Cyndy McDonald, CEP

Cyndy McDonald is a recognized leader in both college counseling and in business. She has over thirty years of experience as a college advisor. She has trained many advisors when they were starting college consulting firms. Currently, Cyndy teaches in the UCLA online college counseling certificate program and serves as an active member of several professional organizations: NCAG, AICEP, NACAC, IECA, WACAC and HECA.

Steven R. Antonoff, Ph.D.

Steven R. Antonoff, Ph.D., Certified Educational Planner, is a respected voice in the profession of Independent Educational Consulting. He is author of A Student of Colleges (the first textbook written for the field), College Match, and The College Finder. Dr. Antonoff is on the Standards and Ethics and the Professional Development Institute committees of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA). He is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Dr. Antonoff was President of IECA and often teaches at the IECA Summer Training Institute. He is the Founding Chair of the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners. He is past chair of the IECA Foundation, the charitable arm of the professional association. He is a member of the Advisory Committee and an instructor in the University of California, Irvine Independent Educational Consulting Certificate program. He is sought as a speaker on issues of educational consulting, higher education, and college admission. He served as Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid and Dean of Students at the University of Denver.



Claire Nold-Glaser

Claire has worked as an independent counselor since June 2002 and prior to that, was a high school counselor for 15 years. She has worked with teenagers in some capacity for her entire career as she finds them incredibly interesting, funny, thought provoking and enjoys learning with them. Claire has held/holds various leadership positions in HECA, PNACAC and NACAC. When she’s not guiding students and parents in the college process, you’ll find her listening to music, looking for concert tickets, out on a walk or reading. Thanks for signing up for the PDI!

Eric Delehoy

Founder of Delehoy College Counseling, Eric is a national leader in independent education consulting. A seasoned expert with over 25 years experience working in college admission and college counseling, Eric worked both in small private and large public institutions of learning, guiding thousands of students along the path of college exploration, selection, and admission.

Eric holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and has published essays, short stories, and poetry. He is a dedicated and experienced professional who plays a national leadership role in the Higher Education Consultants Association, the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and the Portland Area College Counselor Consortium.

Eric has cultivated, over many years, strong relationships with high school counselors throughout Oregon and Washington, and has acted in a mentorship capacity for high school and independent counselors. Eric served as the first Independent Education Consultant on the University of Oregon’s Admission Advisory Board and was previously a college counselor in the Lake Oswego School District’s Scholar’s Alliance™ program.

Eric attends national and regional college conferences to enrich and support his work with students. He has visited well over 500 colleges and universities throughout the country and around the world.

He is a regular speaker at many local high schools and has been a featured speaker at dozens of college conferences and related events.

Kazue McGregor


Kazue is a Certified Educational Planner and has been advising students as an independent counselor since 2011. After a full career as an active teacher and classical musician performing in concert halls worldwide, Kazue works with students from all backgrounds with her specialty being in the performing arts and students from multicultural backgrounds. Kazue has held several leadership roles in HECA including past Director of Professional Development, College Fair & Conference Co-Chair and Virtual Conference Oversight. She is also an active volunteer in IECA and NACAC.

Debra Landesberg

For over 20 years, Debra Landesberg has focused on and trained to be knowledgeable about trends in higher education, the college application process, scholarships and financial aid. Her extensive experience assures that she provides the most critical and up-to-date information to her clients. As a result of multiple leadership roles in national and regional organizations, Debra has presented at various conferences and received numerous national and regional awards. Debra has grown her business to offer a team approach of highly experienced and passionate consultants who are dedicated to serving students and families across the world.

As an educational consultant, Debra Landesberg offers step-by-step guidance throughout high school, helping students prepare for the college application and selection process with minimal stress and maximum organization. Initially starting in the public high schools by creating a college & career center, My College Resource now consults with families throughout the nation who utilize public, private, and customized approaches to secondary education. Her motto, "Take the Stress and Guess out of College Admissions," reflects her commitment to making the process as smooth and manageable as possible for students and their families.

Tony Cabasco

Vice President for Enrollment, Colorado College

Tony Cabasco is the Vice President for Enrollment at Colorado College, a role he assumed in June 2024. Prior to joining Colorado College, he served as Vice President for Enrollment at Bennington College in Vermont from 2018 to 2024. Mr. Cabasco began his higher education career as an Admission Officer at Whitman College in Washington, where he worked for 24 years. He was appointed Director of Admission in 2000 following a national search and was promoted to Dean of Admission & Financial Aid in 2004.

Mr. Cabasco has been an active leader in the college admission field, serving on the Executive Board of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling and as a faculty member for the College Board’s Summer Admission Institute. He has presented on college admissions at numerous professional conferences and secondary schools across the United States.

