Kate Barker and Jennifer Schlegel

Founders and Co-Owners of My Admissions Sherpa

JENNIFER SCHLEGEL

Jenny has a BA in History and Secondary Education, a Masters in History and will finish a Masters in Educational Technology this spring. She has been working as a private college admissions counselor since 2001 and has loved every minute of it. Over the years, Jenny has acquired a unique knowledge of the culture of individual schools as well as their respective admissions processes and procedures. She excels at matching students with schools that meet their specific list of wants and needs. Jenny also develops instructional materials and writes curriculum. She recently co-authored an online course that walks students through the admissions process. And....teenagers are her absolute favorite age group to work with!

KATE BARKER

With over 27 years of experience as a dedicated professional, Kate has successfully guided hundreds of students to secure admission to the colleges of their choice, including many highly selective institutions. She holds a Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is dual-certified in Secondary Education School Counseling and English, which informs her deep understanding of adolescent development. Kate leverages this insight to fully support students in their transition to post-secondary education.

Kate is passionate about helping students achieve their personal and academic goals while making the college admissions process as stress-free as possible for families. Her specialized expertise allows her to effectively assist anxious students and those lacking confidence, transforming a potentially daunting experience into one filled with joy.

MICHELLE PURCELL

Michele Purcell has a Master of Education degree in counseling psychology with a dual certification in school counseling. She has over 20 years experience in college admissions counseling, and is proficient in helping improve college acceptances & assisting students in finding the “right fit” in the college selection process. She has aided students in applying & getting accepted into numerous schools such as The University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Yale, Cornell, University of Notre Dame, Georgetown, & Johns Hopkins just to name a few!

ABBEY LEDERMAN

Abby Lederman is an essay coach and the co-author of Finding the Path: A Novel for Parents of Teenagers. She has written many professional articles on topics ranging from children’s theater to overcoming the fear of swimming in older adults. She has been supervising programs for young people and teens in the United States and Canada since 2012 and is currently writing a historical novel about a female inventor growing up in the mid-19th century.

CHRISTINE MCLAUGHLIN

Christine grew up in Newtown, Bucks County, and earned her Bachelor's degree at the University of Pittsburgh in Psychology and Anthropology and a Master's degree in Secondary Social Studies at Widener University. She has been teaching high school Social Studies to all levels of students for over 20 years. She loves working with students to help them navigate all parts of the college application process and achieve their goals.

JASMINE JAMES

Jasmine is a proud Philadelphia native, but enjoys traveling whenever she get the chance! She attended Drexel University and graduated with a B.A. in English and a minor in politics. During her time at Drexel, she volunteered at West Philly's branch of Mighty Writers, contributed to creative non-fiction and photography anthologies at Drexel's Writer's Room collective, and thrived as she worked at the Drexel Writing Center. Post graduation, she has continued to cultivate her passion for teaching writing skills and working with youth. Currently, she is an English teacher at Excel Academy North.

KIM LENT

Kimberly Lent has a Bachelor's of Science in Speech Communication and English Education from Ithaca College. From there, she went on to pursue her Master's in Higher Education Counseling plus Elementary and Secondary Counseling from West Chester University. Kimberly has been a Counselor in the Philadelphia School District for the past 27 years, and although challenging, absolutely loves her career! She has experience in K-8th grade counseling, but the majority of her career has been working with high school students, and helping them to plan their future educational and/or career paths.

PAULETTE ANDERS

Paulette Anders has a Master of Science degree in school counseling from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from Mount St. Mary’s University. She is a dedicated and solution-driven school and college counselor with over 30 years of college admissions experience at the high school, undergraduate and graduate levels. Paulette has proven success in establishing rapport and building trusting relationships with students, parents, and admissions offices. She demonstrates a commitment to students’ success by implementing effective coaching techniques, providing solutions, and promoting realistic student expectations and resiliency. Currently, Paulette serves as a college and career consultant to Saint John’s Catholic Preparatory School. Paulette and her husband claim Florida as their home but find themselves in Maryland often with their daughters. Easily connecting with high school students and families, Paulette brings confidence to the high-stress college admissions process.

EMELIE COLLET

Emelie Collet serves as the Client Services Manager for My Admissions Sherpa. She is a Pennsylvania native and has worked in both colleges and independent schools. She earned her BA in Religion from Vassar College, and her MSEd in Higher Education Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate applications reader at Penn she both ignited her passion for college admissions work, and honed her skills as an essay editor. Additionally, Emelie has skills in program development, program management, and client services. She is passionate about supporting students and their families as they navigate the college admissions process.

