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“We feel that talented students, who have the courage to travel and study abroad, deserve ethical and comprehensive guidance on such important decisions.” -Michael J. Novielli and Andrew Sohn, Co-Founders Management
Andrew Sohn Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Columbia College of Columbia University. After graduating from Columbia, Andrew joined the Investment Banking division of J.P. Morgan, where he worked in the Financial Sponsor Group. Outside of work, Andrew co-founded 116 to Wall Street, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating college students about the financial services industry. Through 116 to Wall Street, Andrew mentored hundreds of students who went on to secure jobs in finance. He is also actively involved with the Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA), serving as the Chairman of the Class of 2004 Alumni Fund, as well as Vice Chairman of the CCAA Board of Directors’ Career Services Committee. Prior to founding Due West, Andrew worked at Irving Place Capital (IPC), a leading New York-based institutional private equity firm focused on middle market investing with $4.4 billion assets under management.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History & East Asian Studies with a concentration in Secondary Education from Columbia College of Columbia University. Michael also holds two Master of Education degrees: one in Higher Education Administration from Harvard University and another in Comparative & International Education from Teachers College of Columbia University. After receiving his Master of Education degree from Harvard, Michael worked at Columbia University, holding several senior positions, including Assistant Director of the Student Service Center, Director of Student Outreach, and Chief of Administration for Student Auxiliary & Business Services. Michael also interviewed prospective students for Columbia’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions for six years. Prior to founding Due West, Michael worked as an SAT teacher for TestTakers and as Director of Recruitment for the highly selective Lex Kim English School in Seoul, Korea.
Adam Presser holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese from Yale College, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in East Asian Studies from the Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. At Yale, Adam was a pole-vaulter for the Varsity Men’s Track and Field team, and spent three summers studying and working in China. After graduating from Yale, Adam studied at Tsinghua University’s Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies as a Blakemore Freeman Fellow. Adam later joined Ticketmaster’s China offices as a Senior Director, overseeing much of the company’s China operations. While at Ticketmaster, Adam was also General Manager of the majority Chinese state-owned joint-venture entity that served as the primary ticketing provider for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Adam is currently a JD/MBA candidate at the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Law School.
College Counseling Team
Keith E. Hernandez Keith holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History & Hispanic Studies from Columbia College of Columbia University. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in History from the University of Chicago. Keith previously worked as an Undergraduate Admissions Officer for Columbia University, where he managed a portion of submitted applications and coordinated recruitment and selection for the Columbia Undergraduate Scholars Program. As an educational innovator and an expert on educational exchange in China, Keith often shares his insights at conferences and with the media. He is a member of the admission organizations OACAC, NACAC and ABAFOILSS.
John Beck John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government with a focus on International Relations and a minor in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth, he was a Dickey Center War and Peace Fellow and a Senior Leadership Fellow at the Rockefeller Center of Public Policy. John worked as a Senior Assistant Director at the Dartmouth Admissions Office, where he was responsible for both U.S. and international (Middle East and South Asia) recruitment and selection, which included travel to India, China, and Southeast Asia. In his final year with Dartmouth, John served as the International Recruitment Manager, overseeing the selection process for all of Dartmouth’s international applicants. Prior to joining Due West, John spent 6 months backpacking abroad, including in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Tania Dias Originally from Lisbon, Portugal, Tania holds a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in African and African American Studies from Amherst College. Through her major coursework, she focused on issues of race, migration and colonial identity in Africa. She also pursued the pre-medical requirements and completed a certificate in social innovation and entrepreneurship. While at Amherst, Tania was a Civic Engagement Scholar and selected as Class Marshal. Upon graduating, Tania worked as a special assistant to the Provost, having helped coordinate Amherst’s strategic plan for the next decade. She transitioned to the Amherst Office of Admission as a Senior Admission Fellow and then subsequently as Assistant Dean of Admission. She was responsible for U.S. and international recruitment and selection, traveling extensively around the world to meet prospective students and evaluating thousands of applications. As a former Admission Officer, she believes in the power of education to transform lives and is committed to supporting young people in achieving their full potential. Tania is currently Class Alumni President and is actively involved with the Amherst Alumni Association as member of its executive committee.
Originally from Chengdu, China, Wenjing Zhou majored in English and received her B.A. from Sichuan Normal University (where she graduated top of class among over 300 students), M.A. from Sichuan University, and M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to Due West, Wenjing worked at the Intensive Language Training Center (ILTC) of Sichuan University, where she started as a graduate student intern and received an offer later on upon finishing her Master’s program. During her tenure at Sichuan University ILTC, Wenjing taught IELTS and TOEFL classes, advised students, and prepared them for study abroad programs in the US, UK, and Australia. Wenjing joined Due West after graduating from HGSE in 2012 and has since been on the undergraduate team. In her roles as counselor and strategy counselor, Wenjing works closely with students and families in college preparation and application processes, and has helped students gain admission into the most competitive liberal arts colleges and national universities in the US.
