Alessandra has worked with hundreds of students who have gained admission into top universities. She has a unique ability to bring together the seemingly disparate parts of a student’s profile into a compelling story. She also has an impressive memory and genuinely enjoys helping students identify their strengths and build their personal brands. She guides students and parents through the maze that is the college admissions process and makes it more enjoyable than it is stressful.

Years of experience in education: 13

Challen is students’ go-to guru for transforming verbose and tangled thoughts into clear, concise, and engaging essays. He has a way of asking the right questions to help students identify and convey the essence of their ideas. He’s studied natural resource management in the Brazilian Amazon, Quechua ethnobotany in the Peruvian Andes, and environmental conservation in China. As someone who has an impressive amount of knowledge about a wide diversity of topics, he is our modern-day Renaissance man.

Years of experience in education: 15

Debbie’s exceptional work as a counselor is characterized by her curiosity of the world and the belief that people are endlessly fascinating. She has a knack for learning seemingly random life stories about her students that easily become hooks for their essays. As an avid reader and trivia collector, she’s acquired a great deal of knowledge on a variety of topics. She’s equally interested in Scientific American and Forbes magazine as she is in Vogue and fantasy books. Her multidisciplinary nature enables her to easily connect with students with a diverse range of academic interests.

Years of experience in education: 24

Affectionately known as Tini, Cristina is a former HigherEdge student turned counselor. She’s had a vocation for education from an early age, which is reflected in the passion with which she helps each and every student. Tini is the perfect accountability partner: she is incredibly supportive and organized yet she also challenges students to put in the work necessary to achieve their goals. Tini is in charge of our internship program and guides students in their passion projects. 

Years of experience in education: 7

Lisel brings her passion for creative writing and pop culture into her teaching, making her classes dynamic and inspiring even the quietest students to find their voice. She tailors lessons to students’ needs and challenges them in both reading and writing. Her unique interests include Japanese anime and digital art, and her patient approach supports growth and self-expression.

Years of experience in education:  17

Frank brings analytical expertise to education. A test prep expert since 2015, he’s known for his socratic method teaching style which is both engaging and exacting. Outside the classroom, Frank enjoys ultimate frisbee, gardening, and reading political science and philosophy. He’s also a proud parent of a daughter who is currently attending Swarthmore College.

Years of experience in education: 10

Cindy has a formal background in psychology and discovered her passion for education early on. She has tutored students in diverse subjects, including English literature and environmental science, and has helped many excel in AP Psychology. At HigherEdge, she ensures seamless communication among students, parents, and the team. In her free time, Cindy enjoys reading sci-fi, baking desserts, and spending time with her very active toddler.

Years of experience in education: 20

Jose has worked as a freelance tutor for many years. He studied Math at Soochow University and Cheng Kung University and is completing a degree in Data Science. He also taught English at elementary schools in Taiwan, where he lived for 5 years. A strategy and game theory enthusiast, Jose brings his love of board games, poker, chess, and Magic: The Gathering into his engaging, easy-to-follow lessons.

Years of experience in education: 9