Meet The Team
Stop guessing and start winning.
At My Admissions Sherpa, we turn the high-stakes admissions maze into a clear, competitive advantage. By pairing your student with an elite brain trust of Ivy League insiders, published novelists, and veteran strategists, we provide the narrative depth and data-driven roadmap needed to secure a seat at the world's most selective institutions.
We don't just manage the process—we master the outcome.
Behind the Basecamp
Meet the Team
JENNIFER SCHLEGEL
Co-Founder & Senior Admissions Strategist
Jenny began helping kids get into college over two decades ago. Since then, she has worked with hundreds of teenagers and she has loved very minute of it! As the Co-founder and Co-owner of My Admissions Sherpa, Jenny possesses a unique nuanced understanding of the culture of individual schools and their specific admissions procedures. She excels at "fit-first" counseling, matching students with institutions that align with their individual goals.
Jenny holds a BA in History and Secondary Education, a Master's in History, and a Master’s in Educational Technology. A specialist in instructional design, Jenny coauthored a comprehensive online course that provides a roadmap through the admissions journey. Throughout her extensive career, she has maintained a primary motivation: a genuine love for working with teenagers.
KATE BARKER
Co-Founder & Senior Admissions Strategist
With over 30 years of experience and a genuine gift for mentoring teenagers, Kate is the heart of our firm’s mission. As the Co-Founder of My Admissions Sherpa, she brings a unique, multi-disciplinary toolkit to the table, holding a Master of Family Therapy alongside certifications in Secondary Education, English, and Counseling.
Kate’s expertise lies in helping students find and refine their authentic voice—the most critical element for success at the nation’s most competitive universities. By providing high-level oversight on everything from application strategy to high-impact extracurriculars, she breaks a daunting cycle down into a clear, manageable roadmap. Her holistic approach ensures that every student builds a sophisticated profile, leading to exceptional outcomes at their top-choice institutions.
Michele Purcell
Senior Admissions Consultant
With a distinguished three-decade legacy, Michele Purcell is a preeminent authority in elite admissions. Her background in counseling psychology gives her a unique tactical advantage, allowing her to navigate high-stakes applications with a calm, strategic hand and a deep understanding of student development.
Michele specializes in the "perfect match"—aligning a student’s profile with the distinct cultures of top-tier institutions like Yale, Georgetown, and UPenn. Renowned for her organizational mastery and narrative brilliance, she blends clinical insight with Ivy League expectations to ensure every student stands out with the clarity and authority required for the nation's most competitive pools.
Abby Lederman
Senior Essay Coach & Narrative Architect
A published novelist and accomplished artist, Abby Lederman treats the college application process as a masterclass in high-level storytelling. Rather than simply refining grammar, she functions as a narrative architect, helping students excavate their unique experiences to craft sophisticated essays that resonate with the nation’s most selective admissions committees.
With over a decade of experience in youth program leadership, Abby possesses a rare ability to connect with teenagers, replacing the "fear of the blank page" with technical confidence and creative clarity. She excels at identifying the extraordinary within the ordinary, ensuring every student’s voice possesses the authority and depth necessary to stand out in an elite applicant pool.
Christine McLaughlin
Senior Admissions Consultant
A cornerstone of our team for nearly a decade, Christine is known for her calm, steady presence and organizational mastery. With over 20 years in secondary education and a background in Psychology and Anthropology from Pitt, she has a deep, intuitive understanding of student development and high-stakes decision-making.
Holding a Master’s from Widener University, Christine excels at breaking down complex requirements into a clear, successful path. She has an outstanding track record of guiding students into their first-choice, highly selective institutions by navigating the process with ease. For families seeking a high-touch, structured experience, Christine provides the strategic insight and professional composure needed to turn application anxiety into a winning trajectory.
