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Bennett Team · 22 May, 2017 · 2 min read

A First Step to Free College in New York?

Updated: May 20, 2026

I was reading about New York State’s proposed budget which, if passed, can enable students from middle class families to attend college for free. The income cap has been set at $100,000 this year and will rise to $110,000 in 2018 and then $125,000 in 2019. Students from families who qualify may apply for an “Excelsior” Scholarship and, as long as they enroll for 30 credits, they may attend a State University of New York or City University of New York school for free.

This is exciting news, since higher education, typically regarded as a necessary requirement for interesting and lucrative work, has been getting more and more expensive over the years, arguably leaving the middle class in the most difficult position of all: not poor enough to qualify for significant scholarships, but not rich enough to fund college. The amount of debt carried by our college-graduating youngsters is both staggering and depressing.

So it’s nice to see a gesture by at least one state to help its students take the next step in their education, and it would be great if we saw more of this. The state did add a caveat, however: students who receive the scholarship are required to live and work in New York for the same number of years they received funding, or else their scholarship will be converted into a loan. I must admit that I find this unfortunate; it seems to me that, as an “advanced” society, helping our youth to educate themselves is simply a practical and appropriate thing to do, regardless of where they decide to “spend” their knowledge afterwards. But hopefully it’s the first of many steps in the right direction.

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OUR: CONSULTANTS

Lynda Andrews has worked with numerous Bennett families over the years, guiding them through the many schooling options available in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. She values the diversity of educational opportunities in these regions, noting the wide range of schools with different sizes, strengths, and philosophies.

Lynda brings an extensive and varied background in education to her work with Bennett. Holding a B.A. from the University of Mississippi, she has taught at middle and high school levels and served as a learning clinician for students with Special Needs. Her experience also includes a decade as Head of School at a private academy, and as a freelance writer, she has helped college students develop strong writing skills.

The daughter of an oil field engineer, Lynda grew up in Louisiana and moved frequently across the U.S. as a child. She remembers “what it feels like to be the new kid in school,” a perspective that fuels her commitment to helping families find the right environment where their children can thrive.

Celina Arbizu was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador, where she earned a teaching degree from the Evangelical University, followed by a Bachelor of Education Sciences from the Luis M. Escamilla University.

Celina worked at the American School of San Salvador as a teacher’s assistant in early and elementary school and tutored children with learning disabilities. After relocating to Mexico City, she has continued her teaching and has combined this with her independent consulting with “Bennett” families.

While much of Celina’s consulting with Bennett involves supporting families relocating to Mexico, she has developed several geographic areas of expertise over the years and has effectively supported families headed to Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. As one who has also relocated herself with children, she brings empathy and a firsthand understanding of the kind of support required by relocating families. We look forward to seeing where else Celina will support families in the years to come.

Jen Bergman is an Independent Education Consultant based in Seattle; a native of Seattle, she brings extensive knowledge of the area and an enthusiasm for empowering families in their education journey to her role at Bennett International.

Jen has been involved in school choice as a parent and volunteer for educational programs for the past 20 years. Among other roles, she has led various curriculum-based art projects, implemented Girls on the Run and Jogathon/ fundraising programs, and served as a High School Parent Association chairperson. Jen has been committed to expanding her knowledge of Seattle-area schools and special programs over the past two decades and is always excited to share her knowledge with relocating families.

Jen earned her B.A. in Speech Communications at University of Washington and spent several decades in the world of Communications and Public Relations, working on everything from charity events to public affairs initiatives. A daughter of schoolteachers and a certified copywriter, she found herself ever-drawn to the world of education, however, and is happy to bring her talents to bear on behalf of Bennett families and as an Admissions volunteer at a Seattle area school.

Julie Bloomberg is an independent education consultant in Boston who brings her research skills to bear on special projects led by our Education Research and Analysis team.

Julie’s varied education career includes supporting Pre-K expansion at the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Society for Research in Child Development Pre-Doctoral Fellow; researching early childhood education policy in the United States and internationally, at the National Center for Children and Families; and designing and administering surveys as the Associate Director of the Teachers College Survey Research Initiative. She has worked as a consultant for UNICEF in New York, UNESCO in Santiago, Chile, and for the New York City Department of Education. She has also taught at the high school level and has worked as a student-teacher supervisor at the graduate school level.

