• Central Michigan University, Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• University of Wisconsin – Madison, Graduate student in Educational Specialist School Psychology Program

Abbi grew up in Middleville, Michigan and continued her education in the Great Lake State at Central Michigan University where she earned her BS in Psychology. During her time at Central Michigan University, Abbi was on a behavioral analysis research team where she studied human and animal behavior. Additionally, Abbi conducted research within the Family Studies department at CMU, looking at multicultural education for early childhood classrooms. Abbi is a first generation college student and graduating college is something she is very proud of. She hopes to inspire other first generation college students at Galin and in her future career to pursue their goals of higher education.

After graduation, Abbi moved to Madison to pursue her Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She hopes to work with K-12 students one day, ensuring they are getting the necessary support in school for them to be successful. Abbi is loving her time in Madison and enjoys going on walks by the lakes, shopping at local markets, and enjoying the great things that Madison has to offer.

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – BA History
• Washington University in St Louis – MA Social Studies Education
• Northern Illinois University – MEd Reading

Adrienne grew up in the Chicago suburbs and attended University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign for a BA in History. After deciding she wanted to be a Social Studies teacher, she attended Washington University in St Louis for her secondary education certification. Upon graduating from Washington University, Adrienne taught at a large public high school in the Chicago area for 18 years, teaching Social Studies classes. She also later received a Masters degree in Reading and Literacy education and worked with fellow teachers as a literacy and instructional coach to incorporate more reading strategies in their classrooms.

Since relocating to Madison, Wisconsin, Adrienne has continued her career in education, both as a Social Studies teacher and a Reading Interventionist. Throughout her career, she has enjoyed working with students to help them achieve their highest potential. In her free time, Adrienne enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, reading, and cooking.

• Calvin University, B.A., English
• University of Notre Dame, M.F.A., Creative Writing
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Ph.D., Literature and Creative Writing

Born in South Korea, Ae Hee grew up in Peru and now lives in Milwaukee. She graduated from Calvin University with a bachelor’s degree in honors English and minors in ESL and writing. She went to earn a M.F.A in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame, where she was awarded an Academy of American Poets Prize. Ae Hee is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Distinguished
Dissertation Fellow. In her time at the university, she has taught composition and creative writing classes and worked as the Associate Editor for the university’s literary magazine Cream City Review. In her free time, Ae Hee enjoys playing with her cat, cooking, drinking tea very slowly, reading, and writing poetry.

• Harvard University, A.B. Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology

Ajay is an MD/PhD candidate at UW-Madison, currently doing his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Prior to medical and graduate school, Ajay completed his undergraduate degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology from Harvard University, where he was a course assistant and a peer advisor for several years. Originally from Florida, Ajay has embraced Madison and enjoys cheese curds and pond hockey as much as oranges and beaches now.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, BA Communication Sciences and Disorders, Leadership
• Cardinal Stritch University, MA Inclusive Education

Alanna grew up in the Milwaukee area and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Leadership, as well as, a focus in child development. She graduated with academic distinction. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Alanna moved back to the Milwaukee area to begin a graduate school program in education. Alanna graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a masters of arts in Inclusive Education. Alanna has worked for Glendale-River Hills School District with middle school aged students and worked in the School District of Waukesha.

Alanna currently teaches elementary special education for the Whitefish Bay School District. In addition, Alanna is passionate about all students having access to STEM education and spends some of her free time coaching and mentoring middle school and high school level robotics teams. Alanna believes that all children should be met where their learning needs are and that they should receive the support they need to be successful.

• Quinnipiac University – BS, Psychology
• Fordham University – MST, Childhood Special Education

Alex came to Madison from New York where he earned his MST in Childhood and Special Education from Fordham University. During graduate school, Alex taught both 2nd and 4th grade in Valhalla, New York. Alex completed his undergraduate years at Quinnipiac University where he received his B.S. in Psychology. Prior to moving to Madison, Alex spent two years working at the same school he student taught, as a 3rd grade special education teacher.

Beyond the classroom, Alex coached basketball for eight summers at Pierce Country Day Camp in New York. For the last 14 summers, he has worked at a sleepaway camp in Starlight, PA as a counselor and a supervisor for 6th grade boys and continues to go back every summer.

In his free time, Alex enjoys going to sporing events, playing basketball and taking his dog Capra to the dog park.

• Purdue University, BS, Biology
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, MS, Cellular and Molecular Biology
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, PhD (in progress), Cellular and Molecular Biology

Alex grew up in a northwest suburb of Chicago and attended Purdue University, where she graduated with honors. At Purdue, Alex was a member of the Women in Science Program and TA’d for multiple biology courses. After graduation, she moved to Maryland and completed a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health exploring lymphatic system development.

Alex is now pursuing her PhD at UW-Madison, where she is studying how different cell types in the skin interact with each other to promote wound healing and regeneration. She also is a member of Madison Women in Science and her program’s outreach club. In her free time, Alex enjoys hanging out with her dog (Auggie) and cat (Mya), playing on various Madison intramural sports teams, learning cello, gardening, and playing board games with friends.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A. (minors in digital studies and theatre)

Ali was born and raised in New York. Growing up right outside of the city, she fell in love with creative writing, theater and music at a young age.

As an editor for her student paper at UW, Ali helped her peers with storytelling, writing techniques and copy editing — all things she likes to work on with students when writing college essays. After graduating, she worked as a watchdog reporter in northcentral Wisconsin, covering local and state government for USA TODAY-Wisconsin, and as the State Capitol Intern for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She currently is the local government reporter for the Cap Times in Madison.

Ali helps each student achieve their best college essay by meeting them where they are and focusing on where they want to go. In her free time, Ali likes to write poetry, run along Lake Monona, watch Audrey Hepburn films and make macaroni and cheese (from the box).

• Carleton College, BA Chemistry
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, MS Environment & Resources
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, PhD Chemistry

Allie graduated summa cum laude from Carleton College (Northfield, MN) with a B.A. in chemistry. She then returned to the Madison area (she grew up nearby in Mazomanie, WI) and completed both a Master’s degree in environmental studies and a Ph.D. in chemistry.
She has been a test prep and subject tutor at Galin Education since 2013, specializing in ACT prep, PSAT/SAT prep, AP Chemistry, AP Precalc, and math/chemistry/Spanish subject tutoring. During her time at Galin Education, she has found great joy in building relationships with students and tuning her teaching methods to fit students’ needs. She enjoys celebrating with students when they reach (and often exceed) their goals after months of prepping together.
In her free time, Allie enjoys any activity in nature, tinkering/troubleshooting tech devices, traveling, doing independent research, and photography.

• Truman State University, B. S., Communication Disorders
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.S., Communication Sciences and Disorders

Ama grew up in the Kansas City area through high school, then attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri for an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders. While at Truman State, Ama also played ultimate frisbee and led groups within a spiritual organization.
Ama moved to Madison, Wisconsin for graduate school to earn a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorder, which she currently uses as a speech-language pathologist in an area school district.

Outside of school and work, Ama appreciates spending time in the sun, listening/singing to music, reality TV, and devouring a good fiction tale.

• UW Madison, BS, Computer Science (in progress)
• UW Madison, BS, Mathematics (in progress)

Anand, a Madison native, graduated from Madison West High School, where he developed a keen interest in number theory and its applications in cryptography. This enthusiasm led him to pursue dual majors in mathematics and computer science at UW Madison, where he is currently studying. During high school, Anand began tutoring individual students and worked at Kumon, where he learned to love teaching. Outside of his academic pursuits, Anand enjoys playing the violin, singing, and folding origami.

• Clemson University, BFA, Visual Arts
• School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston at Tufts University, MFA, Interdisciplinary Fine Art

Ashley began her career in education designing curricula for an arts education non-profit in the Boston area while studying art and poetry at SMFA/Tufts University. After completing her graduate degree, she went on to earn her teaching credentials from the Sizer Teachers Center while developing interdisciplinary arts and ELA courses at the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School in Devens, MA. In addition to her experience as a full-time classroom educator, Ashley has directed visual arts and creative writing after-school and pre-college programs for students in grades 7-12.

Ashley grew up in Charleston, SC and lived in Boston, San Francisco, and London before moving to Madison with her husband and two cats.

• University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Bachelor of Science-Human Services
• University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Masters of Science-Educational Psychology emphasis in School Counseling
• 32 years of experiences as a College Counselor in private and public high schools

Bill is a recently retired School and College Counselor with 32 years of experience in both private and public high schools. He spent his first four years at Thomas More High School in Milwaukee, WI and the next 28 years at Whitefish Bay High School, located in the north shore suburb of Milwaukee. Both schools were college prep, with over 90 percent of the graduating seniors attending a post-secondary institution. Bill has extensive experience counseling students and parents through the college process. While at Whitefish Bay, Bill developed many great relationships with college representatives as over 100 colleges visited his school each fall. He is knowledgeable about colleges throughout the country and has been on a variety of college tours. Bill has also worked with many recruited student athletes. Bill coached high school basketball for many years. One of Bill’s strengths is connecting with students and getting to know them on an individual basis.

Bill is married, and has three adult children and two grandchildren. He enjoys the outdoors, playing golf, hiking, biking and kayaking. He is a huge fan of all Wisconsin sports teams.

• Kenyon College
• UW–Madison, PhD Student, Psychology

Ben is originally from Andover, Massachusetts. He received his bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College in Ohio where he graduated with honors in psychology and a concentration in
English. While at Kenyon, Ben was the president of a local tutoring organization (the Partnership of East Knox and Kenyon College) where he tutored middle and high school students in math and English. After graduating from Kenyon, Ben worked at Standford’s Graduate School of Business as a research coordinator in the Behavioral Lab. While working in the Behavioral Lab, Ben discovered his interest in human decision making. In 2020 Ben joined the Brauer Group Lab at UW–Madison to research how social psychology could help us better understand (and mitigate) anthropogenic climate change. As a PhD student, Ben was a teaching assistant for the undergraduate introduction to psychology and research methods courses as well as the graduate level statistics course. In his free time, Ben enjoys playing videogames, cross country skiing, and biking around Madison.

• University of Minnesota – BA History
• University of Minnesota Law School – JD
• UCLA – Certificate in College Counseling

Beth joins the Galin Education team with extensive experience working one-on-one with students and families to achieve their college admissions goals. Helping students find the right academic, personal, and financial fit at a college where they will thrive is both her vocation and avocation.

After practicing corporate law in Minnesota and Michigan, Beth moved to Wisconsin and became an active school volunteer in Fort Atkinson and at Edgewood High School in Madison. She has served as the president of the School District of Fort Atkinson Board of Education and chairman of the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, where she was also a frequent member of selection committees for the foundation’s local scholarship program.

