Meet College Counseling

List of 5 members.

• 

  Ashley Bennett 

  Director of College Counseling

  518-833-1305

  Bio

  Ashley L. Bennett, EdD, Director of College Counseling, came to us from Houston, Texas with more than 15 years of experience in the college counseling profession. Dr. Bennett holds a bachelor’s in African and African American studies from The University of Oklahoma, a master’s in Adult Education with an emphasis in training from the University of Central Oklahoma, and a doctorate in ethical leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and when she’s not working, Dr. Bennett enjoys time with her husband, Chevy, and her kids, Aijah and Austin.
• 

  Abbey Massoud-Tastor 

  Senior Associate Dr. of College Counseling

  518-833-1311

  Bio

  Abbey Massoud-Tastor, Associate Director of College Counseling, received her B.A. in French with a Spanish minor and her M.B.A. from Union College and Union Graduate College. Abbey has more than a decade of experience in collegiate admissions at Union College in Schenectady, NY. She has held the positions of Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions and Director of Alumni Relations at Union where she has been responsible for recruitment and enrollment, campus admissions programming, administration of financial aid, and recruiting and managing alumni admissions volunteers. In addition, Abbey has independent school teaching experience from her time as a French teaching intern at Northfield Mount Hermon School. She, her husband Kevin, and three-year-old daughter, Clara, live in Niskayuna, New York.
• 

  Xavier McKinzie 

  Associate Director of College Counseling

  518-833-1303

  Bio

  Xavier McKinzie serves as the Associate Director of College Counseling and joins Emma Willard School with seven years of experience in college admissions at Skidmore College and Union College. Mr. McKinzie received his BS in an interdisciplinary program in psychology and studio fine arts from Union College. He is also an alum of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) at Union. He has a passion for college placement and postsecondary success. Originally a “dual-citizen” of the Bronx and Manhattan boroughs in NYC, he now lives in Colonie, NY. Outside of his work in college placement, Mr. McKinzie can be found roaming the Capital Region taking photographs, trying new restaurants, or at any Stewart’s Shop during their half-gallon ice cream sales.
• 

  Elizabeth Ashline 

  Admin Assistant to College Counseling/College Board Testing Administrator, Athletic Trainer

  518-833-1307
• 

  Anna Navarro 

  Administrative Assistant to the Academic Office

  518-833-1310

  Bio

  Administrative Assistant to the Academic Office Anna Navarro received her B.S. in Computer Science from Philippine Christian University in Manila. She came to Emma Willard School with over 15 years of administrative experience. Prior to joining Emma, Anna spent three years with a nonprofit organization serving senior citizens. She and her family emigrated from the Philippines in 2001. They live in the Town of Colonie with their senior standard poodle, Charleston, aka "Charlie."