Mark graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Bowdoin College, where he also won the Lennox Foundation Prize for being the top scholar of Africana Studies. In addition to his Africana Studies coursework, Mark also spent a semester abroad in Berlin, where he studied German with a focus on metropolitan development. During his time at Bowdoin, Mark sat on various multicultural programming committees, and spent 3 years working with the Admissions Office as both a Tour Guide and Senior Admissions Interviewer. After Bowdoin, Mark worked as an Admissions Counselor at Bates College, where he oversaw the Tour Guide program in addition to his responsibilities recruiting, and admitting prospective students. After Bates, Mark was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Rheinbach, Germany, where he taught English in a German secondary school. Mark then worked as an advisor at CIEE, the nation’s oldest and largest non-profit study abroad provider. Mark comes to Due West having earned his Master’s in Higher Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During his time at Harvard, Mark focused specifically on the internationalization of higher education, and the scope of student experiences at American colleges and universities. As a first-generation college student with a wealth of experience in the working with students both domestically and abroad, Mark is committed to ensuring that students have the resources, guidance, and support to be successful in the college application process and beyond.
Blake Mei holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. He also holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where he advanced to PhD candidacy. He is an admissions mentor and ambassador for Washington University in St. Louis, and a member of the American Mensa. Previously as a SAT/ACT test prep teacher, Blake had 100+ students with 30+ ACT scores, 40+ students with 33+ ACT scores. While in high school, Blake received recognition as a Presidential Scholar for having taken 21 AP Tests with an average score of 3.5+. During his free time, Blake likes to play sports, travel, and hike. Prior to joining Due West and since 2011, Blake served as teacher and counselor for various education organizations, most recently working as a lead teacher for a global test preparation and consulting agency in Beijing.
Born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Jayson received his Bachelor of Arts degrees cum laude in Physics and Philosophy from Amherst College in Massachusetts. His academic interests span the philosophy of language, to literature, to ethics and the philosophy of science. A vocalist from a young age, Jayson performed and travelled to Ireland with the Amherst College Concert Choir and took part in several musical productions in the local community of Western Massachusetts. He also served on the Board of Directors of the town of Amherst’s community theater. Apart from performance, Jayson led several student groups including the Philosophy Club, Chess Club and Mindfulness Club on campus. After graduating, Jayson joined the staff of the Office of Admission at Amherst College where he served as an Admission Counselor for two years, a job he thoroughly enjoyed. He travelled internationally and regionally, read and evaluated applications, co-directed several on-campus programs and managed student workers. Jayson’s career interests lie squarely in higher education – he is committed to technological education parity and has a particular interest in international admissions and student affairs.
Arijit originally from Kolkata, India, graduated from Wesleyan University with Honors (equivalent of magna cum laude) from the interdisciplinary College of Letters. Arijit completed Masters’ degrees in Creative Writing and Cultural Studies and World Literature. At Wesleyan, Arijit worked as a Senior Interviewer with the Admissions Office, served in the Wesleyan Student Assembly for three years. Arijit have taught Essay Writing, Creative Writing, American Literature, and World Literature at the introductory, intermediate, and advanced undergraduate levels at Arizona State University, University of Missouri, Indiana University, Sichuan University, National University of Singapore, Hong Kong University, University of Delhi, and Calcutta University for 10+ years. He received 3 university-wide Teacher of the Year awards at various stops along the way. He also completed a fellowship at Oxford University. Arijit has over 10 years’ college application experience. Over the last 10 years, both as a freelance consultant and as Director of College Counselling, Collegify Education! He has personally worked with over 300 students who have been placed at US universities. 100% of students he has worked with have been accepted to a Match school with the vast majority accepted to one of their Reach schools. Over 30% have received scholarships and fellowships in addition to being admitted. He also helped students gain admittance to Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews, LSE, UCL, and Imperial in the UK as well as top schools in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Sweden, France, and Italy.
Melody is an enthusiastic educator, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Master’s in Education for Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from the University of Southern California. Prior to Due West, Melody worked as a Global Marketing Assistant for the UC Education Abroad Program- planning, budgeting, and processing applications for students interested in one of the 400+ programs. After receiving her teaching certificate, Melody taught math at both middle and high schools, evaluating student progress, and incorporating UC Irvine’s pacing guideline to accompany the Common Core State Standards. During her time at USC, Melody also worked in the Rossier School of Education, responding to student inquiries about academic and co-curricular experiences, assisting faculty and staff in the preparation of syllabi, course readings, and teaching evaluations. With more than six years of working in the educational space, Melody is confident in her abilities to develop long-term plans personally designed to suit students and parents. Melody loves mentoring students, and has guided Due West students to be admitted to top schools including the University of Chicago, Swarthmore College, and Emory University. Passionate about the field of international and comparative education, Melody is ecstatic to serve as a Strategy Counselor on the College Counseling Team in Beijing to assist the next generation of young scholars become global participants in society.