Julie holds a Doctorate in Early Childhood Education Policy from Teachers College, Columbia University, an M.S.Ed. in International Educational Development from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Spanish and Religion from Colby College. She is fluent in Spanish and received an ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Trudy Borenstein-Sugiura brings a varied background in arts and athletics to her consulting work with Bennett. A PTR certified tennis coach and a Rutgers University Certified Youth Sports Coach, she was on staff at a private school in Princeton, NJ for eight years, where coaching young athletes developed her expertise in working with students of varied skills.

Since she began consulting with Bennett in 2010, Trudy has worked with hundreds of families, most often those relocating into the US or Canada or moving domestically from coast to coast. Her particular areas of expertise are greater New York City and Los Angeles, as well as North American Boarding Schools.

A graduate of Philadelphia College of Art with a B.A. in Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art, Trudy has also been a jewelry designer for Cartier and David Yurman, and her work is included in the permanent collection of the Cooper Hewitt Museum of the Smithsonian Institute. She has been a long-standing volunteer with Princeton Special Sports teen programs for children with Autism and Down Syndrome and is also a member of IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

Mike Brinkmeyer is an independent education consultant based in Switzerland who brings a long career in international education to his support of “Bennett” families.

Originally from Florida and always drawn to foreign languages and all things international, Mike earned his B.A. in Education from Georgia Southern University, specializing in language instruction. This was followed by an M.A. in French literature at Florida State University, once again with an emphasis on teaching.

Mike started his education career with an organization that planned summer language immersion programs for American high school students, and this was followed by a stint as a French teacher at an independent school in Alexandria, Virginia. Since 2006 he has worked as Modern Languages Teacher, Athletics and Activities Director, and Dormitory Head at an international boarding school in Switzerland, where his course load has included High Level IB French. Mike has traveled extensively in Europe, individually and with student groups, and speaks English, French, German, and Spanish.

Robert Carr is an Independent Education Consultant based in the UK and a member of Bennett’s UK partner team, Educatus. With over five years of extensive experience in the British education system, he supports “Bennett” families relocating to the UK, advising on academic placement, liaising with schools and local authorities, and guiding families through the application process to secure best-fit school options.

Robert began his career as a primary school teacher before moving into education consulting, and his background gives him a practical understanding of school cultures classroom dynamics, safeguarding protocols, and the admissions processes across different regions of the UK. He brings particular insight into the supports available for students with English as an Additional Language or Special Educational Needs.

Robert earned his LL.B. from the University of Brighton and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Sussex. He brings a special combination of classroom expertise and empathy to his consulting with Bennett families, whether they are applying to state, private or international schools, and he has helped hundreds of families navigate the UK’s complex education landscape.

Grant Calder has worked in College Consulting and Admissions Counseling for over 30 years and is Director of College Counseling at a private Quaker school in Philadelphia, where he also teaches American History. He provides expert consulting in Bennett’s college and university division, working with students and writing blogs for Bennett College Consulting.

Over the years, Grant has taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University in Philadelphia, and the Middlesex and Choate boarding schools in New England. Additionally, he was a guest teacher at the Evangelisches Gymnasium Zum Grauen Kloster in Berlin, Germany. A frequent speaker and writer on US colleges and universities, Grant is a recognized expert in the field and is known for his encyclopedic knowledge of programs throughout the US.

Grant holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and is a C.E.P. (Certified Education Planner). Based in Philadelphia, he is also one of the original founders of Bennett and the keeper of our institutional history; we hold him in particularly high esteem, therefore, and are always appreciative of his many contributions to our work.

Elif Charrey began consulting with Bennett in 2018 as an independent education consultant based in Paris. At the time, Bennett was handling a large group move to Paris as a result of BREXIT, and Elif was in high demand, supporting scores of families moving into either private or state schools in the greater Paris area. She was quick to understand the kind of support required by relocating families and to apply her extensive knowledge of the Paris education landscape accordingly, and she became a much-valued consultant overnight.

Elif received a B.S. in Management from METU in Ankara, Turkey, and her M.A. in Montpellier, France. Her professional background includes experience in academic research and coordinating executive programs at INSEAD, a European business school. She has also worked as an interpreter for Turkish delegations to France.

A Turkish and French national, Elif is fluent in Turkish, French, and English. She is highly appreciated by the families she supports for her warmth, her extensive knowledge, and her outstanding professionalism.

Jane E. Choy-Thurlow is an independent education consultant based in the Netherlands where she has been providing support to “Bennett” families for many years.

In addition to consulting with Bennett, Jane is an art historian, an accredited lecturer for the Arts Society, such that she lectures on Flemish 15th-17th century art throughout Europe. She also works as a docent at the Mauritshuis and was knighted into the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Dutch king for her knowledge and work in the Arts. When not in a museum, Jane can also be found teaching English as an additional language to non-native English speakers.

