Beth Kreusch, MA: I have been working with high school and college students for more than 25 years. I have had a passion for helping students my entire adult life and as a result, I am uniquely prepared to help you through the college and career planning process. My approach challenges students to understand their values, passions, learning preferences, and specific strengths. With that knowledge, I help them find a college where they will thrive.
My preparation for this role started in my days as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan where I majored in English in the Honors Program. At Michigan I worked as an Orientation Leader and as a Student Coordinator for Orientation on campus during the summers to help get students prepared for a strong start. In addition, I worked as a Resident Advisor for several years during the school year to counsel students and help them navigate their transition to adulthood and school-related challenges.
Seeking further preparation to work with students, I earned a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), a leading institution in this field. There, I studied student development theory and educational environments, which gave me a deep understanding of how college students grow and change and the ways that college environments can influence this development. The masters degree has provided a strong foundation for my work with college and high school students. In addition to working at Michigan and BGSU, my professional career has led me to roles in a number of institutions including Olivet College, The Medical College of Ohio, Duke University, and UNC-Charlotte.
I worked at Eden Prairie High School for 4 years leading their college and career planning efforts. In addition to communicating with students and families, coordinating workshops and programming, and developing new college and career efforts, I also provided individual support to hundreds of students. I worked with students who needed guidance in making career and college decisions, feedback as they crafted their college essays, and help with scholarship applications and financial aid. I enjoyed supporting students who successfully applied to the most selective colleges in the country and I had the privilege of working with students who were the first in their family to attend college. In this role, I also met with hundreds of admissions counselors from colleges across the country who visited every year. Those conversations with committed and enthusiastic admissions professionals helped me to better understand the variety of expectations that colleges have of students, the philosophies that can underlie the admissions process, and the opportunities that students have to connect with the colleges and tell their story.
I am an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (www.iecaonline.org), I serve on the board of the Minnesota Association of College Admissions Counseling - MACAC (www.mn-acac.org/) as a Tri-Chair of the Minnesota Education Fair planning committee. I have served on the Lehigh University Counselor Advisory Board for the Admissions office.
Chris Cook, M.A.: I assist Beth in a variety of aspects including project management, systems, and special projects. I am pleased to support the work she does with students to navigate this process successfully with each student’s unique development in mind.
I have worked in a variety of University settings for over 15 years. Beth and I have worked together since our undergraduate days at the University of Michigan. I also graduated with a degree in English and began what later became a career in Orientation by serving as a student leader and then student coordinator for the UM Parent Orientation Program. I also worked in admissions and held leadership positions in organizations focused on service, recognition of teaching, and leadership development.
I continued both my education and career in orientation at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) earning a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel. I am passionate about the role that Orientation, when done well, can play in setting up students for a successful transition and my role in BGSU Orientation was instrumental in solidifying that passion. I went on to serve as the Orientation Coordinator at Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit, Michigan before shifting to the Office of the President at WSU as an Assistant to the President for a combined total of 10 years.
Since then, I been fortunate to have a variety of flexible and interesting work experiences that have also allowed me the opportunity to be nearly full-time at home in the role I affectionately refer to as Chief of Staff of our family. I have coordinated the logistics for three separate University Presidential searches at Wayne State, started my own business selling t-shirts and accessories that celebrate the love of community, and serving in a number of community and school-related leadership roles. Now, those work experiences include the very rewarding work of assisting Beth in identifying robust options for each student and then helping them navigate the process successfully.
I have worked in a variety of University settings for over 15 years. Beth and I have worked together since our undergraduate days at the University of Michigan. I also graduated with a degree in English and began what later became a career in Orientation by serving as a student leader and then student coordinator for the UM Parent Orientation Program. I also worked in admissions and held leadership positions in organizations focused on service, recognition of teaching, and leadership development.
I continued both my education and career in orientation at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) earning a Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel. I am passionate about the role that Orientation, when done well, can play in setting up students for a successful transition and my role in BGSU Orientation was instrumental in solidifying that passion. I went on to serve as the Orientation Coordinator at Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit, Michigan before shifting to the Office of the President at WSU as an Assistant to the President for a combined total of 10 years.
Since then, I been fortunate to have a variety of flexible and interesting work experiences that have also allowed me the opportunity to be nearly full-time at home in the role I affectionately refer to as Chief of Staff of our family. I have coordinated the logistics for three separate University Presidential searches at Wayne State, started my own business selling t-shirts and accessories that celebrate the love of community, and serving in a number of community and school-related leadership roles. Now, those work experiences include the very rewarding work of assisting Beth in identifying robust options for each student and then helping them navigate the process successfully.
Staci Hunt Ramsey, MA: I have been working in higher education for over twenty years; my favorite thing is to help students better understand themselves so that we can make a great match between the student and their institution of choice. Further, one of my greatest satisfactions is to see students realize their potential; part of that journey is certainly choosing the right college.