Molly graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 2013 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic Literature and Anthropology. Her academic achievements and independent linguistics research earned her the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Annenberg Scholars Challenge Grant, and admission to the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program. She completed one year of postgraduate study at the University of California, Davis, fully funded by the UC Davis Provost’s Fellowship in the Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences. She has worked with Due West since 2016 and has expertise in essay writing and working with boarding school students. Students Molly has mentored have been admitted to many top-tier schools, including MIT, Columbia, and the University of Chicago. During her time with Due West, Molly has worked as an Editor, an English Literature and Writing Tutor, and Counselor, and has been involved with applications, intellectual development, and project management at every step of the process. She is currently a Strategy Counselor in our Boston Office.
Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, Carlyn graduated from Middlebury College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and American Literatures. In addition to being a member of Middlebury’s oldest all-female a cappella group, she played four seasons of varsity softball. Upon graduating from Middlebury, Carlyn joined the Middlebury Admissions Office as an admissions counselor for two years. During this time, she was excited to have opportunities to travel to China for Middlebury. Carlyn transitions to the Due West team from her role at Stevenson School in California, where she held a dual role as an admissions associate and lower school Mandarin instructor.
Sophie graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia, where she was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science with a Global Sustainability minor. Sophie is committed to the idea of better and brighter futures for everyone, beginning with a quality education. It was her work teaching at summer camps and mentoring youths of all ages and backgrounds that resonated the most with her during her time in college and led her to pursue a counseling career. Sophie finds joy in helping students realize their maximum potential, wherever their passion lies.
Tabreya, a Colby College graduate, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature: Creative Writing and East Asian Studies. She values international education and views writing as a platform for self-expression. During her time at Colby, she supported and mentored her peers through her leadership roles as an Area Residential Director and Sexual Violence Prevention Peer Educator. Her responsibilities included managing the student residential experience and teaching mandatory classes to incoming first-years and sophomores. In addition to her commitments at Colby, Tabreya attended Doshisha University located in Kyoto, Japan where she studied both Chinese and Japanese culture and literature. While in Japan, she engaged with students of all ages to improve their English fluency and prepare them for standardized tests and exams, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). She currently strives to help students explore and understand themselves through writing. Aside from reading and writing, Tabreya also enjoys gardening, playing with her cat, and watching reality television.
Kristen graduated magna cum laude from Hainan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Exchange. In her senior year, she worked as an academic advisor for an international education company. As the student ambassador and athlete, she won multiple scholarships, worked, and conducted research for professors in the topic areas of economics, marine agriculture, and journalism. Kristen holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Boston College, with a focus on international education policies and curriculum instruction. She holds a state Teacher’s License in secondary education in Massachusetts and worked as a public high school teacher and for the US college admissions counseling. During her time as a teacher, she helped students organize fundraising events, Asian club activities, and was the core faculty for the city’s foreign language curriculum framework upgrade. Prior to joining Due West, Kristen was the program facilitator for one of the United States largest summer programs in Minnesota, where she was responsible for hundreds of students and over 30 faculty and staff. She has worked with several Charter and private schools in Brighton and Cambridge, MA, in educational administration.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California. Michael was Borned and raised in Southern California, heavily influenced with the California culture and embraced the activities that can be done throughout the various locales. While studying at USC, he helped local high school students brainstorm their college personal statements and supplements. He also became an online English Writing Teacher for those who want to improve on their writing skills.After graduating, Michael moved to China, Beijing to teach English. While in Beijing he became accustomed to the Chinese culture and participated in many events that happen around China. He also did a voice over for Chinese-to-English workbooks that are now popular around students who are learning English as a second language. Prior to joining Due West, he worked as a college counselor that strategized applications for Chinese high school students so they can attain their dream school from any top 100 American Colleges. He also worked at an accounting firm where he managed their internal system and logistics. Michael believes in helping students achieve their greatest potential by giving them the opportunity to shine through their interests.
Georgie, born and raised in Beijing, was a student of Due West and RDFZ when she applied for college. With the help of Due West, she successfully got into her dream school, Barnard College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in art history with a visual art concentration. Georgie then completed her masters’ degree in Bicultural Education at Teacher’s College of Columbia University. During the six years Georgie spent in New York, she fully immersed herself in the city of New York by engaging in multiple jobs and activities. By meeting people in school and in work, Georgie perceived and overcame many obstacles that stood in the way for her and other international students from China. That’s when she decided to pursue a master degree in education so that she could better help international students with similar backgrounds to avoid the predicaments that she encountered. While studying in Teacher’s College of Columbia University, she worked as a teaching assistant and student activity organizer for two years in a local middle school, where she affirmed her passion lies with education. She worked closely with the art department and was involved in editing syllabus and course preparation. Meanwhile, Georgie maintained close relationship with the families of her students and took charge of the communication among first generation Chinese immigrants families to help them went through the challenging middle school phases in ease. Being both a warmhearted friend and a conscientious mentor to students and their parents, Georgie cultivated powerful bonds with multi-cultural family, and acquired new insight regarding international education from them regularly. Georgie is confident in her abilities to uncover each student’s unique talents, tailor their college preparation and application processes and help them rise above the competition.
