Our Counselors

Claire is one of Interface’s senior counselors with four decades of college counseling experience. She has guided hundreds of top students to successful admissions results at the most selective universities in the United States. She is known for motivating and fully engaging each student in activities that result in preparing the strongest possible college applications.

With over 15 years of university admissions experience, and teacher training from Oxford, Toby helps his students secure superb outcomes in their university applications.

As a former admissions officer for the University of Oxford, Toby has helped hundreds of students over the years with applications to leading universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, and maintains a network of close friends and companions throughout the university admissions industry.

Dr. Gregg is a nationally respected college admissions expert, educator, and advisor with over 30 years of leadership experience across top universities, international schools, and selective counseling firms. With a career rooted in both institutional excellence and student-centered mentoring, Gregg brings unmatched expertise to help students navigate the college admissions process with strategy, clarity, and purpose.

Gregg earned both his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and Master of Education (Ed.M.) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he focused on Leadership, Organization, and Governance. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Stony Brook University. His academic journey not only reflects a lifelong commitment to education but also equips him with the intellectual and ethical grounding to support diverse learners from around the world.

Hope is passionate about guiding students to college admissions success. She is an Ivy League admissions expert and received her bachelor's degree from Princeton University, where she served as an Admission Officer and Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions.

Over the last 20 years, Hope has taught tens of thousands of students around the world how to optimize their applications to top US and UK colleges and universities. She has seen a 25% higher overall acceptance rate to Ivy League schools compared to the national average among the students she has guided. Many students she has worked with have been admitted to Princeton, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, U Penn, Cornell, U Chicago, Columbia, Dartmouth, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Rice, Vanderbilt and Wellesley.

Susan is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard Law School, and Oxford University, where she was chosen as a Rhodes Scholar, one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world and awarded to a small number of college graduates.

Susan specializes in helping Interface students find creative and impressive ways to pursue their interests and passions beyond the usual high school activities, to help them stand out from other applicants. Her unique role at Interface is to team with counselors to help their students pursue unusual paths based on their interests and talents and to build an outstanding extracurricular resume necessary to get accepted to the most selective schools.

Katerina holds an MBA and began her career in higher education at Washington University in St. Louis in the Department of Undergraduate Admissions. She was also the Assistant Dean in the College of Art, one of the most prestigious art programs in the country. Katerina loves working with students because the possibilities for their future are endless. Her strength is in nurturing her students and taking away some stress by leading them one step at a time. She guides her students through every step of the process, using her professional training and experience at one of the most highly selective universities in the US, resulting in wonderful outcomes.

Chris earned his Bachelor's Degree in International History from Georgetown University, and both a Master's and Ph.D. in Education from Penn, where he researched access to higher education. He has leveraged his expertise in college admissions for over a decade, having served as Director of College Counseling at Saint Martin de Porres, Cleveland's Cristo Rey High School, and Director of College Access with Thrive Scholars, a nationally recognized organization that supports students in earning admission to, enrolling at, and graduating from highly selective colleges and universities.

As a college counseling professional and mother of three children, Valerie understands how overwhelming the college admission process can be. For the past twelve years, she has helped guide hundreds of students and parents through the college admission process.  Her students have been admitted to institutions that fit their career aspirations, intellectual ability, and personalities: from large, competitive public universities to smaller elite liberal arts colleges, including all the Ivies.  However, she defines real success as connecting with her students as individuals, revealing what makes them unique, and helping them understand and believe in themselves. Her greatest passion is to help young adults communicate who they are and what makes them unique through their college admission packages and interview opportunities.

Joann has been helping students navigate the college admission process for over 30 years. Encouraging students to reach their potential while reducing their stress is always at the forefront of Joann’s mind. 

Marguerita received an M.A. in Shakespeare from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon and has written an M.Phil thesis on modernist poetry at the University of London. She also holds a B.A. in English literature from Columbia University.

Since completing her graduate degree, she has worked with countless 11th and 12th graders throughout the college application process. She has helped many students gain admittance into top-tier universities such as Columbia, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Barnard, NYU, Emory, Tulane, Boston University, Vassar, McGill (Canada), and St. Andrews (Scotland).

