Academics

College Counseling

Forging ahead while looking within

Newark Academy’s College Counseling team sees the college search as a vital journey of self-discovery, one in which each student must chart the course based on personal plans, needs, and definitions of success. While the college counseling officially begins during a student’s junior year, that formal beginning is actually a culminating moment in a long process of growth and exploration that begins as soon as the student enrolls at NA.

Working closely with teachers, grade counselors, advisors, coaches, and parents, NA’s college counselors help students identify and apply to colleges and universities that are best suited to their own interests, abilities and aspirations. Each of our students come to the college search process seeking something different. Our team of experienced college counselors build honest and thoughtful relationships with our students, encouraging and empowering them to identify and express their unique talents and experiences. The result is that each student finds their own best fit for the next leg in their life-long learning journey.

List of 2 items.

School Profile

View Newark Academy's School profile here.
Where They Go Next

Click here for the current NA's college enrollment for the past four years.

Twitter

Meet The Team

List of 5 members.

Kerry Winiarski

Director of College Counseling

Read Bio
Kerry Winiarski has worked in the college admission field for 22 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies from Duke University and a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration/Student Affairs from Ohio State University. She worked in the offices of student and judicial affairs at Ohio State and undergraduate admissions at Duke. She has also served as a guest faculty member at Lafayette College and Duke University.
Jessica Cohen

Associate Director of College Counseling

Read Bio
Jessica Cohen has worked in the college admissions field for seven years. After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lafayette College, she returned to her alma mater to work in their admissions office. As Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Lafayette, she read applications from Newark Academy and other northern New Jersey public and independent schools. She served on the merit scholarship selection committee and coordinated Lafayette’s open houses and special events.
Kerri Speck

Associate Director of College Counseling

Read Bio
Kerri Speck joined the Newark Academy College Counseling Office in 2014. Before coming to NA, Kerri served as assistant director of Admissions at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, where she was responsible for the recruitment and application review of Central and Northern New Jersey students. As senior associate director of Admissions at Muhlenberg College, Kerri was responsible for application review and merit scholarship selection. Over the years, Kerri has often served as a guest speaker at independent and public high schools, providing students and families with information about the college admissions process. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Bucknell University.
Brandon McCallister

Assistant Director of College Counseling
Mary Weinel

Office Manager, College Counseling

Read Bio
Mary Ellen Weinel left the corporate world in 2002 to become the Office Manager in Newark Academy’s College Counseling Office. With years of office management experience to her credit, Mrs. Weinel handles the day-to-day operation of the College Office. Her responsibilities include serving as the administrative assistant to the director and associate directors, and providing support to the students and their families during the college process. Each year Mrs. Weinel processes more than 1,200 college applications, coordinates College Night for Juniors and various other college information events for students and parents, and schedules and hosts over 90 college representatives who visit Newark Academy each fall. Certified by the College Board in Financial Aid processing, Mrs. Weinel assists students and their families with the completion of financial aid forms and the analysis of college financial aid award packages.