Matt graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political-Science, with a minor in Creative Writing. He served as a member of the university’s Senior Honor Society, dedicated to leadership and service to the community. While studying at Colgate, Matt worked as an Orientation Leader and First-Year Mentor who helped new students acclimate to the campus community. Additionally, he served as a Team Coordinator at the Center for Outreach and Volunteerism, where he was in charge of pairing students with student mentors. Most recently, Matt interned at Colgate’s Office of Institutional Advancement where he communicated directly with faculty, staff and alumni to foster interest and support for the Colgate University Annual Fund. Matt frequently lived and traveled abroad before attending university. He strongly values compassion, empathy and perspective, and the manner in which these qualities manifest in the context of education and cultural exchange. Matt is a passionate reader and writer. His interests include creative non-fiction and short-story fiction. Outside of work, he enjoys travel, reading and writing, film and television and Boston sports.
Hannah Smart holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Chinese and Music from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. During her time at Middlebury, Hannah was an active member of the Middlebury College Orchestra, where she played viola and produced a solo album of her music. She also wrote and produced a rock opera, with future plans to release it on Spotify. Throughout her life, Hannah has lived in various countries around the world, including Australia, England, and multiple states in the U.S. Hannah’s interests in Chinese and education began in her international school in Australia, and she continued tutoring Chinese students throughout high school. While at Middlebury, Hannah was a resident in the Chinese Immersion House and studied abroad in Kunming, China. Prior to joining Due West, Hannah served as a Youth Leadership intern at Concordia Language Villages, teaching and counseling students. In her free time, Hannah enjoys songwriting, traveling, volunteering, and mentoring young musicians.
Originally from Fairfax County, Virginia, Will graduated from the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and minor in Economics. While studying at William & Mary Will worked as a research assistant for AidData, a student-led think tank that geo-locates foreign aid and development projects. He also interned with the State Department at the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and at the U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he worked in the Public Affairs Section managing cultural exchange programs. After graduation, Will moved to Japan on the Japan Exchange Teaching (JET) program, where he taught business English at Hachinohe Commercial High School in Aomori Prefecture. During his time there he discovered his passion for international education, focusing on how cultural differences influence the U.S. and Japanese educational systems. He is proficient in Japanese and Spanish. In his spare time Will enjoys Latin dance, hiking, and reading.
Originally from Wenzhou, China, Keshu Pan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with high distinction in philosophy from the University of Toronto, a Master of Arts degree in East Asian Studies from Duke University, and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard University. Keshu’s academic interests include the phenomenon of scripturalization and the dialogues between religion and science. He received a research fellowship from the Science, Religion, and Culture program at Harvard Divinity School. As a detail-oriented critical reader, Keshu has been on the editorial board of The Graduate Journal of Harvard Divinity School since 2017. Prior to joining Due West, Keshu had a fulfilling experience of designing, marketing, and teaching an original English course to high school students in Wenzhou. Keshu greatly enjoyed the process of helping students to develop interests and confidence in their studies of English. In his spare time, Keshu loves reading and exploring new things. He is currently learning Japanese, Ukulele, and boxing.
A proud native of Atlanta, Georgia, Chris graduated from Washington & Lee University (W&L) with a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in East Asian Languages and Literature. Situated in the idyllic college town of Lexington, VA, W&L is one of the oldest and most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the South. W&L’s honor system is the cornerstone of undergraduate life at the college, and each student graduates with a strong sense of community, integrity, and zeal for excellence. While attaining his two degrees at the University, Chris was enamored by East Asian studies and the region’s role in the shifting global socioeconomic landscape. As such, he spent a summer in Shanghai and took various courses on Chinese politics, business, and economics. Upon graduating from W&L, Chris moved to Beijing where he has lived and worked for over a year. He has spent his time in Beijing serving as a college admissions consultant and educator. Chris has taught various courses to and has assisted some of Beijing’s top students in the rigorous US college application process. Throughout his time in Beijing, Chris has consistently striven to immerse himself in his community and bolster his students’ lives with one primary goal in mind–to bridge the gap between China and the United States at such a pivotal moment in the two countries’ political and economic relationship. In his spare time, Chris enjoys tennis, cycling, hiking, reading, and supporting his hometown college football team.
Lindsey graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biology and Neuroscience. During her time at UChicago, she traveled abroad to Beijing for language study. After graduation, she performed biology research as a post baccalaureate fellow studying novel fibrosis treatments in a pharmacology lab at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Washington, DC. Following her lab research, Lindsey was awarded an English Teaching Assistantship for the Fulbright Program in Taiwan, where she taught English to elementary and high school students in Kinmen, Taiwan. She enjoys working with and mentoring students to help them reach their potential. At Due West, Lindsey hopes to continually provide support and guidance for her students. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys studying Chinese and Japanese, along with baking and running.