I attended the University of Virginia, majoring in history and living in a residential college while participating in various student groups on Grounds. It was through these extracurricular experiences where I discovered the vast amount of personal growth that occurs outside the classroom, nestled within the university climate. This realization and budding passion took me to Virginia Tech where I earned my Master of Arts in Education and majored in College Student Personnel/Higher Education and Student Affairs. I served as a Community Assistant and a Hall Director while at Virginia Tech; after that I moved to Guam and served as a substitute instructor before becoming the Program Specialist for Adult Education. I also worked as the Assistant Director of Student Activities at Marymount University in Arlington, VA, and then as an Advisor for Returning Adult Students at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo. I have served as adjunct faculty for a variety of colleges and universities in an online setting, teaching various courses ranging from orientation/academic strategies to Global Cultures. I earned a certificate in Educational Consulting from UC-Irvine in 2018, and have been assisting high school students and their families with college planning and placement part-time while working full-time as an Academic Advisor at Northern Kentucky University. I have worked with students who are currently at Indiana University, the University of Louisville, and the University of Cincinnati. I am a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (iecaonline.org).
I attended the University of Virginia, majoring in history and living in a residential college while participating in various student groups on Grounds. It was through these extracurricular experiences where I discovered the vast amount of personal growth that occurs outside the classroom, nestled within the university climate. This realization and budding passion took me to Virginia Tech where I earned my Master of Arts in Education and majored in College Student Personnel/Higher Education and Student Affairs. I served as a Community Assistant and a Hall Director while at Virginia Tech; after that I moved to Guam and served as a substitute instructor before becoming the Program Specialist for Adult Education. I also worked as the Assistant Director of Student Activities at Marymount University in Arlington, VA, and then as an Advisor for Returning Adult Students at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo. I have served as adjunct faculty for a variety of colleges and universities in an online setting, teaching various courses ranging from orientation/academic strategies to Global Cultures. I earned a certificate in Educational Consulting from UC-Irvine in 2018, and have been assisting high school students and their families with college planning and placement part-time while working full-time as an Academic Advisor at Northern Kentucky University. I have worked with students who are currently at Indiana University, the University of Louisville, and the University of Cincinnati. I am a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (iecaonline.org).
In addition to the connections made with colleges and admissions counselors in recent years, we prioritize visiting colleges to deepen our understanding of their unique approach and culture.
American University
Augustana College, Rock Island IL
Augustana University, South Dakota
Augsburg College
Baylor University
Beloit College
Belmont University
Boston College
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Butler University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Central Michigan University
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College
Coe College
College of St. Benedict
College of the Holy Cross
Cornell College, Iowa
Creighton University
Denison University
Drake University
Duke University
Eckerd College
Elon University
Emerson College
Fairfield University
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Goucher College
Grinnell College
Gustavus College
Hope College
Howard University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University
Iowa State University
Johns Hopkins University
Kalamazoo College
Kenyon College
Landmark College
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Luther College
Macalester College
Marist College
Marquette University
Michigan State University
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Mt Holyoke College
New College of Florida
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Pepperdine University
Quinnipiac University
Reed College
Rhodes College
Ringling College of Art and Design
Ripon College
Santa Clara University
Simmons College
Smith College
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
St Catherine University
St. Cloud State University
St John's University, MN
St. Olaf College
Texas Christian University
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of California, Berkely
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Chicago
University of Denver
University of Iowa
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota, Rochester
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
University of Notre Dame
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina Charlotte
University of North Dakota
University of Oregon
University of Portland
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of St. Thomas
University of Tampa
University of Texas at Austin
University of Wisconsin Madison
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
Willamette College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
American University
Augustana College, Rock Island IL
Augustana University, South Dakota
Augsburg College
Baylor University
Beloit College
Belmont University
Boston College
Bradley University
Brandeis University
Butler University
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Central Michigan University
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College
Coe College
College of St. Benedict
College of the Holy Cross
Cornell College, Iowa
Creighton University
Denison University
Drake University
Duke University
Eckerd College
Elon University
Emerson College
Fairfield University
Georgetown University
George Washington University
Goucher College
Grinnell College
Gustavus College
Hope College
Howard University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Indiana University
Iowa State University
Johns Hopkins University
Kalamazoo College
Kenyon College
Landmark College
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Luther College
Macalester College
Marist College
Marquette University
Michigan State University
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Mt Holyoke College
New College of Florida
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Pepperdine University
Quinnipiac University
Reed College
Rhodes College
Ringling College of Art and Design
Ripon College
Santa Clara University
Simmons College
Smith College
Southern Methodist University
Stanford University
St Catherine University
St. Cloud State University
St John's University, MN
St. Olaf College
Texas Christian University
Trinity College
Tufts University
Tulane University
University of California, Berkely
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Chicago
University of Denver
University of Iowa
University of Maryland
University of Michigan
University of Minnesota, Rochester
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
University of Notre Dame
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina Charlotte
University of North Dakota
University of Oregon
University of Portland
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of St. Thomas
University of Tampa
University of Texas at Austin
University of Wisconsin Madison
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Villanova University
Wake Forest University
Willamette College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
