About Us

Mandee Heller Adler is a renowned college counseling expert, a Certified Educational Planner, and the founder of International College Counselors. She is known through her work with high school students and her fast-selling books: “From Public School to the Ivy League: How to get into a top school without top dollar resources,” “International Admissions: How to get accepted to U.S. Colleges,” and “To University and Beyond: Launch your career in high gear.” She is regularly featured in US News and World Report and has also been featured in dozens of other newspapers, magazines, radio and television programs, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo!Parenting, Money, NBC News, and FOX Business News.

Since high school, Mandee has shown a true commitment to education. Attending the University of Pennsylvania, she was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and graduated with honors and two degrees — one from the Wharton School and one from the College of Arts and Sciences. She also earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was selected as a Class Day Speaker. Additionally, she studied at ICADE, a premier business school located in Madrid, Spain after receiving a fellowship from Rotary International.

Her many community-related activities include serving on the Executive Board of the Penn Fund and volunteering for 13 years as an alumni interviewer for the school. She was also president of the Penn Gold Coast Alumni Association, representing Broward and Palm Beach Counties. Mandee is her Harvard Business School Section Fundraising Chair and has served or currently serves on the boards of the following organizations: the Memorial Healthcare System Foundation, the Florida Youth Orchestra, the Lynn University Admissions Advisory Council, the Jewish Federation of Broward Women’s Philanthropy Committee, and the Pine Crest School Family Association. Mandee is a proud parent and supporter of Pine Crest School, but does not personally work with Pine Crest students.

Prior to starting International College Counselors, Mandee worked as an investment banker for Goldman, Sachs & Co in New York. She later co-founded HerDollar, Inc, which she sold to Siebert Financial Corp (NASDAQ: SIEB) in October of 2000, and served as EVP and COO of Women’s Financial Network at Siebert, a fully operational national discount brokerage focused on women.

Offices: Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach, FL; virtual clients
Certified Educational Planner
Memberships: IECA, NACAC, SACAC, and HECA

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Barry N. Liebowitz is the managing partner and CFO of International College Counselors. For 15 years, Barry has been assisting students gain admission to the colleges of their dreams. He is a Certified Educational Planner, a board certification awarded only to individuals who demonstrate the highest level of professional standards in educational planning. Barry has a knack for finding the right fit colleges for students, from scholar-athletes to performance arts majors. He has personally visited over 200 colleges and universities in order to help students and their families prepare for college, and frequently speaks with admissions officers to learn what they’re looking for. His students have gained acceptances into more than 100 colleges, including Ivy League and highly selective schools, liberal arts colleges, and state universities. With families, he is known for his vast knowledge, patience, attention to details, humor and constant encouragement. He served as the Director of College Counseling and later as a consultant to Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton for over five years, and was instrumental in more than doubling the size of its high school, in large part to the students’ college admission successes.

Barry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with minors in history and journalism from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He was a high school and college student-athlete who played baseball and basketball and enjoys working with student-athletes as they strive to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Prior to his work with International College Counselors, Barry spent 10 years as a Marketing and Sales Director in New York City. Barry is a member of the South Florida Chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), a member of the Mt. Sinai Medical Center Foundation Young Presidents Club, and was an inaugural member of the Jewish Federation of Broward County Horizon’s Leadership Program. He was named a recipient of the South Florida Movers & Shakers Award by Business Leader Magazine for his extensive community involvement, charity work and leadership skills.

Offices: Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton, FL; virtual clients
Certified Educational Planner
Memberships: IECA, NACAC, SACAC, and HECA

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Gabriel Bradley is an educator and dramatic artist who has worked in both fields concurrently for the past seven years. Gabe now serves as an Administrative Assistant at International College Counselors, and uses the insights and skills he’s gained throughout his life and education to help students and parents. As an actor and writer, Gabe has a unique ability to empathize and step into the shoes of others, heightening his ability as a listener and a collaborator. He welcomes the new perspectives and experiences his students offer. Teaching and counseling remain vital to his professional and personal growth as they give him a chance to be an active contributor in the fields he loves.

