SPARK ADMISSIONS - Key Persons

Brett Fuller

Job Titles:

Senior College Admissions Consultant

As a senior admissions consultant, Mr. Fuller has deep experience supporting students and

Connor Beatty

Job Titles:

Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Admissions Consultant

As a senior admissions consultant, Connor helps students develop unique personal narratives they can tap to craft truly exceptional applications and essays. Connor is also an expert on the latest trends in college admissions, analyzing recent admissions data, and determining how to effectively meet student and family goals alongside the needs of colleges and universities. While working as an admissions interviewer at Dartmouth College, Connor also developed a deep-seated understanding of the nuances that set students apart, particularly in Ivy League admissions. In addition, prior to joining Spark Admissions, Connor served as an academic and career coach at Bowdoin College. Connor's academic advising experience gives him exceptional insight into the range of schools, programs, and opportunities available. Connor earned his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and his law degree from University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Boston and enjoys exploring local hiking and running trails.

Courtney Hobgood

Job Titles:

Senior College Admissions Consultant

As a senior admissions consultant, Ms. Hobgood has nearly a decade of experience helping students apply to Ivy League and other highly selective colleges and universities. She is an expert in helping students develop their interests and skills throughout high school, navigating students to find their best fit college, and guiding them to develop exceptional applications. Through her experience as an admissions officer at both Cornell University and Columbia University, Ms. Hobgood knows what helps an applicant stand out and what highly selective colleges are seeking in their applicants. She uses this expertise to help students explore their passions, develop their resumes, and submit excellent applications. Ms. Hobgood earned her M.A. from Columbia University, where she studied Higher Education, and a B.A. from Hamilton College in Psychology. She currently lives in upstate New York with her partner and their dog, Rainbow.

David Berlin

Job Titles:

Senior College Admissions Consultant

Mr. Berlin has led college admissions teams in high schools, conducted admissions work

Dr. Alexandra Oxner

Job Titles:

Associate Director
Member of the Spark Admissions Research Team
Senior Research Analyst

Dr. Oxner conducts internal and institutional research to help Spark students find exceptional extracurricular opportunities. She earned her PhD from Vanderbilt University, where she then served as an administrator in the university's Writing Center and Tutoring Services. Alex lives outside Nashville with her partner and their chocolate lab, Lucy. In her spare time, Dr. Oxner

Dr. Caroline Miller

Job Titles:

Senior Admissions Consultant

As a Senior Admissions Consultant, Dr. Caroline Miller has extensive experience helping students reach their college admission goals. Dr. Miller guides students in developing their academic and extracurricular interests in unique and meaningful ways. Her ability to build strong relationships helps her students feel supported while also reaching their full potential as they flourish as leaders in academics and extracurricular activities. Prior to joining Spark, Dr. Miller completed admissions work for Princeton University. She has also taught writing and advised students at the University of Michigan, as well as at top-tier college prep schools, where she won multiple awards in recognition of her effectiveness as an educator. These experiences have given Dr. Miller insight into "who gets in and why" at Ivy League and other top colleges and universities. Dr. Miller graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University, where she was also an NCAA Division I athlete, and earned her PhD from the University of Michigan. She loves crosswords, poetry, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Erin Cable

Job Titles:

Consultant
Associate Director and Senior College Admissions Consultant

Dr. Erin Cable is a seasoned admissions consultant with over a decade of experience helping students gain admission to Ivy League and other highly-selective colleges. She pairs her vast knowledge of the college admissions process with her extraordinary advising skills to guide students in the creation of outstanding narratives and college applications. Dr. Cable is gifted in her ability to showcase students' attributes so that they stand out from the crowd.

Dr. Jacob Harris

Job Titles:

Member of the Spark Admissions Research Team
Senior Research Analyst

Dr. Kelly Whitford

Job Titles:

Member of the Spark Admissions Research Team
Associate Director, Academic Development and Research

Dr. Whitford focuses on helping develop Spark's considerable understanding of students' academic development throughout high school by researching and creating intellectual development materials. She holds a doctorate from Brown University and a bachelor's degree from Carleton College. She lives in Providence, Rhode Island with her husband, their daughter, and their pug, George.

