JENNIE KENT
Jennie is a proud graduate of Northfield Mount Hermon School, received her B.A. from Skidmore College, and has a Masters in Education from Framingham State as well as a certificate in independent educational consulting from UC Irvine. She is also one of 280 educational consultants worldwide who have earned the designation of Certified Educational Planner. An active member of her associations, Jennie is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and has served on the Outreach, Global, and Nominating Committees. She is also a member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling, the International Association of College Admission Counseling, the Higher Education Consultants Association, and the National College Advocacy Group. Because she is part of a broad network of colleagues and professionals, the answers to your questions are never far away.
Believing that professional development is the difference between good and great, Jennie attends professional conferences annually. She has visited over 500 schools and universities around the world, trying to get a feel for the culture of each one and expand her knowledge. Convinced that transparency is critical in the admission space, Jennie compiles important admission and financial aid resources annually for families and colleagues and has presented about them both domestically and internationally. Wanting to help raise others to their full potential, Jennie also co-founded the Independent Educational Consultants Association’s Student and Associate Virtual Roundtable, a networking and learning space for newer members.
In her downtime, Jennie enjoys reading, watching films, entering data in spreadsheets, and playing with her Abyssinian cats.
JEFF LEVY
Jeff has been an educational consultant since 2007, based in the Los Angeles area. His students live in Southern California and throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. In his prior profession, he spent over twenty years in the film and television industry, where he worked on set with many of the industry’s most accomplished writers, directors, producers, and actors and was able to observe many paths to creative and professional success.
In 2009, Jeff completed a Certificate in College Counseling “With Distinction” at UCLA Extension. In 2014, he earned the designation Certified Educational Planner, the highest level of competency awarded in the profession. He is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, formerly serving on its College and Nominating Committees and a founding member of its Subcommittee on College Affordability and Financial Aid. Jeff is also a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Western Association for College Admission Counseling, and the National College Advocacy Group.
Jeff has been an instructor at UC San Diego Extension and co-designed its course on college affordability and financial aid, and is a member of the faculty at IECA’s Summer Training Institute. He is the Grown & Flown financial aid advisor, and presents regularly at national conferences and community events on many topics related to college admission and affordability. He is regularly quoted in such media outlets as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, National Public Radio, USA Today, US News & World Report, and others.
Jeff has visited over 300 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, often meeting with admission representatives during these visits. He believes that before recommending colleges to our students, we should be deeply knowledgeable of their programs, campus culture, and geographical setting.
When not working with students and families, Jeff enjoys hearing music, watching films, reading, traveling, hiking, debating politics, and relaxing with family, friends, and colleagues. But what he loves most is the challenge to keep learning each day, and the opportunity to transform the lives of young people.
ANDREA WHISSELL-TSAHAGEAS
Andrea is an independent educational consultant based in Athens, Greece. Originally from Western Canada, Andrea feels, though, more like a global citizen. Upon completing her B.A. from the University of Alberta, her work led her to live in Montreal, Taipei, Hong Kong, Arizona, Spain and Japan before finally settling down in Athens, where she worked in the publishing industry for over 15 years as a writer/editor.
Her focus has been on international admissions- students who wish to pursue education beyond their homeland's borders. Naturally, she takes every opportunity to get on the road to visit campuses throughout Europe, Canada and the United States, always returning full of inspiration and excited to bring back the valuable insights and new opportunities for her students.
Enthusiastic about professional development and networking with colleagues, Andrea is an active member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling, the International Association of College Admission Counseling, and the Higher Education Consultants Association as well as an associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
When not in the higher-ed space, Andrea can be found walking her dog, Krypto, or relaxing on a beautiful Mediterranean beach with a favorite book.
MICHAEL TREVIÑO
Michael is an educational consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before becoming an independent educational consultant he served more than 20 years as a dean or director of admissions, working across the spectrum of higher education from community colleges to the nation’s most selective colleges and universities.
Michael is a first-gen college graduate. He earned his Associate of Science in Engineering Technology from Gavilan Community College and worked in Silicon Valley before returning to college to earn a Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley and a joint Masters in Higher Education and Juris Doctor from the University of Washington. He participated in the Harvard Civil Rights Project and is also a graduate of the Harvard Administrative Fellows Program.
Michael served as Director of Undergraduate Admissions for the University of California system and as a resident faculty member at the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admissions where each year he and fellow deans and directors shared insights and advice with admissions officers and pre-college guidance counselors to assist students as they transition from high school to college, including mock application reviews for highly selective colleges.
Michael also led admissions at the University of California College of the Law (formerly UC Hastings), UCSF School of Nursing, and UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, and held other admissions positions at Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Boston University School of Law, and the University of Washington. This background and experience is unique and especially valuable for students interested in going on to graduate or professional school.
Michael is a regular presenter at schools, conferences and workshops, and is a member of IECA, NACAC, WACAC, and the Gap Year Association.