Kathleen has led and directed college counseling programs at highly respected high schools around the world from Hamburg, Germany to Thailand; most recently in Shanghai. She is experienced in helping her students apply and be accepted to the most selective universities in the USA, UK, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. In addition to her work in school counseling, she also reads undergraduate applications for UCLA where she has personally evaluated thousands of applications.

With over 20 years in college admissions experience at a selective liberal arts college focusing on international students, Keith joined Interface in 2015 to continue helping students find success. Building on his years of travel to China, he enjoys working with students as they begin planning for the next stage in their growth. Keith provides extraordinary guidance and support throughout the entire process and his professional guidance leads to excellent college outcomes.

Dana is dedicated to her students, providing professional guidance and support to navigate the application process with confidence. Her goal is to motivate them to continue performing, learning, adapting, and growing.

Dana is a graduate of Columbia University and former NCAA Division I athlete. She remains active as an alumni interviewer for students applying to Columbia. After university, she served as a Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Ghana.

Claire is one of Interface’s senior counselors with four decades of college counseling experience. She has guided hundreds of top students to successful admissions results at the most selective universities in the United States. She is known for motivating and fully engaging each student in activities that result in preparing the strongest possible college applications.

Andrew holds a master’s degree in education from Lehigh University and brings a wide range of experience to Interface. He has spent over a decade as an international college counselor, where he has helped hundreds of students get admitted to the most selective universities and colleges in the US, UK, and Canada. He has visited a wide range of institutions worldwide.

Joy holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago, and her work in college counseling has spanned over a decade. With her experience and background, Joy facilitates a process where students make well informed decisions as they consider their future path. Working one-on-one, Joy creates an environment where each student has time to explore their interests, abilities, achievements, and challenges while guiding them effectively through the college planning process. She enjoys a close relationship with her students and families often keeping in touch with them for years.

Debbie brings over 20 years of college counseling experience to Interface as a former college counselor at one of St. Louis’ leading private high schools. She also developed a college counseling curriculum and program for a nationally recognized college access program. Debbie’s students love her energy and enthusiasm, knowing that she genuinely cares about their well-being and success.

With over 15 years of university admissions experience, and teacher training from Oxford, Toby gets stellar results in guiding students towards fulfilling and impactful futures.

As a former admissions officer for the University of Oxford, and faculty member for a graduate-only college, Toby has selected countless applicants for placements on highly competitive courses. This experience has allowed him to help over one hundred students to make successful applications to graduate programmes at leading universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, and he remains up to date on the latest admissions trends via his network of close friends and companions throughout the university admissions industry.

Dr. Gregg is a nationally respected college admissions expert, educator, and advisor with over 30 years of leadership experience across top universities, international schools, and selective counseling firms. With a career rooted in both institutional excellence and student-centered mentoring, Gregg brings unmatched expertise to help students navigate the college admissions process with strategy, clarity, and purpose.

Gregg earned both his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and Master of Education (Ed.M.) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he focused on Leadership, Organization, and Governance. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Stony Brook University. His academic journey not only reflects a lifelong commitment to education but also equips him with the intellectual and ethical grounding to support diverse learners from around the world.

Dr. Tiffany Noel is an interdisciplinary educator and scholar whose work bridges research, pedagogy, and mentorship across K–12 and higher education contexts. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University, a B.A. in English with a TESOL certification from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and completed postdoctoral research training at the University of Virginia. With 15 years of experience directing undergraduate and graduate programs, publishing scholarly work, and presenting at national and international conferences, Tiffany’s career reflects a deep commitment to educational advancement, culturally responsive practice, and transformational learning.

Claire is one of Interface’s senior counselors with four decades of college counseling experience. She has guided hundreds of top students to successful admissions results at the most selective universities in the United States. She is known for motivating and fully engaging each student in activities that result in preparing the strongest possible college applications.

Lei holds a master’s degree from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. in Social Gerontology from Miami University, along with a graduate certificate in Applied Statistics. With several years of experience in graduate school consulting, Lei specializes in planning, program selection, academic background building and enhancement, scholarship interviews, and research coaching for applicants.

Marguerita received an M.A. in Shakespeare from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon and has written an M.Phil thesis on modernist poetry at the University of London. She also holds a B.A. in English literature from Columbia University.