Peiwen Hao graduated from University of Chicago with a Master of Public Policy. Prior to entering UChicago, he was awarded a Bachelor Degree in English from Nankai University. In Nankai, for his academic achievements, he received numerous awards and scholarships, including the Distinguished Thesis of the Year of 2017. Since his college years, he has fostered a strong interest in literature and writing, which led him to taking academic and creative writing classes in UChicago with journalists. Also, as a Public Policy major in UChicago, he has gone through rigorous training in applying analytical skills and tools in social science and public administration. During the summers throughout his academic journey, Peiwen has interned or volunteered in various organizations and firms, including the Center of International Cultural Exchange, AcrossChina Communication Group, and China MEHECO. He has a wide range of hobbies such as working out and watching movies. Also, he is an avid reader.
Donghai Yu graduated Magna Cum laude from University at Buffalo, State University of New York, where he studied history and studio arts. At UB, he focused on European intellectual history and modern Chinese history. In his senior year, his paper on Chinese foreign policy in Africa won the Best Undergraduate Paper at the New York Conference on Asian Studies. Donghai also holds a Master’s of Arts from The University of Chicago, where he focused on social and legal history of modern China. Donghai’s MA thesis examined the westernization of Chinese legal system and the implication of it in the Republic of China in the 1920s and 1930s. Donghai has wide experiences of advising and mentoring students. In Chicago, he participated in the Alumni Connect Mentorship Program, a mentorship initiative in which experienced graduates guide and advise new students in order to make their relocation to Chicago and UofChicago’s academic atmosphere smooth. In Buffalo, Donghai served as College Ambassador, a role that connects students and the faculty. In his spare time, Donghai enjoys hiking, cooking, and painting.
Tina graduated from the George Washington University (GW) in Washington DC, with a BA in International Affairs. Her concentration was Contemporary Cultures and Societies, she also minored in Sociocultural Anthropology. Over the weekends, she volunteered at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, where she interacted with visitors from all over the world and helped them discover beauties of Asian art. During her time at GW, Tina worked at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. She guided many perspective students in exploring their academic interests and ambitions. Tina also worked at the Center for Career Services, where she advised students to tailor their resumes and cover letters, and eventually helped them get their dream internships. In the process, Tina greatly enjoyed guiding and mentoring younger students in achieving their goals. In her spare time, Tina likes to take leisure walks in natural landscapes. She also likes to put on her favorite music while doing artworks.
Originally from Changsha, Hunan, Viva graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University with a Master’s degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education. Prior to that, she attended University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Viva has experience working with students in different capacities. During her time at UMN, she worked in the Office of Career Services where she helped students identifying their personal values and career interests, as well as revising resume and cover letters. While she was attending Columbia, she worked at the Office of Student Engagement in Manhattan School of Music, where she mainly worked with student clubs and developed campus-wide student activities. In this position, she also served as the Student Council advisor and facilitated the development of students’ leadership skills. At Columbia, Viva also worked in the Office of Graduate Admissions at Columbia Engineering. She worked with prospective students to help them develop and complete their applications, reviewed and assessed applications, and prepared evaluation reports for final admission decisions. Outside of work, Viva is a big food enthusiast. She enjoys going around the city and discover good food spots.
Yuefan, born and raised in Nanjing, graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In college, Yuefan served as an Admission Ambassador and connected with over 50 international high school students. She truly enjoyed knowing and helping each of them and decided to be a practitioner in education after college. In the year following Yuefan’s graduation, she worked as an English teacher in Nanjing where she focused on curriculum development, teaching elementary level English, and building meaningful relationships with her students. Wanting to learn more about student development, Yuefan decided to pursue a master’s degree in education. While studying at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Yuefan continued to serve as an Admission Ambassador and worked extensively with prospective international students on statement of purpose workshops, introducing them to programs, and connecting them with professors. By helping these students overcome the challenges of applying to and transitioning into a foreign college, Yuefan affirmed her future goal to help talented international students experience a more supportive and specialized college application process and gain access to education opportunities all around the world. In her spare time, Yuefan enjoys watching movies, playing the guitar, and petting her cat!
Born and raised in Shanghai, Estelle graduated cum laude from the University of Rochester holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Business: Finance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics. She was awarded a Take Five Scholarship which allowed her to study Italian history and architecture for one year after college. During her time at the U of R, Estelle served as a teaching assistant for the mathematics department. She was also a team captain for the mock trial club. Estelle did volunteer work in Procida, Italy where she worked with elementary school students in sustainable gardens. She has also interned in several companies including ICBC, Huatai Securities, and EF Education. Before joining Due West, Estelle partnered with local college students in a Chinese-Italian language exchange program in Arezzo, Italy. Estelle enjoys cooking, shopping, and swimming.