Paulette Anders
Senior Admissions Consultant
With an elite, 360-degree perspective fueled by over 30 years of experience, Paulette Anders is a definitive authority in strategic student positioning. Holding a Master’s in School Counseling from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA in Marketing from Mount St. Mary’s, she possesses the unique ability to blend psychological insight with high-level brand strategy for the nation’s most ambitious applicants.
Currently a consultant for Saint John’s Catholic Preparatory School, Paulette is a solution-driven advisor renowned for her ability to build immediate rapport and trust with families. She specializes in resiliency coaching, ensuring that students remain grounded and focused while navigating the rigors of top-tier admissions. By replacing "admissions anxiety" with a sophisticated, confident roadmap, Paulette ensures every student is positioned to bridge the gap between their talent and their most prestigious academic goals.
Kim Lent
Senior Admissions Consultant
With an illustrious 32-year career navigating the intricacies of the college admissions landscape, Kimberly Lent is a definitive authority in the field. A graduate of Ithaca College with a Master’s in Higher Education and K–12 Counseling from West Chester University, she brings a sophisticated, long-term perspective to the most ambitious student profiles.
Kimberly specializes in transforming the complexities of elite admissions into a clear, manageable, and prestigious roadmap. Known for her approachable nature and vibrant sense of spirit, she possesses a rare ability to make the application cycle both successful and genuinely engaging. By blending her decades of expertise with a warm, spirited personality, Kimberly replaces traditional application stress with the clarity and confidence required for students to secure their place at the nation's most selective institutions.
Emelie Collet
Client Services Manager & Strategic Operations
As Client Services Manager, Emelie Collet serves as the firm’s internal strategist and operational backbone. A graduate of Vassar College with an MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania, she provides the high-level oversight that defines our professional standards, working behind the scenes to refine our internal processes and ensure excellence.
Drawing on her experience as a former Undergraduate Admissions Reader at UPenn, Emelie acts as our "insider" genius, managing and mentoring our team of essay coaches to align with the latest Ivy League standards. While her focus remains on the structural and strategic side of the firm, her mastery of program development ensures that every narrative strategy our team deploys is intellectually rigorous, meticulously executed, and positioned for success at the most selective institutions.
Jennifer Kugler
Senior Essay and Resume Consultant
With a legendary 27-year career in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Jennifer has built a reputation for transforming the high-stakes admissions essay into a sophisticated journey of self-discovery. Her mastery lies in helping students at the highest academic levels navigate the pressures of elite applications by replacing anxiety with the genuine confidence and technical authority required to stand out to top-tier admissions committees.
Holding an M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Jennifer brings a rare depth of perspective to the writing process, ensuring every student’s narrative is both intellectually rigorous and authentically voiced. Universally respected for her ability to make students feel validated and heard, she ensures that their unique stories are told with the clarity and persuasive power necessary for success at the nation’s most prestigious universities.
Francie Weinberg
Senior Admissions Consultant
With a decade of experience as a dedicated high school counselor, Francie Weinberg brings a sophisticated, holistic approach to student development and the college process. A graduate of the University of Florida in Public Relations and holder of a Master’s in PK-12 School Counseling from Nova Southeastern University, she combines elite communication skills with a deep understanding of the academic and post-secondary landscape.
Francie specializes in fostering supportive, professional relationships that empower students to navigate high-stakes transitions with clarity. By blending her expertise in writing and editing with a thoughtful, individualized strategy, she ensures every student’s personal and academic narrative is meticulously crafted to meet their long-term collegiate and career goals.
Alicia Vorse
Senior Admissions Consultant
As a Dual-Certified School Counselor and Admissions Specialist with 15 years of experience, Alicia provides the high-touch, strategic oversight necessary to navigate today’s hyper-competitive higher education landscape. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Social Sciences from Penn State and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Holy Family University.
Alicia utilizes her deep clinical background to offer a personalized, data-driven approach to the application process. Beyond mere placement, she specializes in identifying the "perfect fit"—aligning a student’s unique profile with institutions that offer the most prestigious academic and professional trajectories. By demystifying elite admissions and providing meticulous, end-to-end guidance, Alicia empowers families to secure a distinct competitive advantage with absolute clarity and confidence.