• Marquette University, BA Broadcast and Electronic Communication
• Marquette University, MA Leadership Studies
• Marquette University, MA School Counseling

Brian spent almost a decade in the world of education. He is a former Admissions Counselor at Marquette University. He served as the Director of College Counseling at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois and as a generalist school counselor at Wauwatosa East High School before becoming the Director of College Counseling at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee, WI. He is an author, speaker, and father.

• University of Wisconsin Stout, B.S. Hospitality Management
• CESA #1 Wisconsin, Special Education License
• Edgewood College, Reading Teacher License

Cameron was born and raised in Manitowoc, WI and moved to Menomonie, WI to study Hospitality Management at UW-Stout. After graduation, Cameron worked in Minneapolis in the hospitality industry but made the change to teaching when she moved to Madison. While teaching, Cameron received her teaching license from CESA #2 and her reading teacher license from Edgewood College. Cameron was a special education teacher in Stoughton, Verona and McFarland before leaving teaching to pursue a job in Edtech.

Cameron enjoys cooking, reading, baking, biking, reading and exploring Wisconsin. Cameron also spends time owning a photography business in the Madison, WI area.

• UW-Madison, BA, Political Science & Sociology; Northwestern University, MS, Strategic Communications

Charlie grew up in Oak Park, a western suburb bordering Chicago, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated with Distinctive Scholastic Achievement from the College of Letters and Science, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology. With a strong passion for education and student support, Charlie furthered his expertise by completing a Certificate in College Counseling at UCLA and recently completed a Master’s in Strategic Communication at Northwestern University.

Charlie holds over a decade of experience in college counseling, scholarship recruiting, and program management. In his current role at Northwestern University’s Academy for Chicago Public Schools, he provides 1:1 and group advising to highly motivated Chicago-area students, assisting with course selection, financial aid, and the college application process. Charlie has a proven track record of guiding students to selective colleges, achieving a 98% enrollment rate at four-year institutions and significantly increasing the number of students attending “Most Competitive” schools. During his time at Posse Chicago, he not only worked directly with students but also collaborated with university admissions teams, including those at Cornell University and St. Olaf College, to recruit and select students for full-tuition, merit-based leadership scholarships. This experience has given Charlie insight into both sides of the admissions process—supporting students in their applications and understanding what universities look for in prospective scholars.

Beyond his professional roles, Charlie is actively involved in the community, serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Cook County’s foster care system and conducting scholarship interviews with the Posse Foundation. He has presented at national conferences on various facets of the college admissions process, including youth resilience, teen mental health, and narrative storytelling.

Charlie sees the college research and application process as a valuable opportunity for students to explore their interests, build on their strengths, and discover their future paths. In his free time, he enjoys hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, trying new restaurants in Chicago, and walking along the Lake Michigan shore.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, BA, Political Science
• University of Illinois-Chicago, MEd, Educational Policy Studies

Charlie grew up in Middleton, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At UW-Madison, Charlie studied Political Science while spending his summers as a camp counselor in the Madison area. He played for the UW-Madison club lacrosse team, and spent the summer of 2016 as an intern in First Lady Michelle Obama’s administration.

After graduating, Charlie moved to Chicago and taught high school English for students with unique learning challenges at Chicago Bulls College Prep. He also served as a student advisor and football coach while at Bulls Prep. He attended the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he received a Master’s degree in Educational Policy Studies and is now working on a PhD in the same field.

Charlie’s experience as a student advisor provided him with lots of experience in executive function coaching and college readiness. In his free time, Charlie enjoys playing golf, camping, and rooting on the Badgers, Packers, Brewers, and Bucks.

• UW-La Crosse, B.S., Biology, Minor in Neuroscience.

Christina grew up an hour east of the Twin Cities and attended the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse. At La Crosse, she studied Biology with plans to work in the healthcare field. She found she really enjoyed chemistry. She worked as a chemistry tutor in the Murphy Learning Center, as well as a tutor for Upward Bound, a college readiness program for high school students. Other involvements during her time at UWL included participating in the Healthcare Case Competition with Wisconsin Area Health Education Centers, helping construct and distribute My Maroon Apron Meal kits at UWL (free paper bag meal kits for college students), volunteering at HorseSense (therapeutic horseback riding for veterans and individuals with disabilities), and the serving on the officer team of the UWL Eta Phi Alpha Honor Society as Secretary and Vice President. She worked as a certified nursing assistant and clinical research fellow in the summers between academic years.

When it comes to healthcare related fields, Christina has a lot of experience, and can offer some guidance to students interested in fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, and many allied health professions. In her free time, Christina enjoys hiking, cooking, crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

• Northwestern University, BA Political Science and Slavic Languages and Literature
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, MPA Public Affairs

Dan has been an ACT and SAT test prep tutor with Galin since 2013. Dan grew up near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in high school was a National Merit Semifinalist. He attended Northwestern University, and during his junior year spent a summer studying abroad in Prague. After graduating from Northwestern, Dan moved to Chicago, where he worked as a paralegal at a consumer rights firm. Dan then moved to Madison to pursue his master’s degree at the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison. Currently, Dan works at UW-Madison with the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative (WEC) within the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER). There, he conducts qualitative and quantitative research and program evaluation for K-12 projects and initiatives in schools and districts across the state and region. Outside of work and tutoring, he enjoys traveling with his wife and family, watching and playing sports, cooking, and reading about politics, current events, and history.

• Washington University in St. Louis, BA, Environmental Biology

Eddie grew up in Manassas, VA an hour from Washington, DC and attended Washington University in St. Louis. At WashU, he studied Environmental Biology while minoring in Sociology and Jazz Studies. He was part of the Pathfinder Program in Environmental Sustainability, a selective interdisciplinary cohort providing academic rigor and field experience to deeply understand environmental challenges. Led by Dr. Ray Arvidson, the program included field studies of the Ozarks, the Mojave Desert, Death Valley, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that fostered his love of nature and ecology. Eddie also played varsity soccer his freshman year, tutored “college-bound at-risk youth” in the STL community his sophomore year with Each One Teach One, and served as a key member all four years in a music centered community service group called Beat Therapy.

In his professional career, Eddie has enjoyed a variety of experiences in STEM. He worked at the Danforth Plant Science Center researching Root System Architecture in the Topp Lab before moving to Madison in 2020 to work at Epic in cardiology implementation. After Epic, he was a chemist for three years primarily studying renewable fuels made from plants. He now enjoys teaching private music lessons and tutoring while playing in bands on the weekends.

You can find Eddie meandering through the arboretum, sipping americanos at a cafe, playing soccer at the park, cooking at home, or obsessing over English Premier League in his free time!

• University of Wisconsin – Madison, BS, Psychology
• University of Wisconsin – Madison, Certificate, Mathematics
• University of Wisconsin – Madison, MSW, Mental Health Focus Area (In Progress)

Ella was born and raised in Albania. She immigrated to the United States with her parents and older brother in 2010. Learning a new language was initially very challenging and even discouraging at times, especially as related to academics. After overcoming some of the initial hurdles, Ella was able to graduate high school and attend the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She initially studied Computer Science and Mathematics, which is when she earned her certification in Mathematics. She has always excelled and enjoyed Mathematics but realized her interests leaned more towards helping others in a more direct way. Ella shifted her academic path to Psychology and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in just 3.5 years, becoming a first-generation college graduate. She is continuing her education in the upcoming Fall 2023 at the University of Wisconsin – Madison by pursuing a Master of Social Work with a mental health focus area. Ella hopes to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and practice therapeutic services among teenage and youth populations. Ella shares a particular interest in serving underrepresented populations and working with youth in the state and federal criminal justice system. In her free time, Ella enjoys partaking in many creative outlets such as painting, reading (mostly educational self-help books), cooking, and hiking. She always loves to watch, and sometimes rewatch, her favorite shows and movies. Most importantly, she enjoys taking care of her endearing 3-year-old Pitbull mix rescue named Gigi!

• University of Wisconsin- Madison, B.A., Psychology with a Certificate in Jewish Studies
• University of Wisconsin- Madison, M.S., Curriculum and Instruction

Ellen grew up between the coasts, living in Swampscott, MA and Palo Alto, CA. She came to Madison for college, fell in love with the city and her husband Ben who was born and raised here, and never left. Summer is Ellen’s favorite season and nothing beats summer in Madison! When she was in college, Ellen started working at Camp Shalom as the Assistant Director which led to a 22 year long career at the Jewish Federation of Madison (JFM) working with children and families. During her time at the JFM, she taught preschool, Directed the MIdrasha Hebrew High School program, developed community activities and was lucky to spend her summer days outdoors as the Director of Camp Shalom. Ellen loves finding creative ways to engage people in learning. She is currently teaching a class of Kindergarten- Third grade students at Beth Israel Center’s afterschool Jewish education program.

Ellen is excited about working at Galin Education and really looking forward to getting to know the tutors! She is excited to focus on team-building and helping to create connections between the tutors, the Galin staff, and the families.

Ellen and her husband have 2 children, a sixth grader and a second grader. They love to spend time in their neighborhood, taking walks and having bonfires in their backyard. Ellen loves to cook, bake and garden, preferably with airpods in her ears because she is a true-crime podcast junkie!

• Princeton University, B.A. Psychology
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, M.S. Psychology

Ellie grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina until she moved to New Jersey to attend Princeton University for college. Ellie graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and certificates in Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, and Linguistics. While at Princeton, Ellie served as a peer tutor in statistics and worked as a research assistant in a Developmental Psychology lab studying early language acquisition.
Now, Ellie is in graduate school at UW-Madison. Ellie earned her Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology and is currently pursing her PhD. At UW-Madison, Ellie is also completing a graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning and works as a lead teacher for the Odyssey Junior Project, a non-profit program that provides early childhood education opportunities for under-resourced families in the Madison area.
In her free time, Ellie enjoys running, baking, and spending time at the lake with her dog.

• Georgetown University, B.A. Psychology
• Suffolk University, MEd. Higher Education Administration

After six years working on college campuses in admissions and student activities, Emma is thrilled to join the college counseling team at Galin! She is currently a college counselor at a private international school in the Washington, DC area, working primarily with students attending college in the US and Canada. Her main interest is helping students find the best fit school for them where they will thrive and succeed. In addition, she coordinates the administration of the SAT suite of assessments.

After graduating from Georgetown University, Emma left her hometown of DC to get her Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration at Suffolk University in Boston. She was delighted to gain experience working in community engagement, student affairs, and college admission. She is delighted to return home, and while she loves Boston, she will not miss digging her car out of the snow!

Emma currently lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC with her partner and their crazy coonhound Banjo. In her free time, she enjoys going to the local farmers market, reading, and watching Survivor.