Secondary Counseling Team
Rick has a BSFS in international economics from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a MSc in international relations from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris. He also has a MSc. TESOL from Aston University, now a part of the University of Birmingham, and M.Ed in Curriculum Design and Educational Leadership from Plymouth State University where he was inducted into Phi Delta Kappa. Rick joins Due West after working for a long time at Cardigan Mountain School where he served as Director of International Student Program and International Relations. Rick oversaw Cardigan’s international student placement, international fundraising, and international alumni and parent associations. During his years there, he also coached, taught several foreign languages, and served as a dorm parent. Prior to working at Cardigan, Rick was a foreign expert in Changchun, Jilin where he taught International Business and Multinational Corporation Management at the Changchun Tax College. He also taught at the Changchun Foreign Languages School. Rick worked in business before he became an educator. His children, Elizabeth and Joe, are attending college in the US. Mary, his wife, also lives in Beijing. Rick is fluent in several languages, including Chinese.
Kwame is from Jamaica and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology with a concentration in African Studies from Macalester College. He also holds a master’s degree in International Training and Education from American University. He recently completed his education specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Secondary Education at Worcester State University. He is also TEFL certified and has taught in Japan, South Africa, Botswana, Myanmar, Jamaica and the USA. Prior to joining Due West, Kwame was an assistant director of admission at St. Mark’s School in Massachusetts for three years. He’s been described as a jovial and positive individual who brings a ray of light into any room he enters. He loves traveling, the performing arts, and eating good food.
Calvin was born in Los Angeles, California and graduated from Humboldt State University with a BA in International Studies and minor in Spanish and a MA in Chinese Studies from Valparaiso University. As a student, Calvin worked with students of all ages from elementary to high school. After graduation, he worked at multiple universities on international student services teams and helping students with their cultural and academic transition to campus. Prior to working at Due West, Calvin was working in Boston as a study abroad advisor and international student advisor. In his spare time, Calvin enjoys watching sports, staying active, traveling and trying new food.
Yanning double majored in International Relations and Human Rights Development and earned her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Iowa. She also studied for her Master of Social Work at women school, Simmons University in Boston. Yanning has three years working experiences with the non-profit agencies in Iowa City and Boston (Federal and state founded program). Her non-profit work mainly focused on community education, legal assistance, counseling and advocating awareness for victims/survivors of gender-based-violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Yanning also served as a facilitator in the university to train freshman and new-coming students to raise the awareness of gender-based-violence. Yanning also worked in an International School in the Middle East as an administrator. She was responsible to manage student’s application file, conduct interviews and enhance the student wellness development plans and events in the school. More specifically, she also worked with students from different backgrounds one on one to better understand their study and personal/family problems. Yanning also hold self-care workshops for international school faculties to raise the awareness of self-care, meditation and community development. Outside of Yanning’s professional life, Yanning enjoys outdoor activities and traveling around different cities and regions around the world. She also loves talking to people who share different backgrounds and learning from the difference.
Jeremy holds a Master of Science degree in Linguistics from Georgetown University. More specifically, with a concentration in Sociolinguistics, he delved into the study of language in social context and was intrigued by how individuals from various backgrounds could better communicate with one another in a more cohesive and effective manner. He has always been an active and insightful researcher and his research interests include: discourse analysis of both routine conversations and personal narratives, language use in social media, and players’ in-game messages in online interactive gaming environment, etc. Prior to joining Georgetown, Jeremy had earned dual degrees – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology – at University of Richmond, one of the top private liberal arts colleges in the nation. Besides academics, Jeremy has interned and worked full-time for companies in various industries, including: Blockchain Technology, Finance, Accounting, and Risk Management. At Due West, Jeremy hopes to combine what he has learned in his classroom studies with his previous working experience to really help students grow on a holistic basis. In leisure time, Jeremy enjoys watching sports, reading, and chilling with his friends.
Parent Coordination Team
Mary Exton earned her Bachelor’s degree from Hunan Changsha University of Science & Technology. After graduation, she worked in the training center of SongLiao Water Resource and Electric Power Institute. In 1995, she moved to New Hampshire, US with her husband, and worked on the campus of Cardigan Mountain School. Mary obtained her Master of Education with the focus on Information Technology from Plymouth State University. She has taught Algebra, Computer Science and Mandarin Chinese language in the US high schools for 17 years, where she established the computer program and the Mandarin Chinese language program. She was selected as AP Computer Science Reader by College Board in 2008. Mary is passionate in Global Education, project base learning.
Lina earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Hotel Management from Hebei Foreign Studies University. During her studies in college, she volunteered in the school’s international students center as the coordinator of admission office. and she also graduate as an outstanding graduate. Prior to joining Duewest, Lina works in the Intercontinental Hotels Group as a guest service manager.
Kay graduated from Inner Mongolia Normal University where she earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Pedagogy and Geography. Prior to joining Due West, she gained plenty of experience in teaching English and coordinating in an international English training school. Moreover, she served as coordinator and translator for the international program at a large Bio-Pharmaceutical company located in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. Kay is always a passionate, fun-loving, and accommodating person.
