Meet Our Team
Jennifer L.
Managing Admissions CounselorJennifer has over 15 years of experience counseling high school and college students. She is a UCLA certified college admissions counselor with extensive experience guiding high school students through all elements of the career planning and college admissions counseling process. She has successfully mentored IvyBoost students who have matriculated to highly selective colleges including the Ivy League schools and top UCs. She is warm, patient, responsible and favored by students and parents. Jennifer started her career with higher education administration experience at Barnard College, and then established her leadership by serving as the Associate Director of Academic Advising in the Study Abroad Office at UNC Chapel Hill, as well as an academic advisor and program director at the Undergraduate College at the Stern School of Business of NYU. Jennifer holds a Master in Higher Education Administration from the University of Tennessee, She was a student- athlete and earned her degree in Economics from the University of Puget Sound. She also studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She grew up in the Bay Area and has lived in the Mountain View/Los Altos area for over 17 years. She has three children in college and high school. During her free time, Jennifer enjoys running, hiking, traveling, visiting family and friends, as well as spending time with her children.
Dr. Sarah M.
Admissions Counselor & Essay MentorSarah has over ten years’ experience teaching high school and college students. She first began mentoring college applicants when she was an undergraduate at Vassar. She went on to get at an MPhil at the University of Cambridge, and then returned to mentoring when she began her PhD in the History Department at Princeton. There she also worked with many Princeton undergraduates on study abroad and graduate school applications. Currently Sarah teaches writing part-time at Princeton, while continuing to work one-on-one with college applicants. She has helped many students achieve admission at the world’s most selective schools, including the Ivy League, Stanford, Cambridge, Oxford, and many more. Sarah is passionate about guiding students as they plan their future, and she deeply enjoys working to ensure that students feel confident as they chart their education course and complete their college applications. Sarah is passionate about excellent writing, and deeply enjoys helping students attain their strongest and most polished voices. Writing is a life-long skill that can be difficult to master, and Sarah’s students appreciate her ability to break down complex concepts and give concrete strategies for crafting clear, powerful, and elegant essays—for college applications, and beyond.
Lindsay F.
Admissions CounselorWith over a decade of experience in the education field, Lindsay brings experience, versatility and depth to her role as an independent education consultant. She holds a certificate in college admissions counseling from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in counseling from CSU, Sacramento. Lindsay grew up in the SF Bay Area and graduated from the Mission San Jose High School. Lindsay is currently the director of college counseling for an independent school and previously served as a college counselor at a college preparatory school for young women in Silicon Valley. Lindsay brings experience in college admissions with her admissions roles for Stanford University summer programs and Washington State University. Lindsay enjoys building relationships with students and families while guiding them through the college application process. Her goal is to help students find the best college fit while making the college planning, application process and transition to college as smooth as possible.
Michelle P.
Admissions Counselor & Essay Mentor & AdministratorAs a previous student of Mission San Jose High School and as a college transfer herself, Michelle has over 6 years experience counseling students with the application process to guide students on freshmen, transfer and graduate applications. She has enjoyed working with students by reviewing their college applications and essays and helping them find the strongest ways to express their ideas. She looks forward to using her experiences to encourage and support many other students throughout their journey of college admissions! Michelle is bilingual in Chinese Cantonese. Michelle graduated from UC Berkeley, where she majored in English. Through volunteering with organizations such as WriterCoach Connection, in which she worked with high school students on improving their writing, she gained a greater awareness of students’ different approaches to essay-writing and a greater sense of respect for the students’ diversity of opinions on a single text or topic. She also has experience in reviewing and editing people’s writing through her time as a member of student-run campus publications like Berkeley Fiction Review and Imaginarium. Currently, she also enjoys proofreading pages of e-books to clean up errors in punctuation and spelling to help increase access to public domain books on the site Project Gutenberg. During her free time, Michelle enjoys reading and watching musicals.
Justin B.
Admissions CounselorJustin is a highly experienced and compassionate High School Counselor who brings a wealth of college knowledge with him to IvyBoost. As Head of College Advising Services at a top-performing New Jersey STEM Academy, Justin has counseled more than 500 students over the last 10 years on their journeys to the Ivy League, Accelerated BS/MD Programs and many other top institutions, including Duke, Johns Hopkins & Stanford. Whether it’s completing the Common Application, choosing a major or developing insightful personal statements, Justin is well-versed on navigating the complexities of the college application process. Justin holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University – New Brunswick College of Arts & Sciences, spent a semester abroad at Leiden University in The Netherlands and has a Master’s of Education Degree in School Counseling from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). Justin is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and certificated through Columbia University’s College Advising Program (TC-CAP). Outside of the counseling office, Justin enjoys spending time with his family and friends at the Jersey Shore and never misses a New York Knicks or Las Vegas Raiders game.