• The University of Texas at Austin, B.A. in International Relations and Global Studies

Emma grew up in Austin, Texas and attended The University of Texas at Austin (hook ‘em!) for her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Global Studies. Her coursework focused on International Security and Eastern European studies. While at UT Austin, Emma worked as a math tutor for grades K-12 and found her passion for education.

After graduating in 2021, Emma ended up in Wisconsin and began working as a substitute teacher in Milwaukee-area schools. She is currently pursuing her secondary teaching certificate through the act! Program at UW Oshkosh and hopes to teach high school history or geography. She also hopes to eventually pursue a Master’s degree in Education.

In her free time, Emma loves running, baking and cooking vegetarian food, learning new languages, and traveling!

• Purdue University, BS, Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, PhD (in progress), Cellular and Molecular Biology

Ena grew up in Indianapolis, IN and attended Purdue University where she graduated with honors. While at Purdue, Ena discovered her passion for virology research, working on Dengue and Zika flaviviruses. This led her to a two-year posbaccalaureate research position at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, where she studied the molecular virology of noroviruses. Following her interests, Ena is now working on her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Cellular and Molecular Biology program, where she studies host immune escape of coronaviruses. In addition, Ena participates as a TA for the undergraduate virology course at UW-Madison and is involved in her program’s outreach club. In her free time, Ena enjoys long-distance running, climbing, learning guitar, playing with her cat (Winnie) and cooking with friends.

• University of Chicago, B.A. in Philosophy and East Asian Languages and Civilization

A Madison native, Ethan is thrilled to be back in the Badger state after a 20 year journey that took him away to East and West coasts, Chicago, Colorado, and Asia.Ethan has over eight years of experience working with students both directly in the process of applying to colleges as well as reviewing applications for admission to higher education. After graduating from the University of Chicago with a BA in Philosophy in 2015, he moved to Shanghai, China where he instructed over 500 students over two years in ACT, SAT, SSAT, and AP exams covering English, Reading, Writing, and World History.

After taking the long way back to the US via the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Siberian railroads, Ethan took a position as an Admissions Counselor at UW Madison, where he worked most directly with students applying from East Asia, as well as some Wisconsin students from the Milwaukee and northern areas of the state, eventually evaluating over 3,000 unique applications. Throughout these experiences, Ethan has been driven by a passion for learning, exploring, and teaching, and is thrilled to bring the knowledge he’s acquired to help students at Galin Education. When not working with students, Ethan enjoys spending time in the outdoors, fishing, cooking, and reading.

• Montana State University, B.S. Elementary Education, B.S. Secondary Science Education
• Montana State University, M.S. Science Education

Erika was born and raised in Montana and earned her degrees in education from Montana State University. Right after graduation, she began teaching middle school math and science and happily did that for four years until she had the opportunity to move to France. After fifteen amazing months in the French Alps working on her master’s degree, she jumped at the chance to live in Kenya where she assisted with a research project on lions and hyenas. Once the project ended and she was back in the United States, Erika returned to the classroom to teach seventh grade math. The following year, it was time to fill the moving boxes once again and she made the move from Montana to Arizona. In Tucson, Erika worked as an academic coach at the University of Arizona helping students on academic probation at risk of being dismissed from the university because of their low GPAs. She also worked closely with students who tested below college level math, both as an academic coach and as an adjunct faculty member at Pima Community College. She loved her work and continued it until her second child was born, at which point she made the decision to stay at home to raise her son and daughter. Erika’s final move happened in 2019 when she landed in Laramie, Wyoming, where she now lives with her husband and children. In her spare time, Erika loves spending time outdoors with her family, especially when they are hiking, skiing, biking, canoeing or camping.

• Marquette University, B.A. Criminology & Law Studies with a minor in Psychology
• UW-Madison, M.A. Curriculum and Instruction (in progress)

After working two years with City Year Milwaukee assisting a 5th and 6th grade classroom, she is here in Madison to receive her Master of Curriculum & Instruction. Upon graduation, she will be certified to teach middle and high school in Wisconsin.

Erin loves to read, watch plays and musicals, collect funky sweaters, and travel – she has been to 9 countries!

• College of DuPage, AA & EMT Certificate
• North Central College, BA, Political Science & Speech Communication
• Alverno College, MA, Education
• Marquette University, MA, Political Science
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ph.D., Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis

Gabbi grew up in Naperville, Illinois where she attended North Central College and graduated Magna Cum Laude. While at North Central, she was part of the speech and debate team in which she earned three national and five state titles, and was named an American Forensics Association All-American. She was also president of the NCC College Democrats, a member of the Model United Nations team, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters, served as a Communication Department Preceptor, and also worked as an EMT-B. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, Blue Key Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta, and Pi Sigma Alpha. After graduating with her Bachelor’s, she joined Teach for America-Milwaukee where she worked as a special education teacher, speech and debate coach, and tutor in Milwaukee Public Schools while also earning her Master’s in Education. She holds an additional Master’s from Marquette University in Political Science. Currently, she is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis department where she is researching the K-12 landscape and how to make it more equitable for all students.

When it comes to working with students, Gabbi has a plethora of experience in advising, tutoring, teaching, and coaching students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Gabbi believes that every student is unique and capable of achieving their goals and works with students to do just that. In her free time, she looks to cook, listen to music, read, travel abroad, and be a dog mom to the best boy, Isaiah.

• Beloit College, BA International Relations and Chinese Language and Culture, minor in Anthropology

Gabby is a Madisonian through and through! She grew up on the west side of Madison, WI, where she attended Memorial High School; however, she spent her senior year of high school abroad in Taipei, Taiwan. She completed her undergraduate degree in Beloit at Beloit College, graduating as one of two female students in her class with a 4.0.

During her time at Beloit, Gabby found a passion for education. Her freshman year she became a writing center tutor, and then at the start of her sophomore year she began working in the city school district as an AVID tutor at Aldrich Middle School and Beloit Memorial High School. Her involvement further expanded her junior year when she began serving the Beloit community as an Upward Bound Mentor.

After graduating she returned to Madison for work until she was accepted as a Fulbright Grantee to Taiwan. From 2022-2023, Gabby taught elementary school students English and STEAM in Taitung, Taiwan.

Having just come home, Gabby is excited to refamiliarize herself with the Madison community, and is currently working as a special education assistant at Emerson Elementary.

In her free time, Gabby enjoys reading, volleyball, tennis, walking her dogs, and building out her new soon-to-be home on wheels with her partner.

• Emerson College, BFA. Writing, Literature and Publishing
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, MFA. Poetry

Gabby grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. She received her BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing at Emerson College where she spent much of her time interning at different literary agencies and publishing houses throughout Boston. She then went on to complete her MFA in Poetry at The University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she currently teaches Introduction to Composition. Gabby continues to work on her poetry, which has appeared in River Styx, Waxwing, and The Colorado Review.

• Davidson College – BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
• Wake Forest University – MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (ongoing)

Having spent her whole life in North Carolina, Genevieve is thrilled to now be in Madison! During her time in undergrad at Davidson College, she was Mock Trial captain and treasurer, and graduated magna cum laude with honors in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Now, she is pursuing her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. She has previously worked with students at Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP), and has worked as a tutor since 2019. In her free time, she hosts a podcast on positive reinforcement horse training and enjoys going on long walks with her dog, Rupert.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., English Literature with Certificate in Education & Educational Services

Grace grew up in rural Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison. At UW-Madison, she studied English and education and worked in a residential learning community overseeing programming and seminar courses designed to help first-year students be successful in college. Grace spent two summers advising undecided and exploring students at UW-Madison’s new student orientation program. She also worked with a college access nonprofit called Matriculate for three years, mentoring high-achieving, low-to-moderate-income high school students through all aspects of their college application process.

She loves helping to take the uncertainties out of students’ college applications! In her free time, Grace enjoys reading, baking, and playing with her cat.

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA Political Science and Global Studies
• University of Wisconsin, MS, Sociology
• University of Wisconsin, PhD, Sociology (ABD)

Griffin is a PhD candidate in the Sociology Department at UW-Madison who specializes in quantitative methodology. He’s originally from Kansas City, Missouri and holds a BA in Political Science (UNC-Chapel Hill, highest honors) and MS in Sociology from UW-Madison, and he is proud to call all three states home.

Griffin tutors both the ACT/SAT and academic math and social science. He is particularly fond of lecturing statistics and is a multiple award-winner of prizes for teaching from UW-Madison, especially for his work as a lecturer for SOC360, Statistics for Social Science I.

In his free time, he has myriad interests: lifting weights and competing in 5ks; chess and puzzling; playing and listening to music (he was a radio DJ at Chapel Hill); and training and walking with his dog, Eleanor. Joining him in all of these activities is his lovely fiancee, Sophie, who is a math teacher at Spring Harbor Middle School.

• UW-Madison, BS, Genetics & Genomics
• UW-Madison, MA, MPAS-MPH Dual Degree (in progress)

Jacob grew up in Monona, a suburb of Madison, and attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison. At Madison, he studied Genetics & Genomics along with a certificate in Global Health with intentions to work in the healthcare field. He worked as an undergraduate researcher in a Neurosurgery lab studying inflammation pathways due to spinal cord injuries. Through this role, he was able to progress into a leadership position where he led projects in the lab and had work published in medical journals. Additionally, he volunteered at Madison Children’s Museum, working in close conjunction with museum staff on the rooftop. He worked as a certified nursing assistant at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison as well as an Emergency Technician during both school and the summers. More recently, Jacob has started graduate school at UW studying public health and beginning the Physician Assistant program this spring.

When it comes to healthcare related fields, Jacob has a lot of experience, and can offer guidance to students in a wide assortment of health professions. In his free time, Jacob enjoys being outdoors, staying active, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

• Former Director of Admissions at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
• University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – BS Journalism
• George Washington University – MA Education and Human Development

Throughout the course of her career Jane has gained a variety of higher education experiences at both public and private universities on the east coast and in the Midwest. She has advised prospective and current students at the undergraduate, graduate and professional school levels. Most recently, she served as the Director of MD Admissions at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Jane feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to guide students at various stages of their education. She understands that each applicant has specific and unique needs, allowing her to offer supportive and useful techniques while they navigate the application process. Jane also enjoys working with reapplicants and individuals who may have graduated a while ago, but are seeking a career change that will allow them to reach their personal and life goals.

Jane and her husband live in Madison WI with their rescue dog, Stickley. She loves reading, trivia and word games, hiking and traveling.

