LAURA O’BRIEN GATZIONIS

Educational Advisory Services, Athens, Greece: 2010-Present

Certified Educational Planner, Independent Educational Consultant advising students interested in matriculating at English language universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Collaborates with high school counseling offices as outside consultant.

The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education Instructor. Course: «American College Consulting for the International Student», 2016-Present. Course: «International College Consulting for the American Student,» 2018-Present.

Alumni Admission Council, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 2009-2018

Christie’s Auction House, New York, Assistant Vice-President of Sculpture Department, NY, 1988-1994

PUBLICATIONS

• Gatzionis, Laura O’Brien. «University Options in Europe,» IECA Insights, August/September 2017
• Gatzionis, Laura O’Brien. «The International IEC’s Toolbox,» IECA Insights, August/September 2016
• Gatzionis, Laura O’Brien, and Magnussen, Linda. «Demonstrating Sufficient Financial Resources for International Students,»IECA Insights, August/September 2015.
• Grappo, B. and O’Brien Gatzionis, L. «Not all Agents Call Themselves Agents,» IECA Insights, August/September 2014.

EDUCATION

Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, M.Ed. in International Counseling, 2016.

University of California-Los Angeles, California, UCLA Extension Graduate Certificate in College Counseling, with distinction, 2010.

Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, B.A. in Art History, 1989

David H. Hickman High School, Columbia, Missouri, National Merit Scholar, National Honor Society, 1985

RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICE

Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund Program, Washington, D.C.: General Scholarship Fund, Scholarship Reader, 2015-Present.

ScholarMatch Virtual College Coach, San Francisco, CA. 2018.

Matchlighters Essay Coach, Los Angeles, CA. 2017-Present.

QuestBridge Essay Coach, Palo Alto, CA. 2016.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND COMMITTEES

AICEP: American Institute of Certified Educational Planners
Certified Educational Planner, 2016-Present

IECA: Independent Educational Consultants Association
Global Consulting Committee, 2013-Present, Chairman 2016-2018, Vice-Chairman, 2015-2016
Strategic Planning Committee, 2014-2015

International ACAC: International Association of College Admission Counseling
Membership Committee, 2015-Present, International ACAC Task Force on Commission-Based Recruitment, 2016

NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling

Character Collaborative: Advancing Character in Admission
Committee Member, Character-Based Materials in the Application Process, 2018-Present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SARAH KINNEY CONTOMICHALOS

Educational Advisory Services, LLC, Ellsworth, Maine: 2010-Present

Independent Educational Consultant for students applying to universities in Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom or the United States and students interested in applying to high schools in the U.S.   Advises families on summer programs in the United States and Europe – February 2010 to Present.

The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education Instructor. Course: «American College Consulting for the International Student», 2016-Present. Course: «International College Consulting for the American Student,» 2018-Present.

Governor of St. Catherine’s British School in Lykovrissi (Athens), Greece, 2016 to present.

Alumni Interviewer for Yale University: 1998-2004.

Founding Member of the International Friends of the Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens, Greece 2011-Present.

Christie’s Auction House, New York: 1987-1998
Marketing Director: 1996-1998. Marketed sales of Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, and Jewelry.
Director of Single-Owner Sales: 1994-1996. Most works of art are sold by category. Collections owned by celebrities are sold as a whole to maximize publicity and cross-marketing opportunities.
Director of European Furniture and Carpets at Christie’s East: 1990-1994.
Trust and Estates Administrator: 1987-1990.

PUBLICATIONS

• Sarah Kinney Contomichalos, Jack Cao, Elizabeth Cashel, «Decoding Transcripts from China, Russia, and the United Kingdom,» IECA Insights, January 12, 2018
• Sarah Kinney Contomichalos, «Issues and Obstacles for Lateral Transfer Students to Selective Colleges,» The Journal of College Admissions Number 225 (Fall 2014) pp. 4-5
• Sarah Kinney Contomichalos, «Reducing Anxiety in the Admissions Process for the International Application,» The Journal of College Admissions Number 221 (Fall 2013) pp. 54-58

EDUCATION

University of California-Los Angeles, California, 2010. UCLA Extension Graduate Certificate in College Counseling, with distinction.

Yale University, 1985, New Haven Connecticut, B.A. in History.

The Madeira School, 1981, Greenway Virginia, National Merit Semi-Finalist.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

NACAC (National Association of College Admission Counseling)

International ACAC (International Association of College Admission Counseling)
Professional Member, Summer Institute: Attended July, 2010

IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association), Professional Member, Summer Institute: Attended July, 2010

HECA (Higher Educational Consultants Association)