Before earning his BFA in Acting from SUNY Purchase, Gabe discovered a love for relaying his passion for the arts while working with students at Choate Rosemary Hall’s K-12 Summer Program. After five summers, he moved on to a more specialized position in education, working for a globally connected college consulting service. He toiled as a writing counselor, assisting undergraduate and graduate candidates gain admission to some the most renowned colleges and universities. He also worked in China, helping students there with college admissions.

Gabe’s theater credits include acting in Columbia’s MFA Playwriting Showcase, portraying characters in staged readings at Manhattan’s The Tank theater. He also joined Connecticut Compass Theater Company’s 2018 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Gabe is active in film, continuing to audition and write.

Danielle Garner serves as the Administrative Assistant for International College Counselors. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Miami with majors in English and Visual Journalism and minors in Art and Music Performance. During her time at the University of Miami, she was awarded Departmental Honors in Creative Writing for completing a Senior Honors Thesis. Danielle has worked in the field of marketing and content creation and has also advanced administrative experience at the university level, having operated as a Student Supervisor for three years in the Department of Wellness and Recreation at the University of Miami. Danielle began her career in education at Abundant Life Christian Academy, where she served as a substitute teacher. Her experience working with students at the college and secondary levels has given her a passion for education and for empowering students to discover their potential.

Aimee Heller serves as the Director of Communications for International College Counselors and the Chief Operating Officer of Edit the Work. She is an award-winning advertising copywriter who knows how to best showcase a student’s unique achievements, personality and passion in 650 words or less (or more if the essay requirements specify). For 25 years, she worked in New York on a number of accounts including Coca-Cola, IKEA, The History Channel and Moët & Chandon. She also wrote for major news outlets including CBS and The Miami Herald. Aimee graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in communications and has a Master’s degree in education from City College of New York. She has worked with students in high schools and boarding schools throughout the United States, helping them attain stellar results with colleges, graduate schools, summer programs and scholarships.

Cheree Liebowitz serves as the COO for International College Counselors and oversees the Marketing, Human Resources, and the South Florida PreK-12 Educational Advising. Cheree is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of experience in the key areas of strategic planning, customer relationships, and business development. Prior to joining International College Counselors, Cheree was the Director of Marketing at Special Needs Group and a Senior Account Executive at Ogilvy. She is very involved in education in South Florida and was the School Advisory Forum Chair and Gifted Advisory Council liaison for Beachside Montessori Village in Hollywood for numerous years. She has also served on the City of Hollywood Education Advisory Committee since 2013 and holds the position of Vice-Chair of the committee. Cheree has an extensive experiential and event planning background and has created and produced events for American Express, Motorola, GE, IBM, AARP The Magazine, Major League Baseball, and the American Cancer Society. Cheree graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a minor in business while enrolled in the school’s Honors Program. She also holds a certificate in sports marketing from New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Lindsey Maharaj serves as the Managing Director of Counselor & Client Relations for International College Counselors. Since starting with ICC in 2011, Lindsey has worked with students and families through all facets of the admissions process in addition to training new advisors to our counseling team. Lindsey manages ICC’s counseling staff throughout the U.S. and internationally, overseeing their efforts with hundreds of students.

Prior to joining ICC, Lindsey served as an elementary reading specialist within the Miami Dade County Public Schools, where she worked with students grades K-5 on basic reading and verbal skills. She later worked as Assistant Director of the Huntington Learning Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where she met with families and coordinated learning solutions for students ages 4-18. After discovering a particular love for guiding high school students through the admissions process, she joined ICC, and the rest is history.

Lindsey grew up in South Florida and is a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Miami, where she was awarded the prestigious Trustee and MALS Scholarships. A lifelong fan of changing seasons, Lindsey recently left the Sunshine State for the Northeast, where she now works out of ICC’s Westport, CT and New York, NY offices.