Shane graduated from Hebei University of Science and Technology with a degree in English. She earned Test For English Major 8 certificate as well as TL9000 Internal Auditor certificate. She has rich work experience on coordination and project management. Prior to joining Due West, she worked in global leading telecommunication service vendor Aicent, where she was in charge of translating, service quality assessment and analysis.
Rae Yang graduated from Heilongjiang University and has worked in education for over two years Prior to joining Due west, Rae worked at an English training agency and really enjoyed teaching children ages 3-12.She is very glad to join due west ,and she hopes she can help students apply to their dream school. She is very passionate about her work, and likes to communicate with people.
Meiting Li （Melanie） is graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor Degree of Hotel & Restaurant Management. And She earned a Master Degree in Global Management from Thunderbird School in US. Prior to Due West, she has four years of working experience as manager in hospitality industry in Los Angeles in the US. Meiting Li is proficient at Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. She is customer oriented and provides good customer service.
Echo graduated from Xi’an Shiyou University as an outstanding graduate. She is born in northeastern China, she is enthusiastic and patient, willing to communicating with people and opens her heart to every student and parent. Her work principle is to offer the most efficient and meticulous service for the families，pave the way to staying in the United States. Prior to Due West, she has worked in a central enterprise named CRRC for 2 years as a secretary of general manager and party committee office， and then worked in EIC for 1 year as an American education consultant, helping many students apply schools and be admitted to their ideal one. Thus, she is familiar with domestic and foreign education systems and devoted to her job. In daily life, Echo loves travel，sing and dance!
Chen graduated from Saint Petersburg State University and went to graduate schools in Oxford University and Sophia University. He has degrees in international Relations and Global Studies. He also likes art, architecture and cooking. Before joining the Due West, he worked in hospitality.
Bing Bai （Gin） graduated from US Westcliff University in Master of Business Administration. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Interior design. Prior to Due West, He has 4 years working experience as manager in hospitality industry in US, 9 years living experience in America. Besides, Bing is proficient at Mandarin, and English.
Mia was born and raised in Beijing. She graduated with honors from North China University of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese Language and Literature. Before joining Due West, she worked as a secretary in the general manager’s office at Media Center for nearly three years. During that time, she was mainly responsible for submitting reports to CCTV headquarters, assisting the general manager in supervising the task implementation of various departments, and compiling the company’s annual reports. She also participated as the leader in the late translation work of the TV programs authorized by CCTV. For the next two years, Mia worked in two foreign-funded institutions to help over 100 students to apply to top universities in the UK and US. Mia has previously volunteered at the Beijing braille library, practised ballet, and won the honor of the National Second Rank Athlete in fencing. Outside of work, Mia has a wide range of interests, including reading, traveling and learning Japanese.
Born and raised in Beijing, Ursula spent 7 years in Beijing International Studies University, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Teaching Chinese as the Second Language and a Master of Arts degree in Linguistic and Applied Linguistic. Through her college life, she attended several short-term exchange programs and had traveled to the United States, South Korea and Singapore to explore local culture and learn effective methods of localized Chinese language teaching. Prior to Due West, she worked as a Chinese teacher in Minzu University for 2 years and spent 2 summers teaching with Princeton in Beijing, an intensive language-learning program run by Princeton University. Following her teaching work, she decided to join in CIEE Beijing to expand more work skills and contribute to Sino-US intercultural education. Being an educator, Ursula is enthusiastic and patient, full of empathy, willing to communicating with people and never stop her movement in learning and progressing. She believes that education can promote people’s development and be honored to make contribution to it.
Aileen graduated from Beijing forestry University, after graduation, she worked as coordinator in two foreign companies. Outside work, she wants to have a wide view of the world, so she visited many places and even has traveled abroad for 1 year, she loves to explore all parts of the world. On the way of her work and life, she likes to take on different challenges and keep moving.
Cynthia graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a bachelor degree in English. Prior to joining Due West, she has six years of experience in education, working at schools both in Chengdu and Beijing where she gained plenty of experience on English tutoring and coordination. Moreover, she also served as TOEFL and AP Proctor.
English Language Program
Rhianna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University. She also holds a CELTA teaching credential obtained through Cambridge University. She has teaching experience in the U.S., Sweden and Japan. Prior to joining Due West, she spent four years on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, a Japanese government initiative to improve foreign language education and promote internationalization. As a JET participant, Rhianna served as an Event Manager, Regional Advisor, and Chairperson for various special interests groups including the Oita AJET Council and JETs of African Descent. During her tenure she also managed charity events that improved access to affordable education in Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. She’s been described as a creative, fun-loving, and enthusiastic educator whose students consistently look forward to participating in her classes.