Since completing her graduate degree, she has worked with countless 11th and 12th graders throughout the college application process. She has helped many students gain admittance into top-tier universities such as Columbia, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Barnard, NYU, Emory, Tulane, Boston University, Vassar, McGill (Canada), and St. Andrews (Scotland).

Rob is a seasoned admissions consultant with more than 14 years of experience. He graduated from Harvard University, BA, with honors and Cornell Law School, JD, with honors.

Rob enjoys helping students from all over the world apply to top undergraduate and graduate programs in the U.S. Rob is a former Harvard Admissions Interviewer.

Rachel is a writer, educator, and storyteller who loves helping students uncover the heart of their college essays. As a proud New York University alum and former Admissions Ambassador, she knows what makes applications stand out—not just from the reviewer's side of the table, but from years of working one-on-one with NYC students on everything from high school essays to Ivy League personal statements. 

Mel brings creative vision, academic rigor, and compassionate mentorship to Interface. She holds a Master of Arts in Humanities from the University of Chicago and spent a year at the University of Oxford, specializing in classical literature and poetry. 

With over six years of experience as an English writing and admissions essay coach, Mel has guided students in crafting more than 1,000 essays that have helped secure admissions to top universities such as Cornell, Williams, UVA, Georgetown, Wellesley, UC Berkeley, NYU, UCL, HKU, and more.

Cora has extensive experience in writing, education, and interdisciplinary thinking. She received her B.A. from St. Johns College, a school that specializes in the interdisciplinary study of philosophy, literature, history, and the sciences through primary texts. She received her M.F.A in Poetry from Johns Hopkins University, where she also served as a Lecturer of Creative Writing.

Grace is based in Chicago, IL. She brings extensive experience in higher education administration, academic support, and admissions. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Northwestern University and a BA in English from Gettysburg College.

Stephanie brings experience as an educator, writer, and author. She holds a dual B.A. in English Literature and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is AP Certified in Literature and Language from UCLA. Her career includes roles such as Vice Principal and English Department Chair at WorldEd International School, where she designed creative writing curricula, led accreditation processes, and provided career and college advising. At Laurel Springs School, Stephanie served as Department Administrator, teaching all English courses, conducting monthly live classes, founding a Blogging Group to empower student writers, and maintaining regular communication with parents about student performance.

Dr. Tiffany Noel is an interdisciplinary educator and scholar whose work bridges research, pedagogy, and mentorship across K–12 and higher education contexts. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University, a B.A. in English with a TESOL certification from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and completed postdoctoral research training at the University of Virginia. With 15 years of experience directing undergraduate and graduate programs, publishing scholarly work, and presenting at national and international conferences, Tiffany’s career reflects a deep commitment to educational advancement, culturally responsive practice, and transformational learning.

Sam earned his B.A. from Princeton University, where he majored in history and minored in East Asian Studies. He holds an M.A. from Columbia University, where he is currently working on his Ph.D. in United States history.

Marguerita received an M.A. in Shakespeare from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon and has written an M.Phil thesis on modernist poetry at the University of London. She also holds a B.A. in English literature from Columbia University.

Since completing her graduate degree, she has worked with countless 11th and 12th graders throughout the college application process. She has helped many students gain admittance into top-tier universities such as Columbia, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago, Barnard, NYU, Emory, Tulane, Boston University, Vassar, McGill (Canada), and St. Andrews (Scotland).

Dr. Angel Valchinov is an internationally-recognized musician, teacher, and a violinist. For more than twenty years he continues to teach in the United States, Bulgaria, Japan, and others. Currently a faculty at Bunker Hill College in Boston, and Concord Conservatory of Music (where he is String Department Chair), his students have won awards and established successful careers.

A member of the Boston String Quartet since 2005, Dr. Chen Lin is a distinguished teacher and performer. Her students have won outstanding awards, including acceptances into Juilliard School Preparatory Division and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall and Troy Music Hall. Described by the Boston Globe as “exploring different ways of sparking musical interest,” Dr. Lin’s Quartet frequently concertizes in the New England area, and has created its educational programs in collaboration with high school and college music departments throughout the United States. As an orchestral musician, she is currently a member of the Lexington Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Chamber Orchestra.