Elana Chasan
Senior Admissions Consultant
With 19 years of experience—including a decade at Philadelphia’s #1 ranked college preparatory high school—Elana brings an elite pedigree to the admissions process. Having navigated one of the most competitive academic environments in the country, she specializes in translating high-level student ambition into standout applications for the nation's most selective institutions.
Elana provides sophisticated, end-to-end strategic positioning, covering everything from high-stakes essay development to complex financial aid landscapes. While her results are rooted in a data-driven, meticulous approach, she is known for her signature warmth—providing a steadying, expert presence that mitigates the pressures facing top-tier students. As both a trusted advisor and a fierce advocate, Elana ensures each student is strategically positioned for a trajectory of long-term success.
Michelle Mancini
Senior Essay and Resume Consultant
With over 15 years of experience in professional resume writing and student advocacy, Michelle offers a sophisticated, dual-lens approach to the admissions process. By integrating her communications background (B.A., West Virginia University) with her advanced HR expertise (M.S., University of Maryland Global Campus), she provides a unique competitive advantage: the ability to identify and curate the "marketable" strengths that distinguish a student in an elite applicant pool.
Michelle specializes in moving students past the "blank page" to craft high-impact, persuasive narratives that reflect their true character and intellectual curiosity. Whether she is refining a complex college essay or building a professional-grade student resume, Michelle ensures every document is meticulously polished, strategically positioned, and reflective of a student's long-term potential.
Suzanne Blunt
Senior Admissions Consultant and Essay Coach
With 24 years of experience as a veteran English teacher and former Department Chair, Suzanne provides an elite level of academic oversight to the college transition. Her mastery of AP Literature and SAT preparation gives students a distinct technical advantage, ensuring their applications meet the highest standards of rigor and sophisticated composition.
Suzanne specializes in transforming the high-stakes college essay into a showcase of intellectual and personal depth. By helping students identify their unique writer’s voice, she ensures their narratives possess the clarity, authority, and persuasive power necessary to stand out to admissions committees at top-tier institutions. A proud Temple University alumna, Suzanne blends decades of classroom leadership with a refined, results-driven approach to student mentorship.
Dana Rodriguez
Senior Admissions Consultant
A Pennsylvania-certified K–12 counselor with an elite understanding of the academic lifecycle, Dana provides the high-touch mentorship required to navigate today’s competitive admissions landscape. Her expertise spans both public and charter systems, where she has served as a lead counselor at the middle school, high school, and specialized college-and-career levels.
Dana holds an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Holy Family University and a B.A. in Psychology from Rowan University. She leverages her deep clinical and educational background to provide a tailored, results-oriented strategy. By focusing on the "perfect fit," Dana ensures each student is positioned within an environment that maximizes their long-term academic and professional success.
Greg Ricken
Admissions Data Specialist
As the team’s Data Specialist, Greg Ricken brings a sophisticated, analytical edge to the college admissions process. With six years of high school counseling experience and a Master of Science from Long Island University, Greg ensures his students maintain a competitive advantage by meticulously tracking shifting admissions trends and high-level educational data.
Greg combines this data-driven oversight with a hands-on approach to student mentorship, specializing in strategic resume building and the identification of unique personal passions. By blending quantitative insights with a focus on individual narrative, Greg provides the technical clarity and forward-thinking guidance necessary for students to navigate today’s complex higher education landscape with confidence.
Our Mission Statement
To guide, educate and empower students through each step of the college admissions process and identify schools that will help them grow in all facets of life: intellectually, socially, culturally, and spiritually. At My Admissions Sherpa, we strive to streamline the admissions process to make it less stressful while helping kids get into their top-choice schools. The opportunity to guide each student as they take their first major steps towards becoming independent and self-sufficient adults is both an honor and a pleasure.