Course Consultant Team
Victoria holds a bachelor degree in marketing from Harbin University of Science and Technology. Prior joining Due West, Victoria worked in the Heilongjiang branch of Boneco Air treatment in Switzerland as a sales manager and assistant of the general manager. She was fully responsible for the sales in Heilongjiang province. Due to her love for education, she joined EF , the largest private English group in the world. During her six years’ service, she was responsible for the comprehensive management of Marketing Department, sales department and school management. She believes that love and responsibility are the soul of education. Through love and responsibility, more and more students will realize their dreams.
Patricia holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and International Trade from Dalian University of Foreign Languages. Prior joining to Due West, she worked at the Kerry Centre Hotel Beijing, Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, and Raffles Hainan as sales manager. In those roles, she built and developed relationships with international companies and government agencies. She was also responsible for business development and event organization. All these experiences contributed to developing her strong background in the service industry.
Jean holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from School of Foreign Languages of Anhui University of Technology. Her second foreign language is Japanese. Prior joining to Due West, she has been experienced in overseas study service industry for many years. She worked for China Office of Bangor University, UK as Program Coordinator, where she helped build up and develop relationships with several “211” and “985” universities and higher education institutions as well as a wide range of top Chinese overseas study agencies. She’s pretty familiar with overseas study application process and has sent a great number of students abroad. Prior to joining Due West, Jean worked in immigration and international business industry.
Vera received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the School of Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2005, majoring in International Economics and Trade. After graduating, she worked in business and channel management at a top global automation manufacturing company. Inspired by the educational journey of her twin children, she believes that high-quality education provides incredible opportunities, so she has devoted herself to the higher education field. With her 8 years as an education consultant, she has rich experience and a highly efficient working style. Drawing on her own experience charting her family’s educational journey, Vera takes into account each family’s desires as part of their educational plan. During her spare time, she enjoys traveling and relaxing with her family and friends.
Zoe graduated from Beijing Foreign Language Studies University where she obtained a major in English Undergraduate Course. Prior to joining Due West, she worked at an Israeli electronics company, where she worked as a logistic coordinator for sales and marketing department of North of China area.
Business Development Team
Wenjing Zhang received a bachelor’s degree in law from Ningbo University and a master’s degree in international law from Nanjing University Law School, and passed the national judicial examination. During her postgraduate years, she studied at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies (HNC) for a year and was responsible for helping Emory University and Northeastern University students studying in China with their summer education programs coordination. Prior to joining Due West, Zhang Wenjing worked as an intern at Fangben Law Firm, a leading law firm in Shanghai.
Operations Team
Elisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language from Hefei University of Technology. She also holds a Master degree in Human Resources Management & European Labor Law from University of Toulouse . Prior to joining Due West, Elisa worked at a leading Seattle-based Public Relation company for 5 years, managing a full spectrum of human resources programs, services and functions.
Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental studies with a focus on conservation and development from Carleton College. While in college, Charlotte volunteered as an environmental education teacher at a local elementary school and tutored middle school Spanish-speaking students in English. She has also taught English to preschool through 6th grade students at a rural school in northeastern Thailand. She is passionate about international relations and development and exploring cross-cultural experiences. Prior to joining Due West, Charlotte worked at boutique market research and public relations agencies in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Tong holds a Master of Arts degree in MBA from the San Diego State University. Prior to joining Due West, she worked at China Marine Surveillance as an intern in the Human Resource Department.
Jessica graduated from Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology where she obtained a major in English. Prior to joining Due West, Jessica worked in Bangkok as Chinese Teacher Director and an educational company as Recruiting Specialist.
Anne graduated from Beijing International Studies University where she obtained a major in English. Prior to joining Due West, she worked at CDB as a secretary and at an US orthopaedic group as RA specialist.
Ines graduated from University of Alcala in Spain with a master’s degree in drama and literature studies. After returning to China, she worked as the Chinese Office of King Juan Carlos University of Spain before she worked as a Admissions Commissioner Alliance Françaisee.
Yvonne graduated from Tianjin communication vocational university where she obtained a major in accounting. Prior to Joining Due West, she worked at UMF operation department.
The Due West CouncilThe Due West Council also includes former admissions officers and directors from Ivy League and other prestigious institutions including: Harvard University, Columbia University, Tufts University, Barnard College and New York University. With decades of experience working in admissions, the Due West Council unlocks the secrets to university admissions, coaching our students throughout the application process. |
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“We feel that talented students, who have the courage to travel and study abroad, deserve ethical and comprehensive guidance on such important decisions.” -Michael J. Novielli and Andrew Sohn, Co-Founders Management
Andrew Sohn
College Counseling Team
Keith E. Hernandez
John Beck
Tania Dias
Secondary Counseling Team
Parent Coordination Team
English Language Program
Course Consultant Team
Business Development Team
Operations Team
The Due West CouncilThe Due West Council also includes former admissions officers and directors from Ivy League and other prestigious institutions including: Harvard University, Columbia University, Tufts University, Barnard College and New York University. With decades of experience working in admissions, the Due West Council unlocks the secrets to university admissions, coaching our students throughout the application process. |