Originally from the US, Jane received a B.Sc. in Business Education from Salem State University and an M.A. in Education from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. She worked for the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) in Paris, in its center for Educational Research and Innovation, focusing on youth unemployment, and later pursued her studies in Art History in The Netherlands.

Milla Warren Darcy, a native of California, is an independent education consultant based in Paris who has provided seasoned support to many “Bennett” families relocating to France and other parts of Europe.

After receiving her B.S. in Psychology, Milla was admitted to a Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program in Berkeley, California, before moving to Europe with her French husband. Since then, she has had a varied career that has included teaching English in the public school system in Spain, coordinating seminars for executives at a business school in France, and writing for a children’s column in an international community magazine in Luxembourg. Most recently, she has been working a children’s book that includes themes of recycling and sustainability, and we hope to see it in bookstores one day.

Milla continued her studies at the Sorbonne in France, and is fluent in English, French, and Spanish. Her consulting with Bennett benefits from her own “internationalism,” in addition to her teaching experience and knowledge of the French education system.

Based near Stuttgart, Germany, Karen Ekman-Baur boasts a long career in Education and supports “Bennett” families relocating to Germany, Austria, and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland. Originally from Florida, Karen began her teaching career there before entering the world of Department of Defense and international schools. In 2002 she was appointed Head of University Counseling at the International School of Stuttgart and later worked in College Counseling at Leysin International School and Aiglon College in Switzerland. She has also provided workshops or supported college counseling programs in schools in India and Greece.

Karen received a B.S. in Education from Florida State University and an M.A. in Curriculum with a concentration in Guidance Counseling from Florida Atlantic University. She is recognized as a Certified Educational Professional by AICEP and is a member of IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

A seasoned traveler, Karen is fluent in English and German and is working on her Spanish and French. She enjoys music, dance, theater, and visual arts, and is appreciated for her generally unflappable nature.

Heather Gatto is a Greater New York expert who specializes in private and public school placement in New York City, Westchester, NY, and Fairfield County, Connecticut. Since joining the company in 2009, she has worked with hundreds of families and has successfully placed countless children in schools throughout the greater New York area. Heather is appreciated for her signature blend of smarts, wit and professionalism, and she is often requested by some of Bennett’s most demanding clients to support their most “high-touch” employees.

Prior to joining Bennett, Heather spent 10 years as the national coordinator for a children’s education program where she advised teachers and environmental groups on how to incorporate the program into their curriculum and events. She also worked as a senior compliance officer and financial/regulatory analyst for Depository Trust Company, where she oversaw applications and memberships of banks and broker-dealers.

Heather holds a B.A. in English Literature from Fordham University in New York. When not on the phone with relocating families or schools, she can often be found out hiking with her dog, Finn.

Eline Hausel is the owner and founder of Young Expat Services (YES), an education consulting company in the Netherlands that partners with Bennett to provide our services there. She is also a teacher with over twenty years of professional experience, working with children with Special Education Needs and teaching Dutch as a second language in the Netherlands and abroad.

Eline’s own experience as expat and mother led her to pay attention to the repatriation chapter of relocation; specifically, to the need of returning Dutch children to learn or re-learn Dutch, and she initially began Expatkamp, a language and sports camp for repatriating Dutch students. This project evolved, and in 2014 she founded YES and began helping guide students coming into the Netherlands to good-fit schools. Her company has since grown to include 10 employees, all of whom are education professionals.

In 2022, Bennett and YES formed a partnership such that YES can be Bennett’s “local” provider, and Bennett may be YES’s global extension. Eline and her team quickly proved themselves to be outstanding additions to the extended Bennett family.

Emma Hoffman, a true ‘Third Culture Kid,” grew up and was educated in six countries, including New Zealand, Hong Kong, Western Samoa, and Gibraltar. She has firsthand experience, therefore, of the educational and cultural challenges faced by children and families who are relocating internationally.

After graduating from King’s College, University of London, with a degree in law, Emma followed her true passion and earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of London, specializing in elementary education. She has dedicated her career to educating children in many capacities, including teaching in public and private schools in the UK and the US, tutoring students across grade levels and subjects, and preparing them for US standardized tests, including the S.S.A.T. and the S.A.T.

An independent consultant based outside of Philadelphia, Emma supports families moving into the United States; she also specializes in college consulting and “private vs. public school” assessments for corporate clients. She is a consultant of many talents, and her blogs can be read at Bennett College Consulting.