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Alexis Metz serves as an Administrative Assistant for International College Counselors. She graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. At Miami University, Alexis was awarded the Prodesse Scholarship in the Humanities and participated in the University Academic Scholars Program as a first-year undergraduate. As a sophomore, Alexis was nominated from a select group of undergraduates to work as a writing consultant at the university-run Howe Center for Writing Excellence. During her tenure as a writing consultant, Alexis began to hone her skills as a writing tutor, guiding both undergraduate and graduate students through the writing and editing processes. Through her work at the writing center, Alexis developed a passion for helping students become successful, confident writers.

Beth Barteletti has the inside scoop on admissions; she’s been in the profession since 1998. Over the course of 14 years, Beth evaluated more than 10,000 applications for undergraduate admission to Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and rose to the position of Senior Associate Dean of Admission. Her job included managing the first-year and transfer application reading processes and interviewing students from all over the U.S. (particularly the San Francisco Bay Area). She understands just what an individual application and the accompanying essay must contain to be seriously considered by selective colleges. After Reed, Beth guided dozens of students to elite colleges all over the United States as a college advisor at one of the top private high schools in the nation, American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. She joined International College Counselors in 2017, incorporating her “inside perspective” for each admissions adventure. She uses her entire set of skills to position her student clients on the best path to their future.

Beth has a natural gift for the written word. While at Reed, Beth taught admission essay writing classes at Saturday Academy; she was also a staff writer and copy editor on her high school and college newspapers. She enjoys working with students to identify their stories and ensure that they’re well-told, authentic, compelling, and error-free. For Beth, humor is an important part of the college application journey. She understands well the stress associated with the college admission process and works to keep things lighthearted as she helps families navigate through the maze.

A native of Miami, Beth earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations from the University of Dayton (where she was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta and Golden Key National Honor Society) and a master’s and specialist’s degree in school guidance and counseling from the University of Florida. She began her educational career as a school counselor at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. She has visited more than 80 colleges and universities in the U.S. and completed the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions in 2007.

Offices: Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, FL; virtual clients
Memberships: IECA, NACAC

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Dr. Lourdes Martinez Cowgill has had a long and successful career with more than 50 years in the field of education. For 15 years prior to joining International College Counselors, Lourdes served as president of Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, one of the top private college preparatory schools in the United States. Over the span of her 38 years at Pine Crest, Lourdes learned everything there is to know about crafting the ideal high school career. Her unique perspective comes from working in a variety of positions, including Headmistress, Director of Curriculum, Foreign Language Department Chair, and College Counselor. In her latter role, she provided one-on-one support for students including Presidential Scholars, National Merit Scholars, scholar-athletes, visual and performing arts majors, Ivy League-bound applicants, and many others.

Lourdes’ leadership positions on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Board, National Merit Corporation Advisory Council and Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Board of Trustees offer families insight into standardized testing and the role it plays in selective college admissions. Recognized as an authority on testing, she was a member and Chair of the Spanish Achievement Test (Spanish SAT II) and presenter for Spanish AP workshops in the Southern region. Dr. Cowgill earned her B.A. from Barry University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College. Her passion for helping others led her to earn a master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University where she studied advanced teaching techniques and learned how to maximize student learning. Lourdes joined International College Counselors in 2012.

Languages: English and Spanish
Offices: Boca Raton and Ft. Lauderdale, FL; virtual clients
Memberships: IECA

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Hans Evers has worked in higher education for over 30 years. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of admissions at conferences all over the world, and his experience includes senior positions in college admissions in the U.S. and Europe.

After completing high school in the Netherlands, Hans received his Bachelor’s degree from Occidental College in California and a master’s degree from Tufts University in Massachusetts. Later, Hans began his career in the admission offices of highly selective colleges including Tufts University/SMFA, Massachusetts College of Art, and the Maryland Institute College of Art. He supervised all aspects of undergraduate admissions, including transfer and international admissions, for 13 years.