GREG RICKEN

Greg Ricken, a native New Yorker, obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University at Buffalo before pursuing a Masters Degree in School Counseling from Long Island University. With six years of experience in high school environments, he has dedicated himself to assisting numerous students in their academic journeys. Greg's enthusiasm lies in guiding students to discover their passions, particularly in navigating the college admissions process. Additionally, he is an avid runner and proudly supports New York sports teams.

ALICIA VORSE

Alicia, a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School, went on to continue her education at Penn State, where she obtained a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Social Sciences, followed by a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Holy Family University. For the past 15 years, Alicia has been working as a Dual Certified School Counselor and College Admissions Specialist. She is both passionate and highly experienced in helping students navigate the college admissions process and find the perfect college fit.

FRANCIE WEINBERG

Francie Weinberg is excited to bring her decade of experience as a dedicated high school counselor to My Admissions Sherpa. Based in South Florida, Francie developed her love of writing and editing as a Public Relations major at the University of Florida (Go Gators!), and earned her Master's in PK-12 School Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. Now, ten years later and with a passion for guiding students through their academic, personal, and post-secondary journeys, Francie brings an educated, thoughtful, and holistic approach to student development and navigating the college process. Francie combines professionalism with warmth, fostering supportive relationships while helping students achieve their personal, college, and career goals. Outside of work, Francie enjoys traveling to places where she can practice speaking Spanish, reading with her book club, and volunteering with kids in need alongside her emotional support American Bulldog, Rosie.

JENNIFER KUGLER

A Pennsylvania native, Jennifer has dedicated the past twenty-six years to teaching in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Throughout her career, she has utilized her passion and skills to guide her students through the writing process, helping them find their voice. She holds a BS in Elementary Education and an MA in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Currently, she serves as an Assistant Principal at Little Flower High School in Philadelphia. Jennifer resides in Glenside, PA, with her husband, two adult children, and two cats.

MICHELLE MANCINI

With over 15 years of experience as a professional resume writer and student educational advocate, Michelle understands the value of helping students create a compelling and well-written college essay. She has a BA in Communications from West Virginia University and a MS in Human Resources Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. Her expertise lies in working with clients to create persuasive documents that provide a strong narrative structure, appealing tone, and clarity. Michelle is passionate about helping students identify their unique experiences, find their authentic voices, and leverage their strengths and interests to create meaningful essays. Originally from Buffalo, she currently shares her time between Maryland and Florida in an effort to embrace the sunshine and stay close to family.

SUZANNE BLUNT

Suzanne, a proud graduate of Temple University with a BA in English, brings over twenty-four years of enriching experience to her role as an educator. She's had the joy of teaching AP Literature and Composition, Creative Writing, and Film Studies to high school students in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Throughout her journey, she has enthusiastically guided countless Juniors and Seniors through their college essays and SAT prep, always with their success in mind. She has also served on the English Curriculum Committee for the district and as a Department Chair for the English Department. Her favorite aspect of teaching is empowering students to discover their unique voices as writers. Currently, she teaches Juniors and Seniors at Archbishop Wood High School.

ADDIE OKONSKI

Addie is an exceptional editor and a natural coach, highly skilled at helping students create polished, authentic essays. She excels at explaining complex ideas clearly and is wonderfully patient with teenagers, empowering them to write true to themselves. Addie is deeply passionate about supporting students' educational journeys, fostering a strong sense of belonging. She holds a double major in History and German from West Chester University and is currently pursuing her Master's in Business Administration at Temple University while working at Vanguard.

DANA RODRIGUEZ

Dana Rodriguez has extensive experience in school and college career counseling across various educational levels. She holds a Pennsylvania Certification in Dual School Counseling (K-12) and earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Holy Family University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Dance from Rowan University. Dana's professional journey includes roles as a high school counselor, middle school counselor, and college and career counselor. She has worked in both charter and public school settings, helping hundreds of students navigate the college application process. With a passion for guiding students through college admissions, Dana uses her expertise in strategic planning and personalized counseling to help students achieve their academic and career goals, as well as find the college that is the right fit for them.

ELANA CHASAN

Elana Chasan is a dedicated and highly experienced high school counselor with a career spanning 18 years in the School District of Philadelphia. For the past decade, she has been a vital part of Central High School, where she focuses on guiding students through the complex and often overwhelming college application process. Elana provides comprehensive support, from helping students identify their academic strengths and career aspirations to navigating the intricacies of applications, essays, and financial aid. Her personalized and empathetic approach ensures that each student feels supported every step of the way, making her a trusted advisor and a fierce advocate for their future.

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.

We take the stress out of college admissions.