Based in Dubai, Anushay Hussain is a leader on Bennett’s UAE Special Education Needs (SEN) team. A licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with over nine years of experience, she brings deep expertise to her guidance of families who come to Bennett in search of support for their child with additional needs.

Anushay relocated to the UAE from Pakistan where she founded and continues to oversee a multidisciplinary child development clinic that provides speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral support to children with a wide range of learning challenges. She has worked extensively with families and schools in both Pakistan and the UAE, collaborating with educators and allied health professionals to create and implement Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), train teachers, and establish inclusive support in classrooms.

Anushay holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and is fluent in English and Urdu. She is passionate about supporting children with additional needs, whether it means identifying the best resources for them or guiding parents on their journey with their child; her experience and perspective have been of tremendous value to the many families she has helped.

Based in the United Arab Emirates, Niamh Keegan is an Independent Education Consultant who supports “Bennett” families with school searches throughout the middle east; she also supports families relocating to Ireland. As an expert in Special Education Needs (SEN), she is able to leverage her deep knowledge of school operations and student support services in multiple locations.

Originally from Ireland, Niamh spent several years with Ireland’s Department of Education and Skills, where she worked partly as an Inclusion Specialist before relocating to the UAE. She has worked in both public and private schools across Ireland and the United Arab Emirates, holding leadership roles and managing specialist education departments.

Niamh earned her Bachelor of Education in Primary Education from the Hibernia College in Dublin and her Master of Education, with a focus on Special and Inclusive Education, from Dublin City University. Fluent in both English and Irish, she is passionate about inclusive education and committed to helping students thrive in schools that meet their individual needs.

Mona Kolsky supports families relocating to the Philadelphia, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey areas, including those with Special Education Needs children. She has worked with families from around the globe, including those repatriating, and has extensive knowledge of both public and private school options.

Mona has spent a long professional life in education as a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia and a curriculum writer for numerous institutions in the Philadelphia area. She is currently an adjunct professor in the Graduate Education Program at Rosemont College outside Philadelphia where she teaches and supervises student teachers.

Mona received her M.A. from Temple University and completed post graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also studied at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Trinity College in Dublin, and Yale University, and has been awarded fellowships to study in Turkey, China, South Korea, Japan, Germany, Poland and Israel. In addition to working as an independent consultant for Bennett, Mona is an educational advisor to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and is active in several other community nonprofit organizations in Philadelphia.

Pauline Linnell is an Independent Education Consultant on Bennett’s Special Education Needs (SEN) team, based in Massachusetts and supporting families relocating into and throughout the US. She brings over 20 years of inclusive teaching experience to her work with Bennett – an extensive knowledge of SEN frameworks, combined with a deep understanding of US, European, Asian, and Middle Eastern education systems and cultures.

Pauline has worked in public, private and international schools throughout the US, in a range of education roles: as an ELL teacher, inclusion specialist, and special education teacher, supporting students with diverse learning profiles, including autism. Her background includes leadership in induction programs for teachers and a strong command of the IB curriculum and culturally responsive practices.

Pauline holds a Special Education credential from City University’s EDTPA program in Washington, an M.A. in Business and Hospitality Management from the University of Angers, and a B.A. in English from the University of Rennes. She is certified to teach French and Spanish in Massachusetts, and speaks French and English fluently, with advanced proficiency in Spanish.

Cecily Lynett boasts several areas of expertise in her work at Bennett: public and private schools in the greater New York area and New Jersey, and boarding schools throughout the US. She is a veteran consultant whose services are often requested by Bennett’s most demanding clients, and she has placed hundreds of students in good-fit schools since she joined the company in 2011.

Prior to working with Bennett, Cecily taught at an elementary school in Queens before being uprooted and relocated to London as an expat. Like many Bennett consultants who experienced the need to figure out their children’s education while on assignment, Cecily brings firsthand experience and much empathy to her support of “Bennett” families.

Cecily holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from West Virginia University and is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), which sets best practices in the field of education consulting. When not working with families, she may be found out on a run or immersed in a good book.

Rowena McArthur is a member of Bennett’s UK team of Educatus education consultants and is an expert in schooling options for families relocating to the UK. Like many Bennett consultants, she brings her own experience as both an expat and a teacher to her work with “Bennett” families.

As an expat in the UAE, Rowena taught for eight years in an international school in Abu Dhabi, where she also served as Academic Deputy Head and supported the admissions team. Before working overseas, Rowena taught for over 20 years in Primary School settings in the UK where she held a variety of leadership positions, including Deputy Head teacher at a Primary School in West Sussex. She subsequently went on to work for the Local Education Authority, leading teacher training on children’s literacy and literature.

