Meet Our Coaches

Kathleen Glynn-Sparrow has spent over 25 years in school leadership positions and counseling families about the college process. She works with her team of coaches throughout the process from start to finish, collaborating weekly to share strategies so each family receives the full strategic support of our team with nearly 200 years of counseling experience.

This collaboration includes ensuring all students develop a balanced college list—Kathleen has visited about 250 campuses. She has established a professional rapport with a host of college representatives over the years and remains current by attending college admission events and webinars.

Career Highlights

Two highlights of Kathleen's career include a publication for which she received a grant and a presentation at a national conference. She is the co-author of Sex, Drugs, and the S.A.T., Getting out of High School and Getting in to College, and presented at the National Association of Independent Schools Conference on "Stressed-out Students are the New Normal: How Educators Can Alleviate Anxiety." Kathleen accepted invitations to serve on two advisory boards: Quinnipiac University and Widener University.

Damian Garcia has spent over 17 years working with students and families on "both sides of the desk" – for college admissions and for high school applicants. Damian joined the office of admissions at the University of Rochester and successfully launched and implemented the Regional Admissions Director program, overseeing all recruitment and application reviews for the Mid-Atlantic and Southern states.

After ten years, he was recruited to join Johns Hopkins University as the Associate Director for Access and Diversity in the undergraduate admissions office. He is an active member of the Potomac & Chesapeake Association for College Admissions Counseling (PCACAC), the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), the Association of Independent Schools of Maryland, and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools.

Since Damian has worked on both the college and high school side, he brings a calming sense and warmth to the process, has a strong understanding of the nuances, and keeps abreast of the latest changes in the fast-paced world of college admissions. Damian lives in Laurel, MD, with his wife, two sons, and 14-year-old Yorkie.

Caroline Sanders Byers most recently served as a College Counselor at The McLean School of Maryland. She seamlessly worked with seniors to complete their application process and helped launch the juniors into the beginning of their process. At Mercersburg Academy, a boarding school in PA, Caroline spent time in both the admission and college counseling offices.

As Associate Director of College Counseling, she worked with seniors and created a comprehensive program for 9th through 11th grade students before they formally entered the college process. The program encouraged younger students to be more proactive in their decision-making about opportunities in high school.

Caroline also served as the Director of College Counseling at Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, MD where she was able to visit over 25 colleges in a two-year period. She lives in Carlisle, PA, with her husband, two boys and one rescue pup.

Jessica Hardy has spent nearly 20 years working in college admission and counseling, with deep expertise on both sides of the desk. She works with her team of coaches throughout the process from start to finish, collaborating weekly to share strategies so each family receives the full strategic support of our team with nearly 200 years of combined counseling experience.

Jessica has established a professional rapport with a host of college representatives over the years—having worked in admission offices at Rice University, Sewanee: The University of the South, and Knox College—and remains current by attending college admission events and webinars.

Career Highlights

A highlight of Jessica's career includes receiving the CTCL Counselor That Changes Lives Award in 2022, recognizing her exceptional dedication to student-centered college counseling. She has served on scholarship review committees for the Coca-Cola Scholars Program (2016-2025) and Colleges That Change Lives, and held leadership positions with SACAC as Board of Directors member and National College Fairs Co-Chair.

She also served as a NACAC Delegate for the Southern Region and chaired the Memphis National College Fair Local Arrangement Committee. Currently, Jessica serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Sewanee's Benjamin Network.

Jessica has firsthand knowledge of independent school communities, having built comprehensive college counseling programs at two schools. She currently serves as Director of College Counseling at Charleston Collegiate School, where she created the school's inaugural college counseling program. She previously served as Director of College Guidance at St. George's Independent School in Tennessee for 10 years, managing a team and developing programs for middle and upper school students.

Sara Karlen Lacombe has 34 years of experience transforming individuals as they navigate the journey from where they are to where they want to be – from who they are to who they want to become. Sara has worked on five continents, including serving in senior human capital positions.

Her responsibilities included aligning talent, strategy and culture to unleash the potential of individuals and empowering them to navigate their careers with confidence.

Certifications

• Professional Values, Strengths, and Story Survey (SVSS)
• The Leadership Circle (TLC)
• Myers-Briggs (MBTI)

Maddie Sparrow is an English major and Education minor from Duke University. She is teaching English at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC and taught previously at Jordan High School in Durham, NC.

Maddie works with clients on both essays and Common Applications, and she serves as the liaison for Spanish-speaking clients. For the summer class, Maddie shares tips from her own college process with the students and uses her expert editing skills to tighten students' essays and to strategize on the phrasing and order of the Common App Activities Section.

Becky Bowlby has thirty years of college admission and fifteen years of college counseling experience. She loves to work with students and families about all things relating to college, from creating a college list, to brainstorming essays ideas, to strategies surrounding financial aid and especially exploration of international admission.

Because of her extensive background in both admissions and counseling, Becky has formed a national and international network of colleagues from both sides of the desk. Her straightforward manner and sense of humor help to make students and families feel at ease.

Professional Recognition

Becky served in a variety of leadership roles in the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC) including President, Conference Planning Chair 6 times, Treasurer, Chair of Admission Practices Committee, Chair of College Fairs Committee, Dean of the Summer Institute. Becky won the highest award given by PACAC, the Delwin K. Gustafson Award for Excellent Service to PACAC. At the 2022 conference, Becky was awarded Emeritus Membership status for her service to the organization.

Becky has been very active in NACAC serving as Co-Director of the Admission Middle Management Institute, Co-Director of the Leadership Development Institute, and member of the Finance and Budget Committee. At the 2021 conference, Becky was awarded the Rising Star Award from NACAC.

Becky lives in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania and is the mother of two daughters and grandmother of Wyatt (age 11) and Blake (2).

Ginny Johnson has been a college counselor and owned her own college consulting business for nearly 25 years. Ginny is committed to inclusive education and holds a professional certificate in Learning Differences and Neurodiversity from Landmark College. Her mission is simple: to create a calm and supportive environment where every student can thrive.

As a National Board-Certified Counselor, Ginny brings expertise, empathy, and a genuine passion for guiding students towards their academic and personal goals. She prides herself on demystifying the college admission process which is often overwhelming. With over 500 college visits, she is passionate about providing personalized support to students from all backgrounds and walks of life.

As a member of prestigious organizations like PACAC, NACAC, IECA, NAAHP and HECA, she continuously learns best practices in the field. Ginny also has an extensive background in nursing as well as counseling, understanding the diverse needs of learners and dedicating her career to empowering students through education and guidance.