Personalized Georgetown Admissions Counseling From Former Admissions Officers

Emily holds a PhD and Master’s from the University of Virginia. A published scholar and experienced educator, she currently teaches at both Georgetown University and George Washington University and has helped students gain admission to some of the world’s most prestigious schools, including Columbia University and the University of Oxford.

In addition to her academic roles, Emily has held fellowships and research appointments at institutions including the Council on Foreign Relations, the University of Virginia’s East Asia Center, and the Wilson Center. She has studied extensively abroad at Peking University, Beijing Language and Culture University, and Fudan University, where she served as a Fudan Fellow at the Fudan Institute for Advanced Study. In addition to her current roles as a professor and lecturer, Emily has served as an adjunct professor at Randolph College, American University, and the College of William & Mary. 

As a coach, Emily is passionate about empowering students to pursue their interests and reach their fullest potential. She brings empathy, global experience, and academic insight to every student interaction, helping students lean into what excites them while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. She is an empathetic coach who prioritizes getting to know each student she helps through the college admissions process.

In her spare time, Emily enjoys learning new languages. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Spanish and is learning Japanese and Russian. Her first book, China’s Date Debate: How Manchurian Scholars Rewrote World War II, is slated to be published by the University of Michigan Press.

Erica has an impressive academic background, having earned a BA from Harvard University, a JD from Stanford Law School, an MA from George Washington University, and a PhD from University College London (UCL). She has extensive experience in higher education, including teaching at the University of Maryland, Catholic University, Georgetown University, and UCL. Additionally, she has served as an alumni interviewer at Harvard for several admissions cycles.  

Erica is passionate about guiding students as they discover their interests and find ways to weave their passions into their future aspirations. She finds immense joy in supporting them through the transformative journey from high school to college—a pivotal time of growth and self-discovery. Watching students begin to envision the possibilities that college offers and how it can shape the people they will become is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

Erica’s experience as a Harvard interviewer provided key insight into what top colleges seek in applicants and how students' profiles could align with future success and fit at the colleges they apply to. Additionally, her anthropological interviewing skills allow her to build meaningful connections with students, helping even those who struggle to express themselves open up and share their stories. She takes the time to understand what matters most to them while also addressing any concerns or obstacles that might hinder their progress. Erica genuinely values being a part of students’ journeys, working collaboratively to create tailored plans that ensure they achieve their goals and reach their full potential.

Outside of coaching, Erica is a major foodie, and is always trying new recipes. She also loves visiting museums and cultural sites. Otherwise, you can find her in the gym training as a martial artist!

Katherine graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2020. She is currently in her first year at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Katherine was inducted in the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi, and received the Robert Edward Reiss Award in Chemical Engineering for outstanding promise in biochemical engineering.

In college, Katherine conducted clinical research at the Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center and the New York Presbyterian Neurological Intensive Care Unit. Katherine was a teaching assistant for chemistry lab and lead a clinical research program at the Mt. Sinai hospital system. She also served as president for her Greek organization and was a pianist in a classical chamber ensemble.

In medical school, Katherine has already joined clinical research projects, community clinics, and interest groups. She is interested in pursuing a career in a surgical subspecialty. Katherine is actively involved in the admissions process as an interviewer and has spent much of her time mentoring others applying to medical school. Over the years through tutoring, teaching and mentoring, Katherine has been passionate about helping others. Having just recently gone through the medical school admissions process herself, she is dedicated to helping others navigate applying, and she is very excited to work with students.