• UW-Madison, BS, Computer Science
• Edgewood College, Secondary Ed. Certification, Mathematics (in-progress)
• Edgewood College, MA, Education (in-progress)”

Jared spent many formative years in Elyria, OH before moving to Mount Horeb, WI with family in time to start high school there. He attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison for his undergraduate work in Computer Science and continued to live in Madison upon graduation. After graduating, Jared served three years as an AmeriCorps member with Achievement Connections doing math tutoring inside public high schools in Madison after graduation and later took on the Tutor Coordinator role for the program at East High for two years. Jared has also done organizational work with the Pennsylvania Center for Folklore while completing graduate coursework in public history at Penn State – Harrisburg. These tutoring and educational experiences have inspired Jared to continue tutoring mathematics while also pursuing certification to teach mathematics at the secondary level. In what little free time Jared has left, he enjoys reading and sampling the varied coffee offerings across the Madison area.

• UW-Madison, BS History, Economics & Secondary Education
• UW-Madison, MS Special Education

Jay, though born in Madison, grew up in Whitefish Bay, WI. and then moved back to Madison for his college education. He enjoyed Madison life and found a challenging education career, so Madison became home. After a couple years as a substitute teacher, he joined the staff at La Follette High School and worked in the Special Education Dept. with a focus on teaching English and reading strategies for students with dyslexia. Besides his teaching duties, Jay had a private tutoring practice with a focus on reading and math, which led to a tutoring position in the UW-Madison Athletic Dept. Subsequently, he accepted a permanent full-time position as an Academic Specialist, which involved mentoring and tutoring student-athletes. Jay has always enjoyed the challenge of fostering students’ success. In addition to an academic life, Jay enjoys traveling, Badger sports, running, tennis and weekly trivia outings with friends.

• UW-Madison, BS Elementary Education / Science

Jay comes to Galin following a 37 year public school career featuring 28 years teaching sixth grade followed by nine years focused on 8th grade science. Connecting those experiences were 30 years coordinating the Waunakee Summer Science Program for incoming 7th graders. This immersive, hands-on program has been considered one of Waunakee’s unique highlights. Writing and publishing curriculum and resources for other staff have been part of the journey. Upon retirement this June, Jay will join Wave Reaction in Waunakee as a trainer and member of the tech support team.

Family life in Waunakee includes his wife Denise, a third grade teacher in Waunakee and children Maddie and Ben. Maddie is a junior at Butler, and Ben is set to start his freshman year at LaCrosse this fall. Hobbies include playing electric and acoustic guitar alone and with interested others along with fishing and woodworking.

• Moravian University, BS Biological Sciences
• University of Pennsylvania, MA Integrated Science Education
• UW-Madison, PhD Curriculum and Instruction in Science Education

Jeff was born and raised in New Jersey and attended Moravian University, one of the ten oldest colleges in the United States. After a number of career changes, Jeff found a passion for teaching and working toward equity and excellence in education. Settled into a decade of teaching in the Camden City District, where he began as a middle school teacher. He was later reassigned to the Brimm Medical Arts High School, where he taught a variety of classical and medical-related biology classes. While in Camden, Jeff was awarded a National Science Foundation Grant to attend the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed a variety of science and mathematics courses that helped connect science and math to student sense-making skills. After ten years in Camden, Jeff moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he substituted in a variety of schools and worked in the realm of virtual instruction. He attended the University of Wisconsin’s School of Education and coached preservice science and math teachers in various schools around Madison. Jeff recently earned his Ph.D. with his dissertation, which explored STEM education and the context of engineering across science, society, and history. In his free time, he enjoys cooking for his family and walking his dog.

• Suffolk University, Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education Administration
• Tufts University, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Jen Earls (she/hers) has over 6 years of pre-medical advising experience, namely at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA where she advised hundreds of applicants on applying to MD, MD-PhD, and DO programs nationwide with a 96% acceptance rate. She is also trained as a Professional Career Counselor and has a 360Reach Personal Branding Certification; she leverages her specialized expertise to help applicants gain the essential experiences, skills and confidence they need to be prepared to apply and successfully articulate their experiences in medical school applications and interviews. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education Administration from Suffolk University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Tufts University. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, meditating and spending time in the mountains of Asheville, NC with her husband.

• Mount Olive University, B.A. English
• Edgewood College, Lifetime Teaching License-English, Early Adolescence-Adolescence

Jenn was born on the west coast but grew up mostly on the east coast. Upon graduation, she left Connecticut as an active duty member of the United States Air Force. After spending four years as an Air Traffic Controller, she attended Mount Olive University where she majored in English. While Jenn’s original plan was to continue her academic path in NC, relocation moved her to Wisconsin, where she decided to pursue her teaching license at Edgewood College.

Jenn spent 11 years teaching high school English and loved making connections with humans of all ages. While she has taken a break from the traditional classroom, Jenn continues to find ways to pursue her love of writing, literature, and building connections. She currently works throughout Wisconsin, providing individual skill development and enhancement services.

When she is not reading, you can find Jenn travelling to tropical locations, binge watching series/shows on whatever platform you can think of, and spending time with her family.

• Brown University, BA, Political Science
• Columbia University Teachers College, MA, School Leadership

Jermaine grew up in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut area and attended Avon Old Farms School for high school. He later went on to Brown University, where he majored in political science. During his time at Brown, he played on the club rugby team, wrote for The Brown Daily Herald, and was a regular contributor to the university’s radio station, WBRU.

After graduating, Jermaine pursued several careers, including working in the insurance industry and local government. However, most of his professional life has been dedicated to teaching at independent schools in New England, most recently at Phillips Academy where he served as Associate Director of College Counseling and Kingswood Oxford, where he taught history.

In his free time, Jermaine enjoys coaching his son’s soccer team and is an avid supporter of Arsenal in the Premier League.

• Cardinal Stritch University
• National Board Certified Special Education Teacher & Reading Specialist

I am a National Board Certified Special Education Teacher & Reading Specialist with 26 years of experience. I have worked with a diverse community of learners at both the middle and high school level for my entire career. I worked in Seattle Washington for several years as a Highly Qualified Language Arts Teacher. I earned my masters degree at Cardinal Stritch University as well as my reading specialist license. I became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2008. I have worked for the Madison Metropolitan School District for the past four years. I currently teach at Lafollete High School as a case manager & advocate.

Literacy is my area of passion and expertise. My greatest love is teaching the process of written language. I also have an extensive background in executive functioning strategies & research and using that work to support student success in the general education setting as part of a student’s post secondary goals.

When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy every moment I can with my 13 year old son, my 3 cats, and in my garden. I love being outdoors and poolside during the summer.

• Stanford University – B.A. English
• University of Hawaii – M.Ed. Educational Leadership

Jessie is thrilled to work with Galin families in college admissions and essay coaching. Jessie built her expertise serving for five years as director of college counseling at a Southern California boarding prep school. There, she guided students from ninth grade entry through college acceptances. Each fall, she hosted 80 college representatives on campus, and led parent information nights on topics like financial aid, athletic recruiting, and understanding the UC system. She has toured colleges from Maine to Hawaii, and visits new schools each year.

A resident of Los Angeles County, Jessie also works as a freshman admissions reader for Occidental College (Oxy) in LA, evaluating 500 applications a year. She brings this inside perspective to her college-counseling and essay-coaching clients.

Families appreciate Jessie’s nuanced understanding of selective college admissions, as well as her encouraging style, calm optimism, and clear process. She considers it a privilege to work with teenagers, and share her insights with them. For Jessie, college admissions is best approached holistically, keeping student wellbeing at the center.

Prior to Galin, she held a variety of positions in California private schools including director of communications, fundraiser, and history teacher. Earlier in her career, she founded a PR firm in San Francisco, and ran ESL classes for an international student organization. One of her favorite experiences was teaching English in Slovakia, where her middle-aged students had been learning English from Beatles albums.

Jessie is a member of NACAC, WACAC, and CHADD (Children and Adults with ADD) and she has special fondness for students who have overcome learning challenges. She attended the 2019 IECA summer conference at Claremont McKenna College, and enjoys writing on education issues. She has two teenage sons. Her hobbies include bass guitar, running, tennis, gardening, books, coffee, and real bread.

• Northwestern University, BS Radio/TV/Film
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, MA Communication Arts (Film)
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, PhD Communication Arts (Film)

JJ grew up in the Milwaukee area before attending Northwestern University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Radio/TV/Film. JJ continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned both a master’s degree and a PhD in the Communication Arts department’s film program. His dissertation explored the history of product placement in the movies. During his time at UW-Madison, JJ taught various classes on film production, film history, and film aesthetics. In 2020, he was granted the Vance and Betty Kepley Award for excellence in teaching. Currently, JJ works as the researcher for the popular film podcast Blank Check with Griffin and David. In his free time, believe it or not, JJ enjoys watching movies, but he also likes to craft playlists of music new and old, play tennis and basketball, and tour the Madison area’s many public parks with his wife and daughter.

• UW-Madison, D.M.A. Music Composition

Joachim was born in Ohio and grew up in western Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music composition at Brigham Young University, where he tutored ESL and worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant in introductory sociology as well as music orchestration. He also undertook several years of foreign language study, including advanced courses in Spanish, Arabic, and Persian.

After beginning his graduate studies at UW-Madison, Joachim worked for the PEOPLE Program serving for two years as an Academic Lead in English and social studies at Memorial High School. He later worked as a graduate teaching assistant at the Mead Witter School of Music for three years, followed by a semester as a TA for the Life Sciences Communication department.

Joachim loves composing music, playing piano, reading articles about science and geopolitics, and trying new recipes with his air fryer.

• University of Lynchburg, BA, Psychology
• LaSalle University, MA, Clinical Counseling Psychology

Joel grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and attended the University of Lynchburg in Virginia (then Lynchburg College) and LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA. At both universities, he studied Psychology with the intention of working with children and teenagers. Joel has worked in two different high schools for the past 27 years assisting students and their families with social-emotional issues, academic advising, and all aspects of the college process. During that same time, Joel served in the leadership cycle of the College Board’s Regional Council advising the College Board on educational policies and developing professional development for those involved with college counseling. He also served in the Presidential cycle of the Potomac & Chesapeake Association of College Admission Counseling working with college admissions professionals both regionally and nationally. Joel is also on the high school advisory boards of several colleges and universities.

Joel thoroughly enjoys assisting students as they navigate their college process, helping them find that right post-secondary fit. It’s been an honor to work in this field for the last quarter century! In his personal time, Joel enjoys coaching baseball and football, 80s music and movies, spending time with his family and relaxing on a sunny beach.

• Lake Forest College, B.A. in Biology and Politics, minor in Data Science
• UW-Madison, Ph.D.(in progress) in Epidemiology

Jovana was born and raised in North Macedonia until her junior year of high school when she moved to Bosnia and Herzegovina to attend the United World College, an international network of schools where she lived and studied with around 200 students from over 75 countries in the world. After graduating from high school, she spent 9 months in Senegal volunteering as an English Teaching Assistant in a middle school and as an apprentice in a tailoring shop.