Rowena holds a B.A. with first-class honors from the University of Warwick and achieved the UK National Professional Qualification for Headteachers. In 2023 She repatriated to the UK with teenaged sons and understands from firsthand experience the importance of finding the perfect school match for every student she supports.

Based in Dubai, Aamynah Nagji is a veteran independent education consultant and also a Global Team Lead (GTL) for Bennett’s Asia-Pacific team of consultants. As a GTL, Aamynah supports Bennett’s consultants throughout APAC, overseeing their casework and providing regular updates to our corporate and RMC clients. She also handles Bennett’s work into several locations in Asia, in addition to supporting the many “Bennett” families relocating to Dubai.

Aamynah holds a B.A. in Economics and Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, India, and received her certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst from AIMR, USA. She is also a Certified Leader and Life Coach who speaks fluent Hindi and Urdu.

Passionate about preparing young people to be skillful leaders in a global market, Aamynah has volunteered in schools in Dubai, assisting with the implementation of a Mathematics program for improving mental math skills.

Dawn Nelson is an Independent Education Consultant on Bennett’s Special Education Needs (SEN) team, based in Yardley, Pennsylvania. She supports families relocating throughout the US, offering experienced guidance to those navigating complex academic profiles. With a strong background in both public and private education, Dawn brings a compassionate, student-centered approach to school placement.

Dawn began her teaching career supporting military families at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey, an experience that sparked her deep understanding of the challenges of relocation. Most recently, she spent four years at the Cervone Center for Learning at The Pennington School, where she worked closely with day, boarding, and international students and their families. There, she partnered with parents and school staff to design individualized support plans for students, build academic strategies, and foster student self-advocacy. Her career has also included private tutoring, academic advising, and coaching roles—each one enhancing her ability to connect with students and guide them toward success.

A native of the Mid-Atlantic region, Dawn holds an Ed.M. from Saint Joseph’s University, where she earned dual certifications in Special Education and as a Reading Specialist. She also holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Saint Joseph’s and is certified in New Jersey.

Miriam (Riam) Naji is an independent education consultant for Bennett International in Ireland. Based in Dublin, she has spent years in the education world there, most recently as the Coordinator in the ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) department in the Dublin Adult Learning Center. In her role there, she works with communities new to Ireland and is very attuned to the challenges they face when they arrive in a new country, sometimes under duress.

Prior to working in Dublin, Miriam spent five years teaching English in Paris and two years in Madrid. She is fluent in French and proficient in Spanish.

Educated as a child in Morocco and Ireland, Miriam earned her undergraduate degree in Pharmacy at Trinity College, Dublin. She later earned a diploma in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language to Adults from the University of Cambridge, British Council, Paris; this was followed by an M.A. in Intercultural studies from Dublin City University and a Certificate in Learning & Technology from the National College of Ireland.

Based in Hamburg, Germany, Kirsten O’Byrne brings a long career in education and in expat living to her support of “Bennett” families headed to both Germany and the Middle East.

Trained in primary teaching and as a teacher of German as a Foreign Language, Kirsten began her career at the German Embassy school of Beijing before relocating to Sydney and picking up the teaching baton there. This was followed by a stint in Saudi Arabia and a longer stay in Dubai, where she taught at several schools, including the German International School. More Recently, Kirsten can be found back in the classroom in her native Germany.

Kirsten earned her B.Ed. from the University of Hamburg and the University of Freiburg and completed her teacher training in Mainz, Germany. She received Montessori training in Adelaide, Australia and German as a Second or Foreign language training at the Goethe Institute of Germany.

Based outside New York City, Amina O’Kane works with “Bennett” families moving around the world and oversees students who are supported by Bennett through our scholarship management services.

After a decade with multinational corporations, Amina entered the world of education, specifically as Director of Admissions & Registrar at Cairo American College, Egypt, where she spent 15 years; this was followed by two years as the Director of Admissions at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before her return to the US, where she served as Director of Upper School Admissions at a private international school in New York City and helped to develop the school’s Advisory Board Scholarship Program. Her next position was at a Nursery-Gr 8 private school in New Jersey where she was responsible for both the admissions process and the outplacement of graduating students into private, public, and boarding schools in New York, New Jersey, and beyond.

Amina holds a B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and was recipient of a U.S. government-supported graduate fellowship at the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA). She is a fluent Arabic speaker.

