1) Please share a little bit about your professional and personal background.
I grew up in Vernon Hills, where I enjoyed my time at VHHS, including playing golf, which I also played in college. After wrapping up my social studies education degree, I earned a master’s in Higher Education and Student Development and began my career at Messiah University, just outside Harrisburg, PA. I loved my time there, spending much of it as the Director of Residence Life, where I focused on student development, leadership, supervision, and conduct.
My career eventually took an unexpected turn when I moved to Minnesota to serve as an associate pastor, followed by several years as a lead pastor back in the Harrisburg area. Those experiences shaped me in meaningful ways and gave me the opportunity to lead and work with people across a variety of ages and life stages.
Along the way, I married my high school sweetheart, Emily, who grew up in Mundelein. Our adventure away from Chicagoland was incredibly meaningful—we built lasting friendships, got our first dog, and most notably started our family. We now have three kids, McKenzie (12), Carter (10), and Avery (8), who keep life full and fun.
After fifteen years away, we recently moved back to the area and settled in Round Lake Heights, largely because we wanted to be closer to family. We’re both adjusting to new careers as well—Emily recently began her occupational therapy career working with older adults in Gurnee.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, exercising, getting outside for a walk, reading an insightful book, listening to a thought-provoking podcast, and playing just about any sport I can find.
2) What attracted you to Carmel Catholic? And to the position as Director of College Counseling? Which of your skills/experiences will benefit you most in this job?
I deeply value working in educational contexts that seek to form the whole person, including the spiritual dimension. Throughout my interview process, I felt a strong resonance with the mind and heart of the Student Services team, and I am grateful to now be part of the Carmel community.
Given my background in student development at the collegiate level, I was eager for the opportunity to walk alongside students as they discern and prepare for their next steps after Carmel. I see this role as a meaningful blend of my two primary career paths. My experience working in higher education has prepared me well for student services, while my years as a pastor have strengthened my leadership, counseling, and relational skills.
I’m excited to bring these gifts and experiences together in service of Carmel’s students and families and to help students grow, discern, and thrive as they consider what comes next.
3) What can the Carmel Catholic community expect from the CCRC in this first semester and beyond?
I’ve been working hard to build a robust college representative visit schedule for Carmel students. As of now, we have approximately 80 colleges and universities scheduled to visit the College and Career Resource Center (CCRC) between August 31 and October 30. On most school days during this two-month stretch, there will be 1–4 college visits happening each day. These visits are a great way for juniors and seniors to become acquainted with a variety of college options, learn more about what makes each institution unique, and have their questions answered directly by admissions representatives.
Financial aid can often feel like a daunting topic for families, which is why we have a couple of important programs planned. We will host a Paying for College webinar featuring a financial aid expert who leads these efforts at Lake Forest College. We will also offer a Financial Aid Completion Workshop on October 27 and 29, where families can sign up for 30-minute appointments to complete the FAFSA with assistance from a representative of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).
There are many other resources and opportunities that will be shared throughout the year through the Carmel newsletter, monthly newsletters for juniors and seniors (and their parents), and the CCRC website.
In addition to all of these formal resources and programs, some of the most helpful—and enjoyable for me—moments come from meeting one-on-one with students. Students are always welcome to email me to set up an appointment or simply stop by my office, located just off the CCRC. I’m looking forward to getting to know our students and helping them navigate what can be an exciting—and sometimes overwhelming—season of life.
4) What does "college prep" in the Carmel Catholic context mean? How do college admissions officers view graduates from CCHS?
For me, “college prep” at Carmel means much more than helping seniors with applications this time of year. If we are working together to ensure our students thrive after graduation, then this is an all-hands-on-deck effort across faculty and staff at Carmel and is a formative process that begins freshman year. College preparation certainly includes strong academic preparation and thoughtful support related to college application and financial aid processes, but it also means helping students develop the self-awareness, maturity, confidence, and discernment to make thoughtful decisions about their future.
As college counseling ramps up during junior and senior year, thoughtful support should include both formal and informal opportunities for students to seek guidance. On the formal side, we should provide timely, relevant, and helpful events and programs that equip students and families to navigate the college process with confidence.
But effective college counseling goes beyond scheduled programs and presentations. We also need to cultivate a positive, welcoming, and relational culture within our counseling department—one where students know they can stop in, ask questions, seek help, or simply talk through whatever they may be facing. When they do, they should be met with both kindness and competence.
College preparation is also connected to the formation of the whole person. We want students to know themselves—their strengths, interests, values, and areas for growth—and to consider how those things might shape their next chapter. The goal isn't simply to help a student get into the most selective college possible; it is to help each student identify the environments and opportunities where they are most likely to learn, grow, contribute, and flourish.
Carmel graduates are viewed as students who are well prepared academically and who bring more than a transcript to the college community. Our students are involved in their school and communities, accustomed to meaningful relationships with teachers and peers, and shaped by a school culture that emphasizes service, faith, and the development of the whole person.
5) Anything else you want to mention, please do!
I’ll be an assistant men’s basketball coach at Carmel this year working with the Freshmen. I’m excited to be around a sport I love and be able to invest in a smaller group of students on a deeper level.