Jovana earned her undergraduate degree in Biology and Politics at Lake Forest College in Illinois, where she worked as an academic tutor, library supervisor, and was involved in multiple research groups and organizations on campus such as Student Government and Women in STEM. She is currently a PhD student in Epidemiology at UW-Madison, and works as a Project Assistant in a lab focusing on determining the genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.

In her free time, Jovana likes to go on runs, walks and hikes, read books, and explore new places such as small towns, cafes, and restaurants.

• Marquette University, BA English and History
• UW-Milwaukee, MA English Literature and Cultural Theory
• UW-Milwaukee, PhD English Literature and Cultural Theory

Julia grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, but fell in love with Milwaukee and has called it home since she first arrived for college. While completing her bachelor’s at Marquette, Julia was a writing tutor at the Ott Memorial Writing Center, as well as a course-embedded tutor working closely with STEM students throughout the semester to revise their writings.

After undergrad, Julia decided to stay in Milwaukee and begin graduate school at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in English literature, where she is currently in the midst of her PhD. She works at UWM as a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of English, where she teaches introductory composition and literature courses to undergraduates. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Milwaukee and traveling to different cities.

• UW-Oshkosh, BS, Biomedical Sciences

Julia grew up in Appleton Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. At Oshkosh, she studied biomedical sciences with hopes of attending graduate school to become a Physician Assistant. Julia’s involvements during her time at UWO include working as a general chemistry tutor at the Academic Resource Center, serving as the Pre-Physician Assistant Chairman of the UWO Pre-Medical Society, and volunteering at Christine Ann (a local domestic violence shelter). Between academic years, Julia worked as a certified nursing assistant. Currently, Julia is a graduate student in the dual degree Master’s of Public Health and Physician Assistant Studies program at UW-Madison.

Regarding healthcare-related fields, Julia has a lot of experience and can offer some advice to students interested in fields related to medicine and allied health professions. In her free time, Julia enjoys reading, cooking, swimming, and spending time with her friends and family.

• Northwestern University, B.A. in Political Science
• DePaul University, MA in Education, Culture, and Society

A Chicago native, Justin is excited to join the team at Galin after a career in admissions spanning undergraduate, graduate, and high school counseling. Justin has over a decade of experience directly guiding students applying to highly selective undergraduate and graduate programs, while also reviewing thousands of applications of prospective scholars. After graduating from Northwestern University with a BA in Political Science in 2013 he immediately joined the student affairs staff at Northwestern before transitioning into the office of undergraduate admissions where he served as the regional director for the east coast region and reviewed thousands of applications across all of Northwestern’s undergraduate schools.

After starting his career at Northwestern Justin continued to grow his career in admissions and recruitment as the Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, as the Director of College Counseling at Solomon Admissions Consulting, the Director of Scholar Recruitment at Thrive Scholars, and most recently as the Assistant Director of College Counseling at the Latin School of Chicago. Throughout these experiences Justin has been driven by a desire to become an expert in all of the ways students connect to higher education while also making sure that every student he works with is seen in the fullness of who they are and has their identity expressed not only through their applications but also through their eventual home college or university.

When not working with students Justin enjoys being in nature with his dog Mojo, traveling the world with his partner Kara, and catching as many live concerts as he can.

• St. Lawrence University- BS Psychology
• Canisius College- MS Counseling Education

Kara is a certified school counselor for the state of Florida who takes pride in helping students find the perfect college fit. Currently, she is an experienced college advisor at a private school in South Florida where she focuses mainly on helping students with course selection, assisting with the formation of balanced college lists and testing plans, college application/essay editing, and creating individualized pathways to meet the students’ goals. She meets regularly with parents and students to ensure that everyone involved in the process is well informed and on track, and presents at various virtual and in person events.

Kara is a member of NACAC and SACAC, and is a firm believer in consistent professional development. She regularly attends/chaperones college tours across the United States, hosts college informational sessions, and builds relationships with college representatives.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Kara moved to Florida in 2014 to enjoy life under the sun. Mom of 3 active boys and 2 boisterous French Bulldogs, she loves good food, attending sports events, going on weekend jogs, and occasionally binging on the latest Netflix series. She is excited to join the Galin community while continuing to help students and families navigate the ever changing world of college admissions.

• University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, BA, French & Communications-Public Relations
• University of Alabama, MA, American Studies
• Teachers College-Columbia University, Certificate, College Advising

Katie grew up in Los Angeles, CA before moving to the Madison area where graduated from high school. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she studied abroad in Caen, France, and served as an intern in London, England for UWSP’s Study Abroad Office. With a career in International Education in mind, she worked as a Study Abroad Advisor at the University of Alabama while completing her master’s degree. Upon returning to Madison, she spent 12 years working in Undergraduate Admissions for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in both international and domestic students. Katie eventually became the Assistant Director of International Admissions, developing student recruitment strategies to diversify the applicant pool and leading the application evaluation process.

Currently based in Central Florida, she is an experienced college counselor at a private school, focusing on building balanced college lists, college application/essay editing, and providing families with an “insider’s” perspective on the college admissions process. She has also served as a seasonal reader for Northeastern University and UC Irvine.

When she’s not counseling students, Katie enjoys spending time with her family, travel planning, and taking advantage of her Disney Annual Pass.

• University of Notre Dame, BA Anthropology and Irish Language & Literature
• UW-Madison, MA Anthropology
• UW-Madison, PhD student in Anthropology

Kimberly is originally from the Chicago area and attended the University of Notre Dame where she received her bachelor’s in Anthropology and Irish Language and Literature. During undergraduate, she assisted in biological anthropology research involving hormones and fatherhood and archaeological research off the west coast of Ireland. In addition to her field work, she spent a semester abroad in Ireland at University College Dublin and a summer participating in language immersion in Gleann Cholm Cille, Donegal. On campus, she was involved in the Notre Dames club focused on issues that affect women both on campus and globally, as well as the Irish club.

She is a teaching assistant in the Department of Anthropology where she recently earned her Masters in Anthropology and is working towards her PhD in anthropology with her research on ceramics, foodways, and diversity in the highlands of Mexico. In her free time, she enjoys running, watching sports, and traveling with her friends.

• Iowa State University, BS Electrical Engineering
• UW-Madison, PhD Electrical Engineering

Keith graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. He was a teaching assistant and lecturer during graduate school and has been tutoring students in Math and Science for many years. Currently Keith works for the UW-Madison Department of Biochemistry. Prior to that he worked at Thermo Fisher Scientific and Cameca with a focus on electron microscopy and developing advanced scientific instruments. Keith holds professional certifications in project management, is a 6-sigma black belt and a licensed patent agent. He enjoys technology development and has a passion for nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers.

• UW-Madison, B.A. English and Journalism

Larry is a retired English teacher, spending the last 25 years of his career at Waunakee High School, just north of Madison. During his career he taught a variety of classes, including writing the initial curriculum for the English Department’s AP Language and Composition class. Along with teaching the class, Larry is a long-time Reader and a recent Table Leader for the national AP Language exam. He is also a Fellow with the Greater Madison Writing Project, including working their summer “”Rise Up and Write”” camps, designed for young, aspiring writers.

Since retirement Larry mentors new teachers as a member of the Dane County New Teacher Project, works as a College Essay Coach for Galin Education, and occasionally returns to the classroom as an AP Language long-term substitute teacher.

In his free time he enjoys fly-fishing, hiking and backpacking, and wilderness canoe trips. When not wandering the woods he enjoys reading, writing, and maintaining his rural property. Larry’s family includes his wife Carri, a counselor at Verona Area High School, three adult daughters, and his canine companion Tully — a rambunctious Golden Irish (Setter-Retriever).

• University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign – B.A., Teaching of English
• University of Utah – M.Ed., Special Education

Lynn has spent the last 22 years in Madison working with children of all ages. Lynn’s career in Madison started as a teacher in the special education department at Jefferson Middle School. She came to Jefferson after having received a Masters in Special Education from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where she lived for just over three years. While in Salt Lake, Lynn spent her free time downhill skiing and hiking in one of the more beautiful mountain ranges that surround the city: the Wasatch (which is also the name of one of her dogs). Professionally in Salt Lake, Lynn taught English at one of the city’s alternative schools, and served as the Department Chair for the Special Education Department in a Salt Lake City junior high.

Before moving to Salt Lake, Lynn taught High School English to children with behavior disorders at an alternative high school in the suburbs of Chicago. Lynn obtained her BA in the Teaching of English from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (Go Illini!).

After her third year at Jefferson, Lynn had her second child (each of whom benefited from their time at Galin Education – one (Charlie) is completing his sophomore year at UW Madison, and the other (Julia) will be heading to Ann Arbor this fall to start her college career as a Wolverine), and began what would be a 16-year career with the Jewish Federation of Madison.

Lynn started at JFM as the Camp Shalom Director, where she worked with 75 staff members (ages 16-25) and helped ensure that more than 400 children (Kindergarten thru 4th Grade) experience a summer that most look forward to repeating, and many will never forget. Also at JFM, Lynn served as the Pre-School Director, and the Financial Resources Director.

Lynn’s specialties include an uncanny ability to help students learn how to schedule and manage their activities, responsibilities and lessons, and how to just “relax.”

• University of California, Santa Barbara, B.S. Zoology
• UW-Madison, M.S. Secondary Science Education (In Progress)

Lynn grew up in sunny southern California and has since lived in France, Costa Rica, and Thailand. She received her bachelor’s degree in zoology from UC Santa Barbara and is currently pursuing her Master’s in secondary science education at UW Madison. She is passionate about the natural world and has worked as a veterinary assistant, a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator, and a field botanist.

On her days off, you can find her either writing fiction at home or identifying native flora at Devil’s Lake.

• UW-Madison – BA, Communication Sciences and Disorders; BA, Spanish
• UW-Madison – MS, Speech-Language Pathology

Lauren grew up in Eau Claire, WI, and she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her bachelor’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish. While attending the university, she was the volunteer coordinator for the university’s speech-language pathology club and worked in two research labs at the Waisman Center in the areas of Autism and bilingualism. Upon graduating, she spent half a year in Costa Rica. During this time, she lived with two host families, supported and learned from adults with disabilities, and completed an internship at the Cleft Lip and Palate Association. Lauren then completed her Master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Speech-Language Pathology. Lauren currently works as a bilingual Speech-Language Pathologist in the Madison Metropolitan School District. She is passionate about creating a team among students, families, and teachers to support her students’ academic goals. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and cooking.

