Working With Joan

I am also a leader in my profession. As a former Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of the leading professional association, the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), I’ve been on the frontlines of developing the highest ethical standards and best practices for our profession. For the past decade, I have been honored to serve as one of eight faculty members at IECA’s Summer Training Institute – the gateway “boot camp” for Independent Educational Consultants in the US. For seven years, I also served as a faculty instructor for the University of California, Irvine’s Certificate program for Independent Educational Consultants. I’ve taught hundreds of people who have subsequently become successful Independent Educational Consultants. I remain committed to my own continuing education by attending and serving on panels at regional and national conferences and sharing the podium with Deans of Admissions. An active member of the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC) and Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counselors (PACAC), I maintain vital conversations with high school guidance counselors and admissions officers at colleges and universities alike.

But of course, translating all of these experiences into expertise for you and your family is always my top professional priority. Outside the office, I devote over 20% of my time visiting over 500 college campuses nationwide, meeting with admissions directors, university presidents, students and faculty for your ultimate benefit. With a belief in each student’s voice, an ability to tailor the best “fit”, and a timeline to monitor progress, I commit wholeheartedly to helping you meet your application goals. Ultimately, I maintain that your application should mirror your application process: both should be fun.

I remain committed to giving back and sharing my expertise with underserved and first-generation college-bound students for whom the college admissions process can be particularly daunting. I am a founding volunteer member of former Mayor Michael Nutter’s initiative, PhillyGoes2College, and conducted and participated in workshops for the Delaware County College Access Center, JHU’s Center for Talented Youth, and The Steppingstone Foundation. As a member of the Forum of Executive Women, I worked with Girls Inc. to introduce girls and young women in Philadelphia’s public and charter schools to the college process and financial aid.

When not brainstorming essay ideas or going for walks with the unofficial Academic Access mascot—my soft coated Wheaten terrier, Finn—I hunt vintage Americana treasures to add to my collection. I love trying out Ottolenghi recipes for festive dinners when my three children return home for the holidays. My husband, Seth and I explore the world’s diverse wonders from snowmobiling atop glaciers in Iceland to floating on a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala India.