Moving to Miami, Hans served as the Director of College Advising (CAP Advisor), as well as an educator for AP-level coursework at Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH), which during Hans’ tenure was ranked by US News and World Report as one of the top 15 high schools in the country. Hans uniquely combines his strengths as an educator and competitive athlete (runner and sailor) to strategically advise students on college selection, internships, summer programs, and volunteer opportunities to reveal their unique nature, talents, and passions in the strongest possible light. Additionally, he worked as an adjunct faculty member at Florida International University for two years and most recently served as an adjunct faculty member at the New World School of the Arts in Miami. Hans also founded an international portfolio review forum where students can have their art portfolios reviewed by top colleges. He worked for a design college in Mexico and was instrumental in the creation and management of a start-up school in China.

At International College Counselors Hans’ vast admissions expertise makes him a wonderful fit for students of all backgrounds, helping them to take a creative approach to produce unique applications that will stand out at even the most selective colleges and universities.

Languages: English and Dutch
Offices: Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, FL; virtual clients
Memberships: IECA, NACAC

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Andrea Rubin Graziano knows how to weave a good story and polish it into a great application. Following her graduation from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she started racking up awards as a reporter, writer and editor. A few years ago, she also began working with high school students, brainstorming, crafting, and editing their college admissions essays. She found her skills in interviewing and writing invaluable when helping students on their admissions essays. Now, as a director of college counseling, she works with diverse students to build a captivating high school story, from courses to experiences. Her expertise includes undergraduate, graduate, and boarding school admissions. Andrea guides students in selecting the best academic institution for them based on their academic credentials, personality, outside interests, and long-term career goals. She provides students with expert choice evaluation, interview coaching and essay analysis, which in turn increases their odds for acceptance in a highly competitive admissions market.

Before joining International College Counselors, Andrea was the Chief Content Officer for Daily Voice, a network of hyper local news sites covering New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She was also a trainer and consultant for TAPInto, an online network of local news websites, working closely with young writers to help them improve their skills.

Andrea graduated with honors from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and received a Master’s Degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Currently, she is shepherding her own two children through the college admissions process.

Office: Westport, Connecticut; virtual clients
Memberships: IECA, NACAC

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Andy Greenspan spent his professional life interviewing, writing and communicating for television, secondary schools, and colleges. For his work as a journalist, Andy has received broadcast journalism’s most prestigious national honors: the DuPont-Columbia, Emmy, and George Foster Peabody awards. Using his talents and skills, he knows how to make students distinctive through expert guidance and storytelling. He understands how trajectory established as a high school student can have a long-range impact. As a college counselor, Andy sees students as individuals, helping them understand options, make good choices and complete the application process successfully. He makes sense of the many options based on a student’s interests, abilities, and achievements in and out of class.

Andy is very familiar with college admissions. In the field of education, he consulted with more than 30 schools, including Princeton, Yale, the University of Chicago, Duke, Carleton, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Smith, assisting with their applicant outreach efforts. Most apt, he has spent time as an independent college admissions counselor, aiding families in navigating the college admissions process to highly successful outcomes. Within his own family, he guided his two sons into Columbia and the University of Richmond.

He graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in political science and from Northwestern University with an M.S. in journalism. Maintaining his ties with Columbia, Andy was an alumni interviewer for Columbia before starting work full-time as an independent college advisor.

Offices: Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach, FL; virtual clients
Memberships: IECA, NACAC

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Nicole Jobson Since 2000, Nicole has advocated for students in nearly every facet of education: as an independent educational consultant, founder and academic director of a private school, special needs educator, and homeschooling parent. She relishes the role of creating future opportunities for students by expanding their awareness of possibilities and by directing their attention to meaningful engagement. Her focus on leading with one’s strengths has led her students to acceptance in some of the most competitive colleges in the country.

For over 10 years, Nicole has worked as a college and graduate school advisor, which has gifted her the uncommon insight needed to help a diverse range of students. Nicole was chosen for her deep experience with gifted students to present on the topic of college admissions for gifted students for the Florida Association for the Gifted, Broward Gifted Advisory Council, and IMACS (Institute for Math and Computer Science). Her time working at the Dan Marino Foundation has also made her an exceptional fit for students with special needs and IEPs.

A graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and obtained her Master of Science in education from Nova Southeastern University, majoring in brain-based teaching and learning. Nicole further advanced her education with a Certificate in College Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. Nicole’s strong science background has been advantageous in guiding STEM students to the schools of their dreams. Her specialties in this area include program matches, internships, and specialized summer programs.

Nicole has always been active in the community. She is a board member of the South Florida Terps Alumni Association, a board member of the Friends of the Young at Art Library, and a Silver Star member (25+ years) of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She is a proud native of Pennsylvania who currently resides in Weston, Florida, and is the mother of four wonderful children.

Offices: Ft. Lauderdale and Weston, FL; virtual clients
Memberships: IECA, NACAC

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Kerri Medina has worked in undergraduate and graduate school admissions since 2001. With an insider’s understanding, Kerri makes what may seems mysterious more predictable and brings what seems impossible within reach.

Prior to joining International College Counselors, Kerri worked for Miami Dade County Public schools for 11 years. She served as a College Assistance Program (CAP) Advisor at one of Miami Dade County’s largest high schools where she fulfilled thousands of students’ postsecondary dreams, assisting them in the college application, scholarship search, and financial aid processes. She also expanded her knowledge about resume-building opportunities available for high school students while serving as the program coordinator of The Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program in 54 public high schools.

As as an independent educational consultant, Kerri has helped students gain admission to graduate schools including business school, medical school, law school, PhD programs, master’s programs, and other graduate programs. The breadth of her experience makes her a highly desirable resource for students and their families who have the determination to find a good fit at the best possible college.

Guiding students through admissions essay writing is no problem for Kerri who is certified by the state of Florida to teach English Grades 6-12 and is ESOL endorsed. Her strong leadership skills and talents have served the Education Advisory Board of the Town of Cutler Bay and the Shane Battier Take Charge Foundation where she volunteers, helping underprivileged students achieve their college dreams. Kerri also understands the admissions process from a parent’s perspective, having guided her son who received a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music. Kerri is extremely passionate about college counseling and loves helping students (and parents) get from where they are, to where they want to be. Kerri has been with ICC since 2013.

Languages: English and Spanish
Office: Raleigh, North Carolina; virtual clients
Memberships: IECA, NACAC

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Jon Megerian began his college advising career as a college admissions officer at Brandeis University. As an admissions officer, he read thousands of applications and traveled around the country to high schools and college fairs. After several years at Brandeis, Jon left to pursue a graduate degree at Johns Hopkins University. At Hopkins, he worked his way up from a teaching assistant to an instructor. Throughout this time, he also served on several editorial boards and privately counseled high school students on how to craft compelling applications. Jon’s nearly ten years of experience working in academia, as well as his experience in admissions at one of the most selective schools in the nation, has provided proven insight into what colleges are looking for in applicants.

Jon loves working with students and parents to navigate the college admissions process. He particularly enjoys working with students and parents to maximize their extracurricular engagements, shape their essays, and sketch out optimal high school curricula. Jon has experience with a range of students, including STEM, humanities and musical theatre majors, as well as athletes. Families appreciate Jon’s exceptional rapport with students, his creativity, humor, and ability to get great results.

Jon earned a full four-year academic scholarship to Brandeis University. He graduated from the school summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. He then earned a master’s degree in history from Johns Hopkins University. Originally from Boston, Jon currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland. For fun, Jon enjoys working out and cooking, and is an avid reader. In his free time Jon hosts a podcast in which he interviews authors of new and exciting books about history.

Office: Baltimore, Maryland; virtual clients

Susan Moldow has 25+ years of experience in education, including teaching and working extensively as a college consultant, academic coach, and interviewer for Cornell University admissions. Susan’s passion for bringing out the best in her students – combined with her coaching expertise – makes her especially adept at taking the stress and fear out of the college admissions process. She has helped hundreds of students realize their educational aspirations and gain admission to undergraduate and graduate programs in the United States. A graduate of Cornell University (B.S.), the University of Maryland (M.Ed.), and Florida Atlantic University (M.A. in English) as well as a current student pursuing a dual PhD in Literature and Women and Gender Studies, Susan is knowledgeable about the college admissions process both from her experience helping students and from her own educational journey.