• University of California, Los Angeles – BS in Cognitive Science with a Specialization in Computing
• UW-Madison – MS in Psychology
• UW-Madison – PhD (in progress) in Psychology

Lauren grew up in Bakersfield, California where she graduated from Ridgeview High School. In college, she became fascinated by the study of cognitive psychology, specifically with better understanding how individuals think and learn. Lauren graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science with a specialization in computing. As an undergraduate at UCLA, she worked as a research assistant and lab manager studying problem representation in mathematics and memory strategies. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree, Lauren worked as a test prep and math tutor for a boutique tutoring company based in Santa Monica, California. She is a passionate educator who has over four years of individualized tutoring experience under her belt. Lauren enjoys partnering with students to help facilitate their educational goals, both by supporting academic success and by encouraging a growth mindset. Lauren is currently pursuing a PhD at UW-Madison where she investigates how individuals (both adults and children) engage with patterns in mathematical contexts and the influence of such experiences on both performance and problem-solving strategies. Lauren is also interested in exploring the extent to which the ability to flexibly represent number is related to conceptions of equivalence, fraction understanding, and algebraic reasoning. After completing her PhD, Lauren hopes to become a university professor and continue to advance research in the area of mathematical cognition. In her free time, Lauren enjoys rock climbing, baking, discovering new music, and hanging out with her cats, Meow and Ronald.

• Alcorn State University, BA, Sociology

Madison is from Southfield, Michigan. She grew up with a strong dedication to education and helping others. In high school, she volunteered with “Girls Giving Back,” where she mentored and tutored middle school students in Detroit. Madison earned the Presidential Scholarship and pursued an undergraduate degree in sociology in Mississippi. While there, she volunteered at the school’s daycare center, served as the Secretary for Wellness Wednesdays (a mental health group on campus), and joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., a community-conscious, action-oriented organization. After graduating magna cum laude, she worked as a substitute teacher while preparing for graduate school. In this role, she honed her ability to foster a respectful and collaborative atmosphere, building positive relationships with students, staff, and parents.

Madison loves to travel and has visited over 20 states and 6 countries, appreciating the diversity of cultures, languages, and lifestyles she has encountered. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her new kittens, going for walks, listening to podcasts, and attending concerts. Last year, she attended over 15 concerts, including performances by Beyoncé, Victoria Monet, and Samara Joy!

• Texas Christian University – BS in Psychology and BS in Strategic Communication

Madeline loves working with students of all ages—in college, she taught elementary and middle school students supplementary lessons in an after-school program and today she spends her summers coaching swim team at Monona Grove. Madeline grew up and went to college in Texas, then moved up to Madison to work for Epic Systems as a project manager. There, she spent two-and-a-half years teaching medical professionals how to use new software and make key decisions on how that software was implemented. Currently, Madeline is a Master’s of Social Work student at UW-Madison focused on becoming a therapist working with children of all ages. Madeline also spends time outside of class teaching an introductory business course for UW-Madison business students in the fall. In her free time, Madeline loves reading true crime novels, playing video games on her PlayStation 5, and hanging out with her very anxious cat, Olive.

• Roosevelt University, BS, Psychology & Biology
• Loyola University Chicago, M.Ed., Higher Education Administration

Mariana graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Master’s degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs Administration. Her passion to guide students and provide adequate services for a successful college experience began at Roosevelt University when she was a Resident Assistant and President of the Latino Club. In college she held many leadership roles and mentored incoming freshmen from underrepresented backgrounds. Since then, Mariana has worked with both college and high school students & their families by providing expert content knowledge regarding financial aid, college access, and student support services.

As an avid traveler, Mariana found her passion to learn about different cultures through study abroad programs. While at Roosevelt University she traveled to Belize where she studied marine biology and the ecology of the second largest reef in the world. During graduate school Mariana studied global leadership at the Loyola University Felice Rome Center. Her last two trips abroad consisted of petting Llamas in the Rainbow Mountain, Peru; Coffee tasting in Colombia; waterfall chasing in Iceland, and snorkeling in Croatia’s pristine blue waters.

Mariana’s goal is to offer a unique perspective regarding higher education and adequate guidance based on student’s interests and needs; but most importantly, to inspire students find their passion and true call in life.

• Edgewood College, BS, Math Education

Marissa grew up on the west side of Madison and attended Vel Phillips Memorial High School. She participated in volleyball, basketball, track, math club, and the national honors society. She was awarded most athletic female in her graduating class and was recruited to row crew at UW Madison. In her novice year, her boat won the big ten championship in Indianapolis. She enjoyed UW Madison and rowing but decided to take on a new adventure at Edgwood College, where she would participate in basketball and track. She graduated with a major in math education and was offered a job at the same school she student taught, Madison East High School. Marissa has been a teacher at Madison East for six years, teaching many different topics including extended algebra, algebra I earned honors, geometry, geometry honors, algebra II earned honors, precalculus, and financial algebra. Her strengths are building relationships with students and social-emotional learning.

• University of Pittsburgh, B.A., History
• Boston University, M.A.T., Social Studies Education
• UW-Madison, M.A., History
• UW-Madison, Joint Ph.D. student, History and Educational Policy

Max grew up in small town Pennsylvania and earned his Master’s of Arts in Teaching at Boston University. After graduating, he taught high school history and social sciences in public schools in the Greater Boston Area for five years. Max moved to Madison in 2021 to pursue a joint Ph.D. at UW — Madison. His dissertation titled “Junior Achievement: Education and the Future of American Enterprise” focuses on the history of capitalism and business as it relates to educational programming and pedagogy in the 20th century U.S. He enjoys tackling home renovation projects in his free time where he lives with his wife and two adorable cats.

• Barnard College, Columbia University – BA, Urban Studies w/ Minor in Educational Studies
• Harvard Graduate School of Education – EdM, Education Policy & Management

Megan grew up just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she lived until moving to New York City to attend Barnard College as an undergrad. While at Barnard, she loved getting the chance to explore NYC and to develop as a leader in a women’s college environment, and she was deeply involved in several community service and youth development organizations through Columbia University. In an effort to deepen her understanding of how educational systems operate and how best to meet students’ needs, she went on to earn her Master of Education degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University. Megan is a new resident to Madison after spending several years working for a college access program in Chicago, where she helped high school students from underrepresented backgrounds build the academic skills and habits needed to gain admission to and succeed at highly selective colleges.

• Rutgers University, BA, Sociology
• Monmouth University, MA, Liberal Studies
• Former Director of Admission at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Meryle has over thirty years’ experience advising prospective applicants and re-applicants as they navigate the admissions process. She served as Director of Admissions at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical school where she was responsible for all aspects of the admissions office.  Meryle was instrumental in the early implementation of the Multiple Mini-Interview format at her institution and serves as an excellent resource for MMI strategies.  She has experience working with BA/BS MD applicants and international applicants. In addition to her role as Director of Admissions she served as manager for the Office of Education, working with current medical school students, faculty and staff.

Upon retirement she joined a medical school consulting firm on the east coast for over six years, prior to joining Galin. Meryle has a long-standing passion for engaging with students as they experience the highs and lows of their journey toward medicine by providing supportive and honest assessments.

Meryle and her husband live in southeastern North Carolina with their dog Callie.  In her free time Meryle enjoys walks with her dog, working out, reading, cooking, Mah Jongg, and is trying to learn golf.

• Washington University in St. Louis – B.S. Psychology

Michael (he/him) grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, miraculously failing to ever build a resistance towards cold weather.

Michael graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in psychology with minors in writing and computer science. He focused on educational psych and technology, researching pedagogically-sound theories of feedback and retention for an ever-digitizing world while applying his research at WashU’s Writing Center. For his work helming multiple student orgs– an Asian student body umbrella group, freestyle dance team, and founding an Asian mental health conference– he was awarded a four-year capstone for excellence in leadership and community service.

Outside of tutoring, Michael works in NYC as a digital marketing consultant and web developer for minority-owned businesses and nonprofits. Michael always enjoys cooking for his partner, dancing, and pretending that he’ll clear his immense backlog of video games.

• Marquette University–B.S. Middle and Secondary Education and History
• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Certification–73-725 (History) Early Adolescence/Adolescence – Lifetime License
• New Skills Academy–Certified Life Coach

Mike is an experienced Teacher, Counselor, Coach, and Higher Education advocate. He has a passion for educational equity and access and for guiding and inspiring students on their vocational path as they become agents of change in their communities.

Mike currently serves students at a Milwaukee-area private high school as the College, Career, and Alumni Support Coordinator. In this role, he focuses on building relationships with students and helping them navigate post-secondary options to ensure they leave ready for their chosen college or career as many are the first in their family to go to college. Prior to this role, Mike served as a Classroom Teacher and Soccer Coach and was awarded Educator of the Year in 2018.

Prior to his work within high schools, Mike served as an Admissions Counselor at Marquette University where he advised and recruited a diverse class of prospective students from Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Throughout his time at Marquette, Mike served as the Liaison to the College of Education and Coordinator of the Youth Options Dual Enrollment Program. He represented Marquette on college panels throughout the country and taught multiple college application workshops, tailored to the needs of students, and emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy in the college search process.

A native of St. Louis, MO, Mike currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his family. He is an avid fan of many sports teams (St. Louis Cardinals + Blues, Marquette Golden Eagles, Milwaukee Bucks, and Green Bay Packers), and a lover of all STL BBQ.

• Fordham University, BA History
• University of Texas at Austin, MA Russian Studies, MGPS
• UW-Madison, PhD student in Sociology

Morgan is from a city just south of Seattle, Washington. He attended Seattle University for his first two years of undergrad and then transferred to Fordham University in New York City. At Fordham, Morgan student-taught middle and high school students in math subjects from Pre-Algebra to Trigonometry. After undergrad, Morgan lived in Russia and traveled around Eastern Europe learning Russian language, culture, and history as well as meeting ambassadors and military attachés in various countries. After Russia, Morgan moved back home and tutored high school students in SAT Prep and taught high school math for a year and a half until he moved to Austin, Texas for a dual master’s degree program in Russian Studies and Global Policy Studies. During his time studying in Texas, Morgan was a teaching assistant for the history and geography departments. Currently, Morgan lives in Madison, WI as a PhD student in the sociology department at UW-Madison. In his free time, Morgan loves to watch movies (once, he went to the movie theater five times in one week), read fiction, do yoga, go hiking, workout, and discuss politics.

• University of Puget Sound, BS, Molecular and Cellular Biology
• UW-Madison, PhD, Cellular and Molecular Biology

Morgan grew up in Boise, ID where she first learned her love for the outdoors. For her undergraduate education, Morgan moved to Washington to attend the University of Puget Sound and hike in the mountains. There, she TA’d a macro-biology course, tutored fellow biology students through the Phi Sigma Biology Honors Society, and worked with local elementary students in a weekly reading program. Morgan also conducted student research during her junior and senior years of college and after graduation moved to Seattle to pursue further research opportunities.