Based in Melbourne, May O’Kane is an independent education consultant who supports “Bennett” families relocating to Australia. Given her own experience of frequent relocation, both internationally and within Australia, she is well equipped to explain the many available schooling options to families, whether they are moving coast to coast or inbound from another country.

Prior to living in Melbourne, May studied Early Childhood Education in mainland China before moving to Brisbane. She later obtained a B.A. in Visual Arts from the University of Sydney and worked as a Graduation Officer at the University of NSW in Sydney before moving to Melbourne. Her career then took her to the corporate world where she spent over seven years working for a nation-wide finance company.

In addition to experience and empathy, May brings several languages to her consulting work with Bennett; fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, she is now learning Japanese in her free time.

Meredith O’Reilly is an Independent Education Consultant based in Singapore, where she currently lives and works. A longtime member of Bennett’s global team, she supports families relocating to or from Singapore as well as those moving throughout the US and Europe. Meredith brings a global perspective to her school placement work, shaped by over two decades of experience in international education.

Her career has taken her to international schools in China, Vietnam, Singapore, and the US, where she has served as a teacher, Learning Support Coordinator, and Special Education Needs (SEN) specialist. Meredith is well versed in British, American, and International Baccalaureate curricula and brings deep knowledge of how to navigate school systems across cultures. In addition to supporting mainstream placements, she brings particular expertise in working with students with diverse learning profiles when needed.

Meredith earned her B.A. in Psychology from Lafayette College and her M.A. in Special Education and Learning Disabilities from American University. She also holds a Professional Concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders from the University of California, Davis. Originally from the US, she now calls Singapore home.

Megan PicketteMegan Pickette is an independent education consultant who works with individual “Bennett” families and also with Bennett’s Research and Analysis team. One day she may be supporting a family relocating to Mongolia, for example, and the next she is assessing a school or doing a tuition study for a corporate client.

Prior to consulting with Bennett, Megan worked in marketing research for the biotech division of Johnson & Johnson as well as in development at several education institutions. She has volunteered in admissions at private schools in the Boston area and as treasurer of a local education foundation.

Megan has experienced relocation firsthand, within the US and on an expat assignment to Prague, and she understands well how parents feel when asked to move internationally with children. Currently based in Boston, Megan holds a B.A. in Sociology from Bates College, an M.B.A. from Boston College, and is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). She has traveled extensively and studied in Stockholm, Sweden.

Based in Seattle, Carol Podney Wartman brings a career in teaching to her consulting work with Bennett. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has taught for many years in bilingual and Spanish immersion programs at the elementary level. She also taught educational psychology at La Salle University in Philadelphia, prior to becoming a supervisor of intern teachers in the Master’s Program at the University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, she has resumed teaching at the elementary level and has also supervised students training in ESL at the University of Washington. Her work overseeing graduate students has enabled her to work in many public and private schools in the Philadelphia and Seattle areas and to observe firsthand the ever-changing trends in education.

Carol’s consulting work with Bennett includes supporting families relocating to the Seattle area and assessments for corporate clients deciding what level of support to offer a relocating or repatriating student.

She earned her B.A. at the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a major in Psychology and a minor in Spanish, and she holds a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from U.C. Berkeley.

Alison Randall is an independent education consultant based in Toronto, Canada, who brings a lifetime of teaching and “internationalism” to her consulting with Bennett. Born in Canada, she has lived in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Dubai, France, Mexico, and Guatemala. She knows firsthand the experience of relocating one’s children to a new country and finding good-fit schools for them, and she brings her experience and empathy to bear in her support of “Bennett” families.

Alison has worked extensively as a teacher in Canada, in both public and private schools and with students of all ages, including those with Special Education Needs. She also volunteers with organizations across the West End of Toronto, regularly preparing meals at the Fort York Food Bank, and she currently serves as President of her local Rotary Club.

Alison holds an undergraduate degree in French from the University of Western Ontario, and an M.A. in Child Study & Education at the University of Toronto’s OISE. She is fluent in English and French and proficient in Spanish and Italian.

Nina Ritch is an Independent Education Consultant based in Washington, D.C. who supports “Bennett” families navigating the education landscape in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

A seasoned educator, Nina has spent over 20 years teaching and working in schools in the D.C. metropolitan area and possesses in-depth knowledge of the area’s independent, public, and parochial schooling options. She provides expert counsel to families faced with a broad range of possibilities in a complex education landscape and, as one who experienced relocation firsthand as a high school student, she empathizes with students and families who are uprooting their lives and starting afresh in a new location.

