Our Advising Team

Teresa D’Ambrosio – Director of Enrollment and Advising

Teresa has dedicated 30 years to Higher Education, joining City U in April of 2019. While at work, there is nothing more important the being focused on the needs of the students. She enjoys cooking and baking, long walks around the city and most importantly, supporting her favorite sports team… GO HAWKS!!!

Teresa supports all advisors and all academic programs. She can be reached at 206-239-4734.

Melissa Myers – Assistant Director of Admissions and Training

Melissa Myers has worked in higher education for 10 years with just over 7 at CityU. Aside from working in an advising role, she is a member of the Social Justice Coalition, working to make positive change across the university. She has an M.Ed. in Adult Education and an M.A. in Leadership. She enjoys creating and selling paintings and photography. She lives with her partner and two cats.

Melissa primarily supports prospective students who are interested in the School of Education and Leadership. She can be reached at 206-307-0956.

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Brian Duncan – Enrollment Advisor

Brian Duncan has a B.S. in Business Administration. He is currently attending City University of Seattle for his MBA with an emphasis in Change Leadership. He has worked in higher education for a total of five years. Previously, he worked for Amazon HQ doing logistics, managing a team of 15-25 people. He has three stepsons and really enjoys the family life. Brian is a huge professional sports fan with all Seattle teams. Go Hawks!

Brian primarily supports prospective students who are considering the School of Business Management or the School of Technology and Computing. He can be reached at 206-309-1314.

Britney Taylor – Enrollment Advisor

Having studied and worked in higher education for over a decade, Britney has gained a strong passion for empowering students toward graduation. Originally from SoCal, she’s currently living and working remotely in Atlanta. She’s recently fallen in love with spinning and is always down for an episode of 90 Day Fiancé.

Britney primarily supports students who have attended CityU in the past and are looking to be readmitted to finish their degree. She can be reached at 206-504-2752.

Elena Maddy – Enrollment Advisor

Elena has been working at CityU since 2022 and is so grateful to be in the position to support students. Originally from Northern California, Elena earned a B.A. in Theatre Arts and a B.S. in Psychology from Santa Clara University. She now lives in Boise, Idaho with her partner where she enjoys seasonally appropriate outdoor activities and reading by sunny windows. She is passionate about inspiring confidence in students and increasing access to higher education.

Elena primarily supports prospective students who are considering the School of Business Management or the School of Technology and Computing. She can be reached at 206-239-4786.

Freya Helton – Enrollment Advisor

Freya has been working as a CityU enrollment advisor since 2019, previously assisting prospective business and technology students and currently working with education and counseling students. She has a B.A. in Communication and Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University, a Graduate Certificate in Change Leadership from CityU, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Arts Leadership at Seattle University. She loves helping students achieve their goals, and in her free time enjoys gaming, reading, vegetarian cooking, and going to plays and concerts around Seattle.

Freya primarily supports prospective students who are considering the School of Education and Leadership or the School of Health and Social Sciences. She can be reached at 206-239-4736.

Jon Saperstein – Enrollment Advisor

Jon has worked in higher education for a decade and is passionate about helping others reach their academic dreams and goals. He enjoys playing and watching sports in his free time as well as travelling around the world with his wife, Jessica. Although originally from Seattle, he does not drink coffee.

Jon primarily supports prospective students who are considering the School of Business Management. He can be reached at 206-239-4706.

Kathryn Cook – Enrollment Advisor

Kathy has over 16 years of experience in higher education and strives to encourage, support and guide students to success. She is a Washington State native with a passion for hiking, running, swimming, and all things in the Pacific Northwest wonderland. In her free time, she enjoys art and being creative and especially passing this on to children in her local community schools. She enjoys baking and entertaining but most of all spending time with her husband and two kids in her hometown. She’s all about experience, adventure and taking the trail less traveled.

Kathy primarily supports prospective students who are considering the School of Business Management. She can be reached at 206-239-4764.

Pam Davis – Enrollment Advisor

Pam has worked in higher education for over two decades and has been an Enrollment Advisor with City University of Seattle since 2019. She is passionate about helping students begin their next adventures in their lives and education. When not helping CityU students, Pam can be found in her paint studio, illustrating possibilities.

Pam primarily supports prospective students who are considering the School of Business Management or the School of Technology and Computing. She can be reached at 206-239-4748.

Precious Jackson – Enrollment Advisor

Precious has served in higher education for over 12 years. Her greatest passion is encouraging others to pursue their dreams and fulfill their goals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies. Both were earned while working and raising a family, so she feels that she can relate to the needs of many of her students. Precious spends her spare time trying new recipes and playing with her dogs Puff and Phillip.