Morgan recently completed her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at UW-Madison where she studied the innate immune response to bacterial and fungal infections. During her PhD, Morgan pursued many teaching opportunities. She mentored students in the laboratory, completed the WISCIENCE Teaching Fellows Program, and taught as an Adjunct Professor at Edgewood College. She is currently pursuing a career in biotech in the Madison area and is excited to continue mentoring and teaching students. In her free time, Morgan enjoys running, biking, and hiking outdoors, as well as baking and cooking with her husband.

• Dartmouth College, AB, Engineering Sciences
• Dartmouth College, BE, Mechatronics
• Case Western Reserve University, MEM, Engineering Management

Nate grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana before attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. While at Dartmouth, he played football and studied engineering while occasionally tutoring other students in calculus. After graduating from Dartmouth, he began working as an engineer while attending Case Western Reserve University where he graduated with a Masters in Engineering and Management. Nate still works as an engineer and is happy to offer guidance regarding different types of STEM careers. In his free time he enjoys hiking, reading, and lifting weights. He also coaches high school football in the fall.

• UW-Madison, BS, English and Gender & Women’s Studies

Noelle grew up in California and Texas before moving to Sheboygan, Wisconsin with her family as she started high school. During high school, she tutored peers and middle school students in math and science. After graduating from Kohler High School, Noelle attended UW-Madison with the goal of studying Biochemistry and pursuing a career in medical research.

At UW-Madison, she became a Letters & Science Honors student and was accepted into the Biocore Honors Biology track. Driven by a passion for social justice, Noelle served as a Biocore Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Intern, where she worked with faculty to promote equitable and safe learning environments within the program.

While pursuing her degree, Noelle developed a deep interest in English literature and writing, leading her to become a Writing Fellow in her junior year. In this role, she supported up to ten students per semester by providing feedback and guidance on their writing, helping them to refine their essays and build confidence as writers. Her role in this program motivated her to change her major to English and Gender & Women’s Studies.

Noelle also worked as a Pharmacy Technician throughout her studies, gaining valuable experience in both health and humanities. She is well-equipped to offer guidance to students exploring their interests or those with a clear vision in either field. In her free time, Noelle enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with animals.

• Baylor University, BSEd, Health, Kinesiology, and Leisure Studies
• Baylor University, MS, Sport Pedagogy

Olivia grew up in Plano, Texas and attended Baylor University where she achieved her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science degrees. While in college, she was a tutor and academic coach for other college students. During her graduate program, Olivia also taught an undergraduate level course at Baylor University.

Entering the workforce, she worked as a public school teacher at the middle and high school levels. Realizing that her passion was helping students achieve their education and professional goals, she landed a job as an admissions counselor at A.T. Still University. In this role, she advised students who were interested in becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and a Doctor of Dental Medicine. She also worked with students that were applying for other professional health science programs, such as physician assistant, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. As an admissions counselor, she took part in reviewing applications, interviewing applicants, and attending admissions committee meetings. Currently, Olivia works as a Student Success Advisor for students who are pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner. Additionally, she also reviews applications for the University of Pittsburgh Medical School.

Olivia is passionate about providing guidance to students on their journey of becoming professionals in the healthcare field. She is honored to be able to watch students grow to their full potential and to have the opportunity to partner with them during this critical time in their life. Olivia enjoys being active, traveling, and spending time with her nephew.

• Based in Madison, WI – works with students throughout the country
• St. Olaf College, BA Psychology
• Western Illinois University, MS College Student Counseling Personnel

A Madison native, Pat has been in the field of higher education for the last 12 years. Most recently, Pat served as Director of Admission at Beloit College where he oversaw domestic enrollment and recruitment. Pat enjoyed reading and assessing college applications, working with athletic coaches, and translating the financial aid process. During his time at Beloit, Pat helped to create two of the largest enrollment classes in the College’s 174-year history. Now at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Pat works with the Division of Continuing Studies in the development of enrollment strategies for the University’s accelerated graduate programs.
Pat earned his M.S. in College Student Personnel at Western Illinois University where he focused his studies on the college sophomore slump, men’s development, and students with learning disabilities. Since graduate school, Pat has presented at colleges and national conferences across the country. Pat’s wife, Jen, serves as the Director of Student Engagement at Beloit College where she helps to develop the College’s emerging student leaders. Pat and Jen spend their free time attending Badger hockey games and playing with their 3-year old son, Ollie.

• Northwestern University – B.S./M.S., journalism

Paula loves working with students and families throughout the college search and application process to identify good-fit colleges where students can thrive. She especially enjoys helping students discover more about who they are and what they seek, and witnessing their growth throughout the journey.

Before joining Galin, Paula worked as an independent marketing communications writer and editor, helping clients (including higher education institutions such as the University of Chicago, American University and Marquette University) differentiate their offerings, highlight their strengths and communicate their successes. She has been a volunteer college essay coach and is finishing the University of California-Irvine certificate program in Independent Educational Consulting.

Paula hails from suburban Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota as a high-school senior through the state’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program. After completing Northwestern’s accelerated master’s degree program in journalism, she worked at public relations firms in Chicago and Washington, D.C., as well as in corporate communications. She and her family have lived in Shorewood, Wis.,near the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, since 2006. Paula is also a volunteer with the Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program through Kids Matter Inc., supporting kids in the child welfare system.

• Former PreHealth Advisor at University of Illinois-Chicago and Academic Advisor at Midwestern University
• Miami University – B.S. Middle Childhood Education
• DePaul University – M.Ed. Counseling (College Student Development & Community Counseling)

Rachel was born and raised in Madison, WI. After graduating from Miami University (Ohio), she spent four years teaching middle school in Atlanta, GA before returning to the Midwest to earn a master’s degree in counseling and begin her career in higher education in the Chicagoland area.

Rachel has over a decade of experience working in higher education – working with both undergraduate and graduate/professional school students. As a pre-health advisor, Rachel advised students applying to professional healthcare-related programs and taught an undergraduate ‘Exploring Healthcare Careers’ course. Most recently, Rachel served as a learning specialist for a graduate/professional healthcare school where she provided academic and executive functioning support and coaching to students. With experience in career counseling, pre-health advising, learning support/coaching, and teaching, Rachel is passionate about supporting and empowering students to meet their academic and career goals and she is thrilled to be working with Galin students and families.

Rachel lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband, two kids, and two dogs. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with family and friends.

• University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, BS, Kinesiology
• University of Wisconsin – Madison, MS, Kinesiology (Motor Control & Behavior)
• University of Wisconsin – Madison, PhD (ongoing), Kinesiology (Motor Control & Behavior)

Ralph grew up in Fargo, ND, but attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, studying and earning a bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology. The year after his undergraduate studies, Ralph worked as a tutor of human anatomy and human motor control for U of MN student athletes at the Lindahl Academic Center , a lead direct care professional at Living Well Disability Services in Inver Grove Heights, MN, and as a behavioral therapist for autistic children and adolescents at the Minnesota Autism Center in Eagan, MN.

Following this year of work experience, Ralph attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison for graduate school, where he earned a master of science degree in kinesiology, with a specialty in motor control and behavior. During his graduate studies, Ralph has presented his research at multiple academic conferences held by the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and the North American Society for the Psychology of Physical Activity (NASPSPA). In addition to his role as a researcher, Ralph has also instructed several university courses as a TA, lead TA, and instructor, including human anatomy, motor learning, and statistics. As a doctoral candidate, Ralph’s current research interests for his dissertation are a combination of his experiences, studying the influence of motor task difficulty on visual gaze activity and upper- and lower-limb motor performance, as well as differences in motor performance between autistic and non-autistic individuals. After graduation, Ralph’s goal is to work either as a tenure-track professor or in industry.

Outside of his work and studies, Ralph enjoys cooking, playing board games, and exercising, especially biking, running, swimming, as well as playing racquetball and frisbee. Ralph also enjoys spending time at home and traveling with his wife, son, and two dogs, with a highlight being their Europe trip to Germany, Czech Republic, UK, and Italy last summer!

• University of Iowa, PhD, Mathematics
• University of Iowa, MA, Mathematics
• Kettering University, BS, Applied Mathematics
• Kettering University, BS, Computer Science

Rebeccah grew up just south of Boston where she attended a local public high school and fell in love with both math and teaching math. She tutored her fellow students and held study groups to prepare for midterms and finals. This led to her life of studying mathematics and preparing for a career teaching mathematics at the university level. After finishing her PhD in 2019, Rebeccah moved to Wisconsin and began her career teaching mathematics first at University of Wisconsin – Parkside and now at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. When she’s not immersed in helping students achieve their academic goals, Rebeccah enjoys gardening, reading, and perfecting the art of baking sourdough bread.

• Valparaiso University, BS, Psychology and Sociology
• UW-Madison, MSW, School Social Work (in progress)

Rebekah grew up in Madison, WI and received a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Valparaiso University. She was also a member of the Christ College Honors College during her time at VU. She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Social Work at UW-Madison on the school social work track. Rebekah hopes to stay in Madison after graduate school and work as a school social worker in a Madison middle or high school. She is passionate about access to education and supporting students and their families. Outside of school, Rebekah enjoys reading, playing outside with her golden retriever, and exploring nature.

• University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, BBA Business Administration
• Roosevelt University, MEd Education
• Argosy University, MA Community Counseling

Scott received his Bachelors in Business Administration from the University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He went on to earn both a teaching certification and a Master’s degree in Education from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Scott spent seven years working for a Chicago charter school network. He started as a middle school special education teacher before becoming a special education program administrator at two charter schools.

While working in special education, Scott also earned a Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Argosy University and became a Licensed Professional Counselor. For six years, he worked at a private counseling practice near Chicago. He specialized in providing executive functioning coaching, academic coaching, and individual counseling for high-achieving, under-performing students.

Scott combines his unique expertise in special education, school administration, and therapeutic counseling to foster meaningful relationships with clients. His main goal is to help direct students along the path to self-directed learning, executive functioning skillsets, personal growth, and independence. In his free time, Scott likes to read pop culture history books, water-ski, and play softball.

• The Ohio State University, BA, Criminology and Sociology
• The Ohio State University, MA, Public Policy and Management

Sierra has over thirteen years of experience working in selective college admissions, undergraduate recruitment, college student development, college counseling and career advising. The first in her family to attend college, Sierra earned a B.A. in Criminology and Sociology from The Ohio State University, where she was heavily involved in student government and community service and worked as a K-8 college access guide and telecounselor in the Undergraduate Admissions office. Having discovered a passion for college access and educational equity, Sierra accepted a full-time position in the Undergraduate Admissions office at Ohio State upon graduating with her B.A. in 2011 and spent the next decade leading large teams of college recruiters, supporting college student-athlete recruitment programs, reviewing thousands of college applications and coaching hundreds of college student employees to plan for their future and land their dream jobs.

