Emma Willard School is a place to discover what it means to look within yourself and see your future on the horizon. By seeking out a school where you belong, you already show that you are ready for something more than the high school experience.
Emma Hart Willard founded her school on the basis of providing girls with a first-class education equal to that of men—one that challenged, inspired, and enabled them to serve and shape their worlds.
More than 200 years later, Emma Willard School proudly continues to carry on this mission.
Emma Willard School's curriculum focuses on three pillars: Intellectual Flexibility, Purpose & Community, and Equity & Justice. Our academic program offers more than 140 courses, including Emma's own unique Advanced Studies options. Personalized study programs enable students to dive deep into a topic or field of their choosing, and gain hands-on experience.
Education at Emma isn’t limited to the classroom—it’s woven into the fabric of our community. With students from around the world and across the United States, and faculty and staff with a wide breadth of life experiences, you will broaden your perspective the moment you walk onto campus.
Bonds created in the residence and dining halls, while practicing for an athletics match or arts performance, at one of our many cherished traditions, and all the little moments in between, define the Emma experience.
The college counseling team’s mission is to help each Emma student matriculate to a college or university that fits their intellectual and personal abilities, interests, aspirations, and personal sense of community.
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, Senior Class Dean
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 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
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."
Welcome to Emma Willard School, a private day and boarding high school for girls in Troy, NY, and a leader in girls' education for over 200 years.
PLEASE NOTE: All visitors to campus must check in with Campus Safety, which can be found at the red flag entrance to Sage Hall (Pawling Ave. entrance).