Dr. Ziba R.
Admissions CounselorZiba brings over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, STEM education, and student mentoring. She has spearheaded numerous programs designed to equip students for success in academic and research careers. Ziba has successfully mentored thousands of STEM majors, guided students through the nuances of the graduate school application process, and offered counsel on undergraduate research and careers in STEM and health-related fields. She also has extensive experience advising high school and community college students on admissions to top tier universities. Ziba is passionate about helping students navigate their future paths and finds great joy from supporting them in this pursuit. As a fervent advocate of equitable access to education, she is actively engaged in initiatives and programs that support underrepresented minority students. She holds a BS in Biology from UCLA, a PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology from Yale University, and completed her post-doctoral fellowship in Mechanobiology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a published author and recipient of several prestigious grants and competitive fellowships. Beyond her professional achievements, Ziba is dedicated to personal development and engages in mindfulness and meditation practices.
Dr. Abby G.
Admissions CounselorAbby brings a unique blend of real-world and academic mentoring experience to her role as a college and career counselor, with over five years of experience guiding students through their academic and career choices. As a Senior Scientist at Genentech, Abby is involved in pioneering drug development to engineer life-saving therapies. Her academic journey took her from Princeton University, where she studied Chemical Engineering for undergraduate degree, to Stanford University, where she earned her PhD developing biomaterials for drug delivery applications. During her PhD, Abby’s passion for mentoring shone as she guided numerous high school and undergraduate students towards achieving their academic goals. Abby aspires to inspire students to realize their full potential and carve their own unique paths. In her free time, Abby enjoys taking ballet classes (former child performer) and practicing yoga.
Dr. David N.
Admissions CounselorDavid has 20 years of experience as a biomedical scientist and is the founder of a biotech software company specializing in shape analysis for scientific discoveries. He obtained his B.A. in Molecular & Cell Biology from UC Berkeley, and then his Ph.D. in Endocrinology also at UC Berkeley. He was a Visiting Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and then a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine. He has many years of experience as a college admissions consultant and a career mentor, helping hundreds of students get into top schools, including Stanford, Cornell, University of Chicago, UCLA, and UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, NYU, and BU. He enjoys transforming the educational trajectory of young students to become the next generation of movers and shakers. “Create more good guys” is his mentorship motto.
Sophia S.
Admissions CounselorSophia brings over five years of experience in teaching and mentorship and is committed to guiding students pursuing careers in STEM fields. She earned her B.S. in Human Biology & Society from the University of California, Los Angeles, and subsequently obtained her M.S. in Epidemiology and Clinical Research from Stanford University. Currently an MD candidate at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, Sophia is dedicated to supporting students in their academic journeys. Outside of her studies, she enjoys running and traveling.
Dr. Diane N.
Admissions CounselorDiane combines her impressive scientific background with a dedicated commitment to student mentorship and education, particularly in the STEM field. Holding a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, along with a B.S., cum laude, in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University and a B.A. in Mathematics from Georgetown University, Diane’s academic journey is marked by excellence and a multidisciplinary approach. Her expertise has earned her numerous accolades including the Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship and recognition as a STAT Wunderkinds honoree. In addition to her scientific accomplishments, Diane has a profound dedication to mentoring students. With over a decade of experience, she has guided students from high school into colleges like Georgia Tech and the University of Maryland. Her mentorship extends beyond the classroom, encompassing both laboratory and real-world contexts. Her involvement in various research programs has allowed her to mentor students in hands-on, practical settings, providing them with invaluable insights and experiences in the STEM fields. Diane’s commitment to STEM education is further highlighted by her roles on the advisory boards of Roxbury Community College Mathematics Department and the AICHE Henry T. Brown Endowment Fund, where she provides invaluable insights into program development and student support. Her advocacy for diversity in STEM, featured in an interview with Nature, showcases her commitment to inclusive and effective educational strategies. In her free time, Diane enjoys taking long walks through the city and completing DIY projects around the house.
Mia J.
