BIOGRAPHΥ
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 (2016-Present)
Certified Educational Planner, 2016-Present; One of approximately 550 Independent Educational Consultants/High School Counselors worldwide with this designation.
IECA: Independent Educational Consultants Association (2010-Present)
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 (2010-Present)
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 (2010-2024)
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.