEWORK SUPPORT

Tucker graduated with an AB in Economics from Brown University after scoring a 1570 on his SATs (with an 800 in math). He scored in the 99th percentile for ISEE and SSATs gaining admission to Newark Academy, the #2 college prep school in NJ where he earned an International Baccalaureate degree and garnered First Team All-State honors in fencing. Now based in NYC, he has been teaching improv comedy classes in Manhattan and Brooklyn while pursuing a career in the online advertising startup world. His grandfather has been teaching SAT for 34 years in South Jersey, and Tucker is thrilled to be carrying on the family tradition. Tucker keeps his tutoring sessions informative and lively, while sharing his tried and true strategies to acing exams. He loves connecting with students, supporting them not only in getting into their top university choices, but in exploring what it means to pursue a fulfilling and complete life. In his spare time, Tucker enjoys learning songs on the guitar, playing chess, and performing comedy!

Wendy Beth Hyman, Ph.D.

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR & APPLICATION COACH

Wendy is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Oberlin College, a Trustee of the Shakespeare Association of America, and an ardent educator who relishes unlocking the potential inside every student. A Pell Grant recipient who went on to earn a Ph.D. in English from Harvard, her diverse educational journey began at Bard College at Simon’s Rock (where she studied Environmental Studies and Sociology), and Smith College, where she turned to English literature, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. A scholar-teacher with 20 years of experience, she has authored and edited books and articles on Renaissance poetry, Shakespeare, social justice, and early modern science, but it is connecting with students that has been the most meaningful part of her career — in fact she is currently writing a book with a former student, called How to Read Shakespeare: A Visual Learner’s Companion! She believes that in an era of AI, writing well is an ethical act that helps us reach beyond ourselves to others, and to articulate what is beautifully, messily, irreducibly human. 

Outside of the classroom, Wendy is an avid painter, and her passions range from silent film to rare books to punk rock to world travel. She also regularly teaches classes in England and Italy, so in the summer you’ll often find her in museums or among ancient ruins with a group of students. She lives in Cleveland with her husband Matt, a fellow English professor, travel enthusiast, and jazz promoter, and their rescued three-legged American Staffordshire terrier, Oliver.

Kofi Oduro-Manu

TEST PREP & ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR

Kofi is a Presidential Scholar majoring in Economics at Villanova University. He works as a healthcare analyst for the Villanova Wildcat Fund which manages $1.6 million AUM. With stellar scores on the ISEE, Kofi secured admission to Montclair Kimberley Academy where he excelled academically and was elected as class president junior and senior years. Kofi started tutoring in high school and believes that strong mentorship inspires academic success. In his free time, Kofi enjoys nature walks, sports, and quality time with friends.

Emme Pike

ATHLETIC RECRUITING ADVISOR

Emme is eager to use her own lived experience as a D3 NESCAC athlete and current coach to guide fellow athletes in the recruitment process. Emme has played field hockey and soccer, rowed crew, and swum. As a four year Varsity Swim and Dive team member and Captain at Bates College, Emme garnered consistent recognition as an NESCAC Winter All-Academic, earning the prestigious Senior Scholar Award, and securing points for the college at the NESCAC Championship level.

Emme is currently at Wesleyan University pursuing a master’s degree in Education and Human Development while serving as the Men’s and Women’s Assistant Swim and Dive Coach. Emme spearheads much of the recruiting for the team, speaking directly with prospective athletes and advising them on the process. Her passions extend beyond the field of play; she is deeply committed to advocating for athlete mental health initiatives and advancing opportunities for women in athletics. Emme is dedicated to empowering fellow athletes and guiding them towards continuing their athletic careers at the next level.

Tyrome Sweet

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Tyrome Sweet earned a Doctoral and Master’s degree in Quantitative and Systems Biology from the University of California Merced and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Benedict College. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in Emory University’s School of Nursing and School of Medicine. Tyrome has been tutoring, mentoring, and teaching students (K-graduate school) in STEM, career development, and academic development for over twelve years. He worked as a Teaching Fellow and Teaching Assistant at UC Merced for Bioinformatics, Statistics, Calculus 1 and 2, and Programming. Tyrome’s journey also includes over a decade of experience as a Software and Systems Engineer for companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, Raytheon, Samsung, and IBM. He aspires to be an associate professor, and has an immense passion for helping students grow and reach their next milestone.

Chloe Budakian

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTOR

Chloe is a Directed Studies student and Humanities major at Yale University, where she writes for Yale’s New Journal and the Yale Daily News. Chloe has also taken classes in Academic Writing and Writing in the Social Sciences at the Harvard Extension School. Her creative writing has been published in international teen literary magazines and she has won several local writing competitions. Chloe comes to us with years of teaching experience. She ran a regional literacy program for over 1000 students, working one-on-one with about 130 of them. She then went on to lead a local literacy program for students in underserved schools. She currently teaches English as a Second Language classes and mentors New Haven Public School juniors and seniors as they apply for college. As a (very rusty) former competitive figure skater, Chloe skates on the Yale figure skating team. In her free time, you can find her in local coffee shops around New Haven as she tries to justify purchasing another $6 latte.

Kaeden Carroll

COLLEGE MATCHING, DEVELOPMENT, & APPLICATION COACH

Kaeden Carroll lived in Trinidad, Ecuador, India, and the Philippines where he attended independent international schools before accepting an offer of admission from Wesleyan University. In high school, he earned an International Baccalaureate diploma and took Advanced Placement and General Certificate of Secondary Education coursework. At Wesleyan, Kaeden majored in history and Environmental Studies, then earned an EdM in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Boston University. After working in admissions at Simmons University and Penn State University, Kaeden joined Philadelphia Futures as the Director of College Counseling. Kaeden brings a decade of knowledge from both sides of the desk to holistically advise students on the full scope of their college process. Kaeden lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two cats, where he is an avid cyclist and cinephile.