Prior to her work with International College Counselors, Susan founded and ran her own educational consulting business. She specialized in maximizing her partnerships with families and students to empower and motivate students to grow their academic abilities with an eye to college admission success. Her expertise includes helping students choose optimal academic secondary courses, identifying summer and extra-curricular activities that fit with their organic interests, building resumes, helping students with their social media footprints, and arranging and preparing students for college visits and interviews. Susan also has extensive writing experience which helps her brainstorm and edit students’ essays and personal statements. Before opening her educational consulting business, Susan was a secondary education teacher. She also taught classes for the Princeton Review, a nationwide test preparation organization. Susan received the Superintendent’s Certificate of Recognition for outstanding teacher performance in Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools.

Offices: Boca Raton, FL; virtual clients

Jillian Nataupsky is known for her proven leadership in the college counseling and college admissions community. Since entering the profession over 11 years ago, she has been an active member of many regional and national college counseling organizations, including the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools. She has been selected to present at numerous national conferences, sharing her expertise about competitive college admissions and how to best support students throughout the admissions process.

She has served as the Associate Director of College Counseling at two prestigious boarding schools known for their college placement, Western Reserve Academy and Mercersburg Academy. She wore many hats at both schools, including coordinating and overseeing standardized testing, serving on the History Department faculty, and living in the dorms. Over the years, Jillian has guided the admissions of hundreds of students to the most competitive colleges, including all of the Ivy League schools, Duke, Stanford, MIT, and Cal Tech, to name a few.

Before “switching sides of the desk,” Jillian worked in admissions at Connecticut College and Ursinus College. For both schools, Jillian read and reviewed applications, attended committee meetings for student selection, interviewed students, and participated in all student outreach. Her knowledge of the inner workings of college admissions makes her one of the most coveted members of our team!

Jillian’s involvement in higher education and college admissions throughout her entire career allows her to know what colleges are looking for – students that will make an impact on college campuses. Having read thousands of college essays, Jillian is able to effectively help students represent themselves authentically through their writing, while showcasing their talents and abilities at the same time. She loves helping families through this process, ultimately making it more manageable, less stressful, and incredibly rewarding in the end.

After graduating from Connecticut College with degrees in American Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies, Jillian earned her Master’s in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Gratz College in Pennsylvania. In addition to her work with International College Counselors, Jillian remains an outside application reader for a competitive college.

Offices: Cleveland, Ohio; virtual clients

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Mary Simon is a National Board Certified Counselor and has over 16 years of experience in college admissions counseling. She has worked in top public high schools across the country including: Boston, MA, New Orleans, LA, Philadelphia, PA and San Diego, CA. Prior to joining International College Counselors, Mary served as the Director of College Counseling at a top ranked public charter school. Over the years, she has assisted students in obtaining admission to some of the most elite colleges in the country, including all of the Ivy League schools, Duke, Stanford, University of Chicago, Cal Tech, MIT, and Johns Hopkins to name a few.

Mary grew up in Long Island, NY. She attended Pennsylvania State University for undergrad and obtained her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Business. She then attended graduate school at Villanova University and obtained an M.S. in Counseling, specializing in K-12 counseling. In 2011, Mary was recognized as a Distinguished Counselor by Boston Public Schools. She received a full scholarship that year to attend the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions. In 2019, Mary was recognized by the College Board as a Distinguished Counselor while serving as a College Counselor at Benjamin Franklin High School in Louisiana. She was the only counselor in the state to receive this recognition.
Mary has worked with a diverse population of students over the years and has helped them navigate the complex college application and admissions process. She is passionate about helping students to identify their dreams and achieve them. Mary works tirelessly to help her students find the college that is the best fit for them and gain admission.

Recently, Mary relocated to Florida and is now a resident of the wonderful Sunshine State. She is settling down in the Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area and works with local students and families, in addition to virtual clients.

