LAURA
College Advisor

EDUCATION
Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration
Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, B.S. in Human and Organizational Development (second major in English Literature)

ADMISSIONS EXPERIENCE
Vanderbilt University, Senior Admissions Counselor

Laura first became intrigued with the college admissions process during her own college search. What started out as a personal experience—reflecting on her interests, aspirations and values, and how those qualities would be best supported and actualized in the form of a college experience—later translated into a career helping students to do the same, albeit with more sophisticated technology!

At Vanderbilt, Laura studied adolescent and educational psychology, community leadership development, and college access initiatives. She also co-taught a freshman seminar and served as practicum student for Vanderbilt’s Office of Undergraduate Admission, where she went on to work as an admissions counselor.

For the next half decade, Laura recruited thousands of students from eleven different states—including California, Alaska, Washington, New York and Tennessee—and evaluated just as many files. She also served on Vanderbilt’s multicultural task force, initiating two new programs that recruited and yielded a greater diversity of students.

Laura then “switched sides of the desk,” serving as a Senior Associate Director of College Counseling at an independent school in Atlanta. Over seven years, she counseled more than 200 students and families, sharing valuable information about the college-going landscape, assisting in building personalized college lists, and helping students narrate their unique stories and experiences through their applications. Laura served as a liaison to both the Admissions and Multicultural offices, managed various undergraduate scholarship nominations, led the office’s College Essay Workshop, and founded an annual Parent Book Club.

Throughout her career, Laura has presented at multiple conferences and has toured over 60 different colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada.

Students working with Laura can expect a thoughtful, detail-oriented and intentional College Advisor. Laura appreciates getting to develop meaningful relationships with students and their families and is an ardent believer that the college-going process is just as much about self-discovery, self-advocacy and skill building as it is about finding a best fit college—of which there is never just one!

In her free time, you’ll find Laura hiking, reading, catching a yoga class, or playing with Smoky, her and her husband’s spirited and energetic pup.

Favorite Place to Study An outdoor patio, preferably somewhere I can see the trees and hear the birds

Hidden Talent Mini golf pro

Senior Superlative Most Likely to Match (I love patterns and colors and pairing them together in unique and creative ways)

Offerings

College Prep

College Advising