In 2021, Sierra transitioned to a career in K-12 education and currently works as a College and Career Advising Manager for a nonprofit in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, helping high school students who will also be the first in their families to attend college gain admission to the right school for them and helping others understand and navigate their career and military options. Through this work, she has become quite skilled at helping younger students discover and develop their career interests and assisting older students in creating balanced college lists, perfecting their college admissions essays and showcasing their authentic selves in their application materials. She’s excited to put her knowledge, experience and passion to work for YOU as a member of the Galin Education team.

When she’s not coaching students, Sierra is one herself, currently working on an M.A. in Public Policy and Management at Ohio State. She spends her free time playing with her nieces and nephews, attending Broadway musicals and watching the latest Netflix crime thriller.

• UW-Madison, BA, English, History, International Studies
• University of St Andrews, MLitt, Modern History

Sophia is a Wisconsin native and spent the majority of her childhood in Madison. She completed her undergraduate education and received comprehensive honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began as a double major in English and International Studies and eventually added a third major, History, as she discovered her interest in the subject. She also minored in European Studies, Art History, and Folklore. At UW-Madison she wrote for various on-campus publications and writing organizations, eventually becoming Deputy Editor in Chief for the Wisconsin International Review and Editor in Chief of Souvenirs magazine under the Wisconsin Union Directorate. She was also on editorial boards for the undergraduate literary journal The Madison Review and the undergraduate history journal Archive. She spent her junior year abroad studying at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Following her experiences studying abroad she decided to complete her Masters in Modern History at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, studying 18th and 19th century British history. However, Sophia has a wide variety of interests and enjoys learning about many different historical and contemporary topics. In her free time she enjoys creative writing, reading, traveling, walking outside, and spending time with her dog and cat.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, BS, Community and Nonprofit Leadership
• Marquette University, M.Ed., Educational Policy and Leadership

Staci was born and raised in Racine, WI and received her B.S. at University of Wisconsin-Madison. While in college, Staci tutored reading and writing at local public schools, studied abroad, played softball, and worked as a campus tour guide which led her to her passion for working with college-bound students.

Since moving to Milwaukee for an AmeriCorp year of service at College Possible, Staci has been working in college access and success. Staci worked at Marquette University as an undergraduate admission counselor while earning her M.Ed. in Educational Policy and Leadership. Staci has also worked reviewing admission applications for the Wisconsin School of Business and teaching college prep subjects at Marquette University’s Upward Bound program. Currently, Staci is the Director of College and Career Advancement at St. Thomas More High School where she works with junior and senior students planning their post-graduation paths.

Staci enjoys spending her time playing tennis, walking her dog, and traveling.

• Northwestern University – Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago IL, Pediatrics Residency
  
• Georgetown University School of Medicine, M.D.
  
• Washington University in St. Louis, BA, Biology & Psychology

Steve has over 14 years of clinical experience as a pediatrician, initially working in emergency room settings and now caring for hospitalized children and adolescents. In addition to his clinical practice, he has always possessed a passion for medical education. He currently acts as Associate Clerkship Director for the third year medical students rotating through Pediatrics and also runs a Pre-Medicine Observership Program at his institution. Additionally, Steve served on the Admissions Committee for the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he reviewed medical school applications and interviewed prospective applicants. Through these roles, Steve has taught and mentored students at various stages of their training. He enjoys watching learners grow professionally and understands that each applicant has a unique set of circumstances influencing their career goals. Steve hopes to guide their individualized journey into the medical field.

Steve currently lives in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington DC, with his wife and two kids. He enjoys jogging, skiing, watching baseball, and coaching his son’s soccer team.

• Cornell University, BS, Chemical Engineering

Steve grew up in NYC and obtained a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Applied Economics at Cornell University, where he has developed a strong passion for applying engineering principles to real-world challenges. His academic journey has encompassed a variety of coursework, including Chemical Process Design, Thermodynamics, and Biomolecular Engineering, along with hands-on experience in laboratory techniques such as organic synthesis, chromatography, and site-directed mutagenesis. He has also been involved in research projects at Cornell, assisting with drug delivery systems and bacterial vaccines.

In addition to his technical experience, Steve is a dedicated mentor and leader, serving as a Teacher Assistant for Heat and Mass Transfer and as President of the Cornell University Peer Advisor Program, where he supports first-year engineering students with their adjustment to college. His extracurricular involvements include leading philanthropy efforts as the Philanthropy Chair of Delta Kappa Epsilon and as a faciliator for Engineering Chemistry by leading weekly workshops for students who want support.

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, M.Ed in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership
• University of Alabama, BA in History and Chinese

With over thirteen years of experience working in admissions, college counseling, advising, recruitment, and program management, Susan is dedicated to assisting students and families from a range of backgrounds with navigating the college process successfully and holistically. At UW-Madison, Susan helped to oversee the selection of undergraduate and transfer students and has recruited at high schools nationally and internationally. Susan also taught at a private high school in the Bahamas and worked for several years as an academic and international advisor at two public research universities. Susan is passionate about helping young adults pursue their higher education goals, and through her professional expertise, provides an insider’s view of selective admissions. Since her time working in higher education, Susan has spent several years helping students gain admission to universities and colleges where they can thrive.

When she’s not counseling students, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, touring universities and colleges, and doing therapy volunteering with her two Golden retrievers.

• B.S. Biochemistry and Spanish (UW-Madison)
• Research Technician in the department of surgery at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Wesley grew up in Neenah, Wisconsin and received his Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and Spanish from UW-Madison. He is currently a Research Technician in the department of
surgery at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health investigating transplant immunology and transcriptomics. He hopes to eventually attend medical school. Wesley has always been passionate about academics and is eager to foster this passion in his students. In his spare time, Wesley enjoys kayaking, backpacking, and getting lost in a good book.

• Faculty member at University of Wisconsin and former member of MD/PhD Admissions
• Harvard University, A.B. cum laude Biopsychology
• University of California at San Diego, Ph.D. in Neurosciences

Dr. Bakshi grew up in the Boston area, studied psychology at Harvard University, and then moved to California to earn her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at UCSD. For the past 20 years, she has been at UW-Madison and is a tenured faculty member in the School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Bakshi has been very active in graduate education and training, teaching in several courses for M.D. students, Ph.D. students, and medical residents and fellows. She runs an internationally known lab studying the brain mechanisms of mental illness, and has mentored numerous trainees at all levels on their research projects. She has extensive experience with admissions to M.D./Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs, having served on the Medical Scientist Training Program Admissions Committee at UW-Madison and also participating in admissions / recruitment for various Ph.D. programs in biomedical sciences. Over the past two decades, she has reviewed applications and conducted admissions interviews for approximately 400 applicants to these programs. Dr. Bakshi also oversees undergraduate admissions interviews in the state of Wisconsin for students applying to Harvard.

What Dr. Bakshi enjoys most is working with students at different stages of their education and helping them discern their professional passion. She has advised numerous students on choosing what type of graduate program (M.D., M.D./Ph.D., Ph.D. in STEM or biomedical fields), might be a good fit for them and which course of action would provide the best preparation for their ultimate career goals. Dr. Bakshi leads several national scientific committees that propose best practices for promoting women in science and in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce in biomedical and STEM fields. She serves on the steering committees for multiple newer dual-degree graduate programs, including Ph.D./J.D. and Ph.D./M.P.A. programs at UW-Madison. She also is the very proud mother of two teenage girls, who themselves are on their own higher education journeys.

• B.S. Biology and Psychology (UW-Madison)
• Gates Millennium Scholar
• Research Coordinator for a team studying Alzheimer’s Disease

Yer grew up in the Wausau area and completed her undergraduate at UW-Madison. She is a Gates Millennium Scholar. During her undergraduate, she participated in multiple student organizations with foci that ranged from underrepresented student academics to sharing the unspoken stories of Hmong women. She also travelled to Japan to be an English camp counselor and interned with the Minority Health Program at the Wisconsin Division of Human Services. She is currently a research coordinator on a team studying Alzheimer’s Disease, inspired from volunteering at a local nursing home facility with the Music and Memory Program. When Yer is not working or on campus, she enjoys traveling, watching crime TV shows, playing strategic card and board games, and spending time with family and friends.

• Princeton University, BA, Anthropology

Yewande currently resides in Harford County, Maryland but was born in Dover, Delaware. She graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Cognitive Science. She is currently completing a Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy at George Washington University.

Yewande has worked as an Academic Coach, a Registered Behavior Technician, and most recently as a Career Coach with the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development. At the Mayor’s Office, she helped high school students improve their job readiness skills, make post-secondary plans, and find internship opportunities. Yewande enjoys helping students not just thrive academically, professionally, and personally, but also have the skills needed to advocate for themselves in every setting.

Some of her hobbies include: dancing, jewelry making, reading, and playing board games.

• Based in Madison, WI and NYC, NY – works with students throughout the country
• Northwestern University – BS Learning and Organizational Change
• Bank Street College of Education – MS Education

Zach has spent over a decade working independently with students and families in the college admissions process. From test preparation to college matching, applications, and financial aid, Zach has helped students gain acceptance to their top choice schools.

Zach spent his undergraduate years at Northwestern University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Learning and Organizational Change. He was actively engaged in student government, Greek life, cultural affairs, and community service. Upon graduation, he ran an academic tutoring and test prep center on New York City’s upper west side. He worked with hundreds of families to diagnose students’ specific academic deficiencies and develop courses from a variety of text-based and digital curricula to improve their skills.

Zach was then accepted into Teach for America and taught science, test-taking strategies, and organizational skills in a middle/high school in the South Bronx. While a corps member, he received his masters degree in education from New York City’s Bank Street College of Education.

Zach previously served on Hillel’s International Board of Directors, Bank Street College’s Board of Trustees, and the Madison Jewish Community Day School Board of Directors. He currently serves as the chair of the Camp Shalom (Verona, WI) committee, as a member of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Foundation board, and as a board member of the Jewish Federation of Madison.

• American University, BA, International Studies
• Johns Hopkins University, MS, Secondary Education

Zachary grew up in central New Jersey and attended American University. As an International Studies major, Zachary always found himself interested in the intersection of international development and education. This interest led him to join Teach for America as a math teacher on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Seeing the gap in support at his school, Zachary took on the task of building out the school’s college counseling program. Since then Zachary has honed his skills serving as a college counselor in schools in Boston and as an educational adviser for a high selective scholarship foundation supporting high achieving students across the country. Recently, Zachary has moved to the Twin Cities to return to a school based role and be closer to his family.

Zachary loves helping students find their voice through the college process. From developing strong lists to ensuring every detail of an essay is intentional, Zachary loves helping students center themselves and their experiences in every application. In his free time, Zachary loves cooking, board games, traveling to National Parks, and quiet evenings with his wife and two cats.