Born in Vietnam, Mr. Cabasco lived in the Philippines and Nigeria before immigrating to the United States and settling in Olympia, Washington. He graduated from Whitman College with a degree in Physics. After spending a year teaching English at Northwestern Polytechnic Institute in Xi’an, China, he earned a master’s degree in international studies (Chinese Studies) from the University of Washington.

Christine Bowman

Assistant Vice President of Admission, Southwestern University

Christine Bowman has served the Southwestern University Admission Office since May of 1994. As Assistant Vice President, her responsibilities include overseeing the admission department to set enrollment philosophies at Southwestern University.

After growing up in Houston, she attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, graduating in 1993. She furthered her education earning a Masters degree in Higher Education Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. Throughout her career, Christine has worked with tour guides, campus visitation planning, alumni recruiting programs, transfer students, and international students managing staff and other "supplemental" duties that make an admission and enrollment office successful.

Professionally, Christine has been active in various professional organizations including The National Association of College Admission Counseling on both the National and State level. She was the Co-Chair for the 2007 NACAC National Conference in Austin and served as the Chair of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas E-Committee. She served two terms as the Chair of the Colleges that Change Lives Board of Directors and was a member of the TACAC Fiscal Policy Committee. With 20 years of experience in the Admission profession, Christine believes in guiding students to find the right college fit and regularly gives presentations encouraging a stress-free college search process.

When not reading admission files, Christine loves to cook, watch movies and read. She also supports several student organizations on the Southwestern campus.

Her husband, Bill, is also a Southwestern graduate ('92) and currently serves as the Men's Lacrosse Coach. They have two children, Savannah and Elijah.

Hanna Stotland, JD

Independent Educational Consultant

Hanna Stotland flunked out of high school, got a G.E.D., and went on to graduate from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Since 1999, she has been an independent admissions consultant specializing in educational crisis management, including Title IX, substance abuse and mental illness. Her recent professional presentations include conferences of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the Higher Education Consultants Association, regional ACACs, and Families Advocating for Campus Equality. She has also been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, CBS News, PBS, and WNYC.

Kate Sonnenberg

Independent Educational Consultant

Kate launched her educational consulting practice in 2019, building on her experience as an application reader for Princeton University's Admissions Office. For nearly a decade, she volunteered with the Princeton University Alumni Schools Committee, including chairing the committee that interviewed students in Essex (NJ) and Hudson (NJ) counties. In addition to her private practice, she is the Executive Director of EdPrep Scholars, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free college consulting to underserved students in northern New Jersey. She also shares her expertise as an instructor in the UC Irvine College Consulting Certificate Program.

Greg Zaiser

Vice President for Enrollment, Elon University

Greg L. Zaiser has served as Vice President for Enrollment at Elon University since June 2012.  Prior to his current position, he served the university as Dean of Undergraduate Admissions for six years.  A graduate of Elon College, Greg is responsible for all aspects of undergraduate and graduate enrollment management at the university.

A regular presenter at professional conferences, Greg has developed workshops on a variety of recruitment topics including international recruitment travel, strategic planning, and marketing and access in higher education.  In addition to his membership in a variety of professional organizations including the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, he has served on the NC ACT State Council, as a faculty member for the College Board’s Enrollment Leadership Academy and on the ZeeMee advisory board.  Most recently, he served on the Common App advisory committee. 

A two-time survivor of the college admissions process, Greg and his wife, Michelle, are the parents of two college graduates.  The combination of his professional and personal experiences shed considerable light on the current admissions climate and he enjoys sharing them with students and families at this important time of life.

Stefano Papaleo

Director of Undergraduate Admission, Lynn University

Originally from Rome, Italy, Stefano Papaleo embarked on his U.S. journey in 1993 when he was recruited to play tennis for Lynn University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1996 and returned in 1998 to pursue an MBA in International Business, securing a graduate assistantship in the Office of Admission.

Upon completing his MBA, Stefano began his professional career at Lynn University as an International Admission Counselor. Over the years, he has held various roles within the Office of Admission, showcasing his dedication and expertise. In 2011, he was promoted to Director of Undergraduate Admission, and in 2022, he became the Executive Director of Admission, leading a talented team of professionals.

Stefano’s career has taken him to more than 90 countries across six continents, where he has recruited students through solo efforts, small groups, and large tours. A seasoned presenter, he has shared his insights at conferences hosted by organizations such as NACAC, SACAC, IECA, HECA, OACAC, ECIS, CIS, and NAFSA. His deep passion for his alma mater and higher education shines through his work and contributions to the field.