Admissions CounselorMia has over 5 years of experience in admission consulting, specializing in guiding students from diverse backgrounds to achieve admission to top-tier Ivy League colleges. Having grown up in China, Mia possesses a deep understanding of the unique challenges and strengths that students from Chinese backgrounds bring to the college application process. She looks forward to using her expertise to help a broader range of students worldwide. Mia earned dual degrees in Applied Mathematics and Statistics during her undergraduate studies and went on to obtain an MS in Data Science from NYU. She further pursued business studies at Columbia University. Her diverse educational background provides a robust foundation for her analytical approach to college admission. Additionally, her strong background in data science and mathematics gives her a unique advantage in assisting students aspiring to major in STEM fields. Mia’s familiarity with the American education system, combined with her bilingual proficiency in English and Mandarin, allows her to effectively communicate with and support students from Chinese backgrounds and their families. She excels in developing personalized application plans and providing customized guidance throughout the application process. Her dedication and tailored approach have consistently resulted in her students’ successful admissions to top universities. In her leisure time, Mia enjoys cooking and indulging in cuisines from around the world, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops, and traveling.
Tony T.
Admissions Counselor, FounderTony is passionate about education and has 30 years experience in teaching, mentoring, working and counseling. He has mentored many students from the Bay Area and all over the nation, as well as other countries to get into top colleges including Ivy League schools, top UCs and most selective liberal arts colleges. He taught at Fudan University and was a TA in Oregon’s graduate program in his early career. He expanded his interest to technology when he lived in the Silicon Valley and studied web development & relational database along business management, which helped him work in Webex Communications and Cisco Systems, and his own Web 2.0 start-up before IvyBoost Education. Tony is certified on Career Planning and College Admissions Counseling by UC Berkeley. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Fudan University and Master’s degree from the University of Oregon. Tony is currently a member of WACAC (Western Association for College Admission Counseling) and NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling). Tony developed a six-module planning curriculum for college admissions, which includes a lot of his learning, research and experience over secondary and college curriculums, standardized tests, extra-curriculums, career planning and college financing. He has visited many colleges and secondary schools in the US and abroad. Tony is bilingual in Mandarin Chinese. In his spare time, Tony likes jogging, biking, skiing and golf. He loves to travel with his family and play games and sports with his children. He is a fan of college football and NBA.
Dr. Kathleen M.
Essay MentorKathleen is a retired English professor with over 20 years of experience teaching writing and literature courses to first year through Master’s level students. Her love of nineteenth-century British literature is offset by her interest in student writing and mentoring students on research projects from English to Communications. She loves helping students gather their thoughts, make a plan, and create a beautifully crafted essay. Kathleen holds a Ph.D in English from Purdue University, but started her education journey with a BA from UC Santa Barbara and an MA from CSU Long Beach. She is happy to have returned to California and is enjoying walking by the beach frequently. In her spare time, Kathleen enjoys baking cookies and reading detective novels.
Dr. Lan N.
Essay MentorLan brings over 10 years of experience in the field of education, including college admissions consulting, teaching, and academic research. She has taught writing in high school, university writing seminars, and after school programs. As a published author, Lan has co-written numerous academic journal articles and has contributed to edited volumes. Given her belief that everyone has a unique story to tell, she is driven to help students present themselves through their writing. She helped many students get into Ivy League/top ranked colleges. Lan holds a Ph.D. in Reading/Writing/Literacy from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Columbia University, and a BA in Economics from Stanford University.
Charlene H.
Essay MentorAs a Writing M.F.A. Candidate and the 2024 Felipe P. De Alba Fellow at Columbia University, Charlene brings over 3 years of specialized experience in college admissions advising, essay editing, and student mentorship. With a deep understanding of the application essay process and a keen editorial eye, she excels in helping students unlock their creative potential. She offers highly personalized support, providing in-depth feedback and strategic insights that add energy, dimensionality, and authenticity into students’ writing. Over the years, Charlene has supported several high school students with comprehensive admissions guidance, earning recognition as an engaging, thoughtful, and attentive mentor. Her students have been accepted to prestigious institutions such as Boston University, Columbia University, and Tufts University. Charlene received her B.A. in Writing Seminars and International Studies with a minor in East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Her writing has also been honored with the Johns Hopkins Stephen Dixon Literary Prize and the 2023 Epiphany Magazine Breakout! Prize. She is currently at work on a short story collection.
If you are interested in supporting our students and posses the appropriate trainings and experiences, you are welcome to join our team!
Please send your resume to web[at]ivyboost.com