Dr. Laura Chilson-Parks

Job Titles:

Senior College Admissions Consultant

As a Senior Admissions Consultant, Dr. Chilson-Parks compassionately provides strategic,

Dr. Megan Race

Job Titles:

Associate Director and Senior College Admissions Consultant

As a senior admissions consultant, Dr. Race uses a holistic approach to strategize with students about their academic goals and the college admissions process. She guides students in writing essays, building strong resumes, and preparing for college interviews. She also helps students develop meaningful and rewarding extracurricular experiences, motivating them to think about both short- and long-term goals. Dr. Race has worked in undergraduate and graduate admissions and recruitment at the University of Chicago and Yale University. Her experiences at these institutions shaped her perspective on what admissions officers at top universities are seeking in successful applicants. Additionally, as a college faculty member, Dr. Race taught writing intensive courses to undergraduates. She also advised students on summer opportunities, fellowship and grant applications, and the graduate school admissions process. Dr. Race aims to help students develop unique narratives and construct beautifully written essays that allow them to shine in the admissions process. Dr. Race received her doctorate from Yale University and her bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago. She was a postdoctoral fellow at the Davis Center at Harvard University. Today, she lives in the Boston area, where she loves to attend live dance performances whenever possible.

Dr. Meggan Arp Dillard

Job Titles:

Associate Director and Senior College Admissions Consultant

Previously, Dr. Arp Dillard worked in admissions at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also taught writing and advised students at the University of Pennsylvania, Amherst College, and the University of Georgia. In addition, Dr. Arp Dillard served as an associate dean at Emory University, where she was part of the merit scholarship admissions committee. Emory's Student Government honored her with an excellence in advising award. Dr. Arp Dillard graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Amherst College and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. She enjoys spending time with her son and husband, a commercial real estate broker.

Dr. Mindy Maris

Job Titles:

Senior Admissions Consultant
Senior College Admissions Consultant

As a Senior Admissions Consultant, Dr. Mindy Maris has nearly three decades of admissions and advising experience. Dr. Maris specializes in helping students identify their passions, set meaningful goals, and craft compelling narratives that showcase their unique strengths. Her student-centered, hands-on approach ensures that each student gains admission to the college environment where they will thrive academically and personally. Prior to Spark, Dr. Maris served in admissions and advising roles at highly competitive universities including Johns Hopkins University and Emory University. While Dr. Maris has decades of experience advising students with a wide range of interests, she is particularly adept at guiding students in the STEM and health sciences fields. In addition, she was previously the sole pre-med advisor at Johns Hopkins University and has advised hundreds of students who have gained admission to medical school, including all of the top-ranked medical schools in the country. Dr. Maris earned her Ph.D. from Emory University and completed postdoctoral work at Johns Hopkins. She resides in Atlanta, where she enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her dog.

Dr. Rachel Knecht

Job Titles:

Member of the Spark Admissions Research Team
Director of Research Operations

Dr. Knecht manages the daily operations of the Spark Admissions research team, supporting firm-wide strategic planning and project management to support Spark's students and families. She holds a BA from Tufts University and a PhD from Brown University, where she guided students through the process of obtaining Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright scholarships.

Dr. Rachel Rickard

Job Titles:

Associate Director and Senior College Admissions Consultant

Dr. Rachel Rubin

Job Titles:

Co - Founder, Admissions Consultant
Our Founder

Our founder, Dr. Rachel Rubin, whose groundbreaking research at Harvard on admissions strategies has set new standards, leads our team in guiding every student to achieve their highest potential. Spark Admissions' proven strategies and personalized approach have helped our students achieve remarkable success in gaining admission to acclaimed institutions such as Stanford University, Harvard University, MIT, Princeton University, and more.