Who we are

About Katie

When I was searching for colleges as a teen myself, I was armed with two pieces of advice: avoid schools with TAs and check the school bathrooms for toilet paper. The state of the restrooms, I was assured, would tell you all you needed to know about the financial state of the school, on the theory that the maintenance budget was always the first to be cut. 

The problem was that all the bathrooms I visited were well-stocked, and I wasn't really sure why TAs were bad, which made it a little awkward when I finally became one myself. 

I needed a guide, someone who'd been through the process, could explain what TAs were, how to actually vet a school's financial health, and knew which application items really were optional and which should be completed even though it says optional. 

I did successfully muddle my way through the applications and ended up at a wonderful college for me, earning a B.A. in Creative Writing at Hamilton College. By that point, learning was in my blood, so I went on to earn an M.A. from Fordham University, and finally a doctorate of history from UC Santa Barbara. 

In California, I learned something new about myself—I really like thinking up new and creative ways to share knowledge with others and help them grow their own thinking and understanding of themselves and the world.

My professional life has centered on teaching teens and young adults, first through lessons grounded in ancient and medieval history, and eventually through the college admissions work of searching for the right college fit and discovering one’s own unique story. 

I believe strongly that everyone deserves access to quality information about how to get to college. There should be more information-givers than gatekeepers. This is why I volunteer with ScholarMatch, a nonprofit dedicated to coaching first-generation and low-income students through college admissions, and it is why ongoing professional development is a key part of my practice. I keep up with the latest research and best practices through courses, webinars, podcasts, books, and journal articles, professional conferences, and visits to college campuses so that you don’t have to!

Outside of work, I am a reading fanatic and nature-lover. I love hiking and snowshoeing in all sorts of weather. I live in Metrowest Boston on the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border with two dogs, a handful of chickens, a husband, and three daughters.