Why do I coach?

Mentorship transformed my journey, opening doors I never imagined. That's why I coach. During my undergraduate years at Wake Forest and throughout my Ph.D. studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, I was fortunate to have mentors who challenged, supported, and nurtured my academic and personal growth. Their guidance helped me access transformative opportunities, including receiving UNC's most prestigious doctoral fellowship, teaching English abroad as a Fulbright Scholar in the Czech Republic, and obtaining a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Those experiences inspire the coaching I provide today. In a world full of part-time editors and generalist advisors, I strive to bring strategic, high-impact guidance grounded in academic excellence and real-world experience. My goal is to build meaningful, empowering connections with every student I work with—helping you craft compelling applications and gain focus and fearlessness throughout the application process. Whether you’re writing a personal statement, preparing supplemental essays, or feeling overwhelmed by the application journey, I’m here to support you every step of the way!

Work Experience

Essay Coach

College Essay Guy

May 2022 - Present

• Coach students across the U.S. on standout application essays and supplements • Work in both the undergraduate and graduate school divisions, supporting applicants to college, medical school, law school, and other advanced programs • Collaborate with a nationally recognized team of experienced advisors • Provide expert feedback on personal statements, UC PIQs, supplemental essays, and secondaries • Help students develop authentic, compelling narratives tailored to each school’s values and prompts

Committee Member

Wake Forest University

October 2021 - Present

Admissions Committee

• Interviewed candidates applying for Fulbright Fellowships (research and teaching) • Provided written feedback and one-on-one guidance to help applicants strengthen their materials • Prepared detailed, holistic evaluations for the Fulbright National Screening Committee and in-country selection panels

Writing Consultant

Wyzant

March 2020 - Present

• Help high school, college, and graduate applicants craft personal statements and supplemental essays for college, med school, law school, and graduate programs • Provide strategic guidance through all stages: brainstorming, outlining, editing, and final review • Support clients with applications to Common App, UC PIQs, AMCAS, TMDSAS, AACOMAS, and more • Students accepted to top institutions including Harvard, Yale, Cornell, University of Chicago, UCLA, and Amherst • Known for a personalized, structured, and encouraging coaching style

Lecturer

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

July 2022 - June 2024

• Mentored conservatory and undergraduate students, providing guidance on academic performance, creative projects, and graduate/fellowship applications • Co-redesigned first-year music theory sequence to center performance-based learning, integrating applied analysis, improvisation, and aural skills • Developed and taught courses including Intro to World Music and Music Literature and Analysis, encouraging exploration of music from historical and global perspectives • Delivered engaging lessons through lectures, group discussions, hands-on activities, and multimedia resources

Lecturer

University of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill

August 2019 - December 2021

• Taught interdisciplinary courses such as Music & Politics, connecting music to social and political contexts • Developed curriculum and learning objectives for undergraduate courses serving both Music majors and non-majors • Delivered dynamic lessons employing lectures, audiovisual media, and interactive discussions to promote critical thinking and student engagement

English Teaching Assistant

Fulbright Association

August 2015 - July 2016

• Instructed 350 students age 11-19 in classes focused on English language and American culture • Designed and established a weekly English conversation class for Czech students of varying ages and English-speaking abilities • Promoted awareness of international exchange and education initiatives among students and faculty

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Music

2016 - 2021

• Royster Society of Fellows • Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship • Dissertation: "Sounding Statecraft: U.S. Cultural Diplomacy Programs in the Twenty-First Century" (advised by Mark Katz)

Florida State University

Master of Music (M.M.), Ethnomusicology

2013 - 2015

• Carol P. and Richard F. Krebs World Music Scholarship • Carol Krebs Research Fellow Award

Wake Forest University

Bachelor's Degree, English & Music

2009 - 2013

• Graduated magna cum laude with honors in both majors • Emily Crandall Shaw Scholarship in Liberal Arts • Louise Cochrane Boteler Prize for the Pursuit of Excellence in Music • Music History Prize