Nina earned her B.A. in Government, International Affairs, and French at Skidmore College and her M.Ed. in Education at George Washington University. She is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and serves on the Associate Board of the non-profit Hope For Henry. As the mother of two children, one of whom has additional learning needs, she understands the importance of finding the best-fit school for one’s child.

Based in Dubai, Nienke Salomons-Pool is an independent education consultant who supports students interested in applying for University in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is a high-demand location for higher education in the world of “international” students, and Nienke is well-placed to support them, either locally or remotely.

Originally from the Netherlands, Nienke worked for 15 years in cultural heritage education for schools and museums there. When she relocated to Dubai in 2007, she applied her previous experience in her then-new environment, and began working with international schools, organizing field trips to local history museums. She later took coursework, in order to educate herself on the Dutch university application system and began supporting expat students applying to programs there. Her work expanded to include supporting local students, and she enjoys helping young people of all different nationalities and backgrounds find the right next step on their education journey.

Nienke holds a Master’s in Educational Sciences from the Rijksuniversiteit in Leiden and speaks fluent English, Dutch, and French.

Based in Singapore, Renee Saulnier brings an extensive career in the world of education to her work with “Bennett” families and is a veteran of the independent education consulting world. Over the years, she has guided hundreds of students to their best-fit schools in Singapore.

Renée’s education experience is varied and international, ranging from teaching studio art at the Google Children’s Centers in Mountain View, California to serving as a volunteer in local schools in Indonesia and international schools in Singapore. She has worked in a Special Needs classroom at a renowned school in Singapore and is Co-Founder of Creative Reuse for Education, an education consultancy offering teacher training programs in local and international schools in Singapore.

Renée earned her B.A. in Family Studies, with a specialty in Early Childhood, from the University of New Hampshire and an M.A. from San Jose University in Integrated Arts for Young Children. She speaks both English and Indonesian.

Currently based in Boston, Lisa Schwarzwald is an independent education consultant who brings a varied and extensive career in education to her consulting work with Bennett. Over the years, she has supported numerous “Bennett” families moving to Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island and has guided countless children to good-fit schools in the public and private sectors.

Prior to working with Bennett, Lisa was Director of Continuing Professional Education at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, and a study abroad advisor at the University of Texas at Austin. She also worked as Director of Recruitment and the Assistant Director of Extension programs at IES, The International Education of Students, in Chicago, IL, and as Manager of International Admissions at Eastern Michigan University.

Lisa earned her B.A. from Brandeis University and a M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. Always drawn to all things international, she studied abroad in Spain and spent time working in Israel.

Based in Warsaw, Dagmara Sotowicz-Krauz is an Independent Education Consultant who supports families relocating to Poland.

In addition to consulting with Bennett, Dagmara works in the world of education outside the classroom, guiding tours throughout Poland and in other parts of Europe. She began her career decades ago with Scandinavian Seminar in Amherst, Massachusetts, a nonprofit international education organization dedicated to promoting lifelong learning and cultural immersion; following this, she worked as a group leader for several education and travel programs for older adults, including Elderhostel and Road Scholar. In recent years, her focus has been primarily on Poland and Italy, leading tour groups with a range of interests: art, religion, history or general sightseeing. Given her background in travel and education, it was a natural step for Dagmara to broaden her expertise to include education opportunities for kids moving to Poland, and she has developed an in-depth knowledge of schools of interest to relocating families.

Dagmara earned her B.A. in Italian Studies from the University of Warsaw and a graduate diploma in American Studies from Smith University in Massachusetts. Fluent in Polish, English, French and Italian, she is also conversant in Russian.

Currently based in Kathmandu, Nepal, Jane Krill Thompson is an independent education consultant specializing in supporting “Bennett” families relocating to Asia with Special Education Needs children.

Jane has had an extensive and international career in education, most notably as an expert in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Development. In the US, she served as Director of the Lourie Center Infant and Toddler Program in Maryland and of the Montgomery County Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education and Adult Education Programs. As a “global nomad,” she has lived in many countries including Paraguay, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Romania, where she has worked with international schools, NGOs, and as an early intervention provider, international school Board Chair and education consultant.

Jane earned her B.S. in Child Development from Ohio State University and an M.S. in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. She is certified as an educator for infants and young children with Special Education Needs and is a licensed school administrator.

Originally from the US, Josephine Topping-AtkinsonJosephine Topping-Atkinson is an independent education consultant based in Geneva who supports “Bennett” families relocating to Switzerland.

