Hi! I’m Tonya, and I truly believe that thinking about life after high school should feel exciting, not overwhelming. If you’ve landed here, chances are you’re feeling a mix of both, and that’s completely normal. Helping students and families find their footing in the college search and application process is work I love deeply, and I’d be honored to guide yours.
I bring over 30 years of experience in higher education to my work as a consultant. I’ve sat on both sides of the desk — in undergraduate admissions at Champlain College, Nazareth College, and Rochester Institute of Technology, and as Director of Admissions and Advising at Walden University. That insider perspective means I know how admissions offices think, what they’re really looking for, and how to help your student put their best self forward.
What families often tell me is that I have a way of making students feel comfortable and seen during a process that can feel anything but. I take the time to really understand each student, their strengths, their goals, their anxieties and I meet them exactly where they are. Whether we’re demystifying college costs, building a balanced college list, or crafting application essays, we do it together, step by step.
I’m also a proud first-generation college graduate, which means I have a personal understanding of how much is at stake in these decisions and how transformative finding the right fit can truly be.
Favorite part of the process
Helping families see that the college search can actually be fun and exciting. I love watching a student realize they’ve found their place.
Favorite thing about my College Connectors colleagues
We genuinely love learning together. Sharing our knowledge and visiting colleges as a team is so much fun and also means we’re always up to date on what’s out there and that knowledge directly benefits the students we serve.
Favorite place to work
In the summer, that would be on my porch listening to the loon family that lives on our lake. In the winter, at the local coffee shop with a warm cup of chai tea in hand.
Favorite pastimes
I’m a sports nut through and through — college sports especially. When I’m not at a game, you’ll find me soaking up everything Minnesota has to offer. And when I’m not working with students, I love planning my next international adventure and visiting my adult children in Los Angeles, Boston and Washington D.C.
Credentials
- M.A., Human Development — St. Mary’s University
- B.A., Sociology — College of St. Benedict
- Undergraduate Admissions: Champlain College, Nazareth College, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Director of Admissions & Advising and Registrar, Walden University
- Vocational Counselor, Dakota County Employment and Training
- Frequent presenter at area high schools and businesses
