BIOGRAPHIES
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. Instructs graduate courses for high school counselors and independent educational consultants. Specialties in Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, International Students and Learning Differences.
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, Sculpture Department, NYC, NY, 1988-1994
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.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND COMMITTEES
AICEP: American Institute of Certified Educational Planners
Certified Educational Planner, 2016-Present; One of approximately 550 Independent Educational Consultants/High School Counselors worldwide with this designation.
IECA: Independent Educational Consultants Association
Executive Board, Vice-President of Membership & Engagement (2022-2023); Board of Directors, 2020-2023; Global Consulting Committee, 2013-2020: Chairman 2016-2018, Vice-Chairman, 2015-2016
Strategic Planning Committee 2021; Strategic Planning Committee, 2014-2015
International ACAC: International Association of College Admission Counseling
InternationalACAC Conference Bursary Committee (2015-Present); Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) Workgroup 2020; Membership Committee, 2015-2020; International ACAC Task Force on Commission-Based Recruitment, 2016
NACAC: National Association for College Admission Counseling
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.
RELATED COMMUNITY SERVICE
Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund Program, Washington, D.C.: General Scholarship Fund, Scholarship Reader, 2015-2021.
Matchlighters Essay Coach, Los Angeles, CA. 2017-2019.
ScholarMatch Virtual College Coach, San Francisco, CA. 2018.
QuestBridge Essay Coach, Palo Alto, CA. 2016.
SARAH KINNEY CONTOMICHALOS
Educational Advisory Services, LLC: 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. or Athens, Greece. Also 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 for”American College Consulting for the International Student”, 2016-Present & “International College Consulting for the American Student,” 2018-Present.
Governor of St. Catherine’s British School in Lykovrissi (Athens), Greece, 2016 to 2020. Chair of the Curriculum and Standards Committee, 2017 to 2019.
Tutor at Reading Partners, 2019 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
HECA (Higher Educational Consultants Association)
International ACAC (International Association of College Admission Counseling)
NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counselors)