Josephine first found herself in Switzerland several decades ago, prepared for what she thought would be a brief stint in Geneva as an expat spouse; but in keeping with the way life is a series of surprises, she eventually found herself raising her children there and working in the relocation industry, supporting families with finding good-fit schools for their children. Over the years, she has acquired an in-depth knowledge of local and international schools and has helped countless families understand their options and make informed decisions. She refers to herself as someone who has “accidentally” found herself in Switzerland for almost 40 years, and she understands well the challenges faced by relocating families and how best to provide support.

Josephine holds a B.A. from American University and has pursued studies in Psychology at Webster University in Geneva, the Swiss campus of Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. She is fluent in both English and French.

Anne VinsonAnne Vinson is an independent education consultant based outside of Washington, D.C., who has consulted with both Bennett’s Education Research & Analysis and Business Development teams. She brings a life of “internationalism” and experience working in the relocation industry to her consulting with Bennett.

Prior to working with Bennett, Anne worked for an education consulting firm in Washington, D.C., before joining Dwellworks Relocation Support Services. She spent 11 years at Dwellworks, working as a destination services consultant, program manager, and team lead. Her experience supporting relocating families with a range of needs and processes prepared her well for working with Bennett International.

Anne also spent four years as an expat in the Netherlands where she volunteered with the Woman’s Club of The Hague and the Federation of American Women’s Clubs. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and in Russia, Turkey, Egypt and China. She holds a B.A. in Art History from Manhattanville College in New York.

Denise Voisey is an education consultant based in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, in the Lone Star state of Texas. Highly experienced, she has supported scores of families from all over the world and has guided hundreds of children to good-fit schools in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Denise is no stranger to the world of relocation, having moved as a child between Canada, the US, and England. Her own career in Human Resources Management took her from the south of England to New York, and in 2002 she relocated from London to Texas with her family and assumed a role that combined Global Mobility with Education.

Denise earned her B.A. in Employee Relations, Resourcing and Development from the University of Brighton, UK and is a graduate of the IPD – Institute of Personnel and Development program. Her experiences in HR and Global mobility, combined with her personal relocation experience and passion for education and supporting relocating children, make her a skilled and empathetic education consultant.

Based in the UK, Karen Wilson is an Independent Education Consultant on Bennett’s UK partner team, Educatus. Former teacher and expat, she brings both her personal experience and her professional background to her work with “Bennett” families moving to the UK.

Karen began her teaching career in London and Kent where she taught across the primary age range in several schools, supporting students with diverse educational needs and English language levels. Her career also includes a decade of experience teaching in international schools in Manila and Hong Kong, where she gained firsthand insight into the complexities of global relocation and the challenges faced by internationally mobile families.

Karen has guided her own children through school transitions, examinations, and university applications. She understands the pressures families face at every stage of education and is committed to helping her “Bennett” families find the right-fit school as they move to a new country.

Shahla Yaghoubi specializes in working with families relocating to Northern California, most frequently to the San Francisco Bay Area. A seasoned independent education consultant who has been supporting families with their schooling needs since 2012, she knows the public and private school landscape intimately and has helped hundreds of families find the right-fit school for their children. She is much appreciated for her competence and her reassuring nature.

Prior to becoming an independent education consultant, Shahla worked in the tech start-up and Fortune 500 industry in Silicon Valley in the field of Corporate and Sales Finance, and she holds an M.B.A/M.I.A. from Columbia University.

In 2002, Shahla branched out and completed her ESL/EFL certificates and began working with adult language learners in the greater Bay Area. She has traveled throughout Europe and to Iran, Turkey, Oman and the UAE; she is fluent in Farsi and conversant in French.

Based in Hong Kong, Xuan You is an Independent Education Consultant who supports “Bennett” families relocating to Hong Kong and Mainland China and a host of other destinations throughout Asia.

Following her studies and a year as a research assistant at MIT, Xuan began her career as Operations Manager for a NYC-headquartered global real estate company that was setting up in China. In this role, she established and coordinated relationships between her company and both government agencies and partner companies, overseeing large-scale urban development projects. In 2015, Xuan entered the world of education, assuming the role of Director of Global Programs and Services for a non-profit online learning company; in this capacity she has traveled to schools throughout Asia, introducing the program and supporting interested schools with implementation.

Xuan earned her Bachelor of Engineering at Tongji University and her M.A. at the University of Stuttgart. She speaks English and Chinese fluently and is proficient in German. She has also had the experience of transitioning between countries and raising her children in both the U.S. and Hong Kong.

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