Office: Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL; virtual clients
Memberships: SACAC, NACAC

Nancy Rones Zolotorofe loves working with students from around the world to clearly identify the best course toward realizing their individualized college goals. Families overwhelmed by the admissions process consistently applaud the patient, nonjudgmental, and down-to-earth approach Nancy takes in expertly guiding them. Nancy masterfully works with all types of students: those with top grades and scores who need the extra push to gain acceptance into highly selective schools, including Ivy League colleges, CalTech, and UNC Chapel Hill, as well as those who need a little extra encouragement and confidence to maximize strengths and reach their full academic potential. Every one of her students thrives on her genuine belief in them.

Prior to joining International College Counselors, Nancy spent two decades working as a highly sought-after, award-winning writer and editor for top national magazine brands in New York City, such as Parents, Marie Claire, and Real Simple. She leveraged her sharp, creative editorial skills to support students of all writing abilities craft standout essays that improve their chances of acceptance. Nancy also draws on her years of reporting to prepare students for interviews with admissions reps.

She graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a major in political science and minor in journalism. On campus, Nancy was a founding member of Stony Brook’s Golden Key International Honour Society. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nancy is a member of SACAC. She also serves as a subcommittee chair for Shalom Park Freedom School, a literacy enrichment program for underserved children, and volunteers with the Isabella Santos Foundation. This mother of two teens understands how overwhelming the college admissions process can be, and enjoys making the road for families less stressful—and more exciting.

Office: Charlotte, North Carolina; virtual clients
Memberships: SACAC, NACAC

Pablo Botero serves as the Director of International Outreach in Colombia and Mexico. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Harvard University. At Harvard, Pablo was the Vice-President of the Latin American Students Association. Prior to attending Harvard, he volunteered to serve with the Colombian Army and was stationed in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt with the Multinational Force & Observers; an independent, international peacekeeping organization. Before representing ICC in Colombia, Pablo was Private Secretary to Colombia’s Minister of Finance at that time. He is currently a board member of the Harvard Club in Colombia and is involved in several educational and technological initiatives in his home country.

Elizabeth Verna de Briceno serves as the Director of Field Operations in Venezuela. Ely has more than 20 years experience in education. Along with her work at International College Counselors, she serves as the Editor of Aldea Educativa Magazine, an educational Spanish Magazine in South Florida, and the Promoter and Owner of the magazine’s website. She also serves as a Spanish instructor at Broward College, where she has taught for the last five years. Previously, Ely served as the Director of New Programs and the Curriculum Coordinator at American Preparatory Academy in Davie, FL. She also served as the Director of Foreign Languages at Lingua Language Center in Weston, FL. Ely has extensive writing experience. She has authored and co-authored several books, publications and articles in education and law. Ely graduated from the Universidad Central de Venezuela with a Law Degree and the Universite’ de Droit, D’edonomie et de Sciences Sociales de Paris with a Masters Degree in International Law. Ely spends her time between Florida and Venezuela and is fluent in Spanish, French, Creole and English.

Claudia Valdez serves as a College Advisor and Director of Field Operations in Peru. Claudia holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Entrepreneurial Studies from Babson College where she graduated magna cum laude and with academic honors when submitting her thesis, “The Peruvian Agrarian Reform of 1969: The Case of Cotton.” Claudia is a few courses away from receiving her Independent Educational Consulting Certificate through the University of California, Irvine. Claudia began college advising when her two oldest children needed assistance with the college admissions process. She helped them with everything from college lists to essays, and learned how complicated but gratifying, the college admissions process can be. Prior to joining International College Counselors, Claudia worked as a brand manager for Nabisco, as a financial analyst for Citibank, and most recently as the co-founder of Candles y Aromas SAC, importing and distributing candles and toiletries in the Peruvian market. She was a member of the Board of Directors at Asociación Educacional Británica and a member of the PTA of Markham College. She is currently actively involved in the San Siivestre School PTA. Claudia is the mother of four wonderful children. She looks forward to helping more families go through the college admissions process in a happy and enjoyable way.

Languages: English and Spanish
Memberships: IECA