Precious primarily supports prospective students who are enrolled in the School of Business Management as well as the School of Technology and Computing. She can be reached at 206-239-4535.

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Sabine Saway – Director, International Student Office

Sabine has been involved in international education for more than 20 years. She holds a bachelor degree from UW and an MBA from City University of Seattle. She enjoys helping students achieve their goals and likes to garden, hike, ski, and travel/learn about other cultures.

Sabine primarily supports international students across all programs. She can be reached at 206-239-4721.

Sima Janka – International Student Advisor

Sima holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Web Design and an MBA degree from City University of Seattle. She has been working at CityU for over 16 years. Sima’s primary job function is to advise students with academic and immigration information from their initial inquiries through completion of their program. One of her favorite times at CityU is Commencement Day when she sees her students earn their diplomas. Sima loves to learn about other cultures by traveling to other countries. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, walking, gardening, and yoga.

Sima can be reached at 206-239-4719.

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Barb Bulger – Academic Advisor

Barb has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Teaching Certificate from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Idaho. As an advisor for the School of Ed at CityU since 2002, she loves working with and supporting students to successfully reach their educational and professional goals. She enjoys family, gardening, watching football, and a good joke!

Barb primarily supports current students enrolled in the School of Education and Leadership. She can be reached at 206-239-4707.

Brian Kearney – Academic Advisor

Brian has worked in higher education since 2007 at various universities as a financial aid counselor and then as an Academic Advisor. He enjoys helping students to overcome obstacles, as well as live music and game nights.

Brian primarily supports current military students enrolled in the School of Business Management. He can be reached at 206-239-4570.

Carly Nicefaro – Academic Advisor

Carly holds a B.A. in Art History and a master’s in Sports Administration and Leadership. She started as an Enrollment Advisor at CityU in 2018 and moved to Academic Advisor in 2019, always wanting to empower students and see them as a whole person with many facets to their lives. She enjoys riding horses competitively in show jumping and training Muay Thai kickboxing.

Carly primarily supports current students enrolled in the School of Business Management. She can be reached at 206-307-0837.

Daria Lall – Senior Academic Advisor

Daria Lall has worked at CityU since 2000. She has been an advisor since 2013. She has also worked as a librarian in higher education. She grew up in the greater Seattle area, although she spent her summers in remote Alaska. Her father was a plant manager for a seafood company and her first job was working in the camp laundry room. To this day, she does not eat seafood.

Daria primarily supports current students enrolled in the School of Education and Leadership. She can be reached at 360-449-6721.

Kathy Herdeck – Senior Academic Advisor

Kathy has been working in advising at CityUniversity of Seattle since the late 1990’s ~ 20 years with the School of Management and more recently with the School of Education and Leadership, originally starting her educational career as a high school science teacher. Kathy is the proud mom of two argumentative cats.

Kathy primarily supports current students enrolled in the School of Education and Leadership and can be reached at 206-307-0843.

Matthew Rushing – Academic Advisor

Matthew Rushing has worked in higher education for over nine years. He loves the opportunity to help students achieve their dreams through education. His hobbies include reading, hiking, watching movies, podcasting, and hanging out with his wife and friends. He is a massive Seattle Sounders, OL Reign, and San Francisco 49rs fan.

Matt primarily supports current students enrolled in the School of Business Management as well as the School of Technology and Computing. He can be reached at 206-239-4510.

Melody Larson – Academic Advisor

Melody Larson holds a master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and has worked in higher education for over 20 years. She is also a certified life coach and enjoys helping students overcome external and internal barriers to success. She is a Puget Sound native who enjoys hiking, cycling, reading, and brewing up hemp milk lattes.

Melody primarily supports current students enrolled in the School of Health and Social Sciences. She can be reached at 206-309-1322.

Richard MacGilvray – Academic Advisor

Rich has worked in higher education for over a decade. He enjoys assisting and guiding individuals to create a positive student experience. His passions include family time, gardening, cartoons, rockhounding, and board games. He can sometimes be found in the wild of the PNW at gaming conventions and farmer’s markets.

Rich primarily supports current students enrolled in the School of Technology and Computing. He can be reached at 206-239-4530.

 

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Helen-Frances Mackay – Enrollment Processor

Helen-Frances graduated with a B.A. in French from Centenary College of LA. With an almost 3-year-old, her free time has changed a bit, but she still loves French and being near the beach (though long walks are not currently possible).

 

Kayla Ramirez – Enrollment Processer

Kayla Ramirez has worked in higher education for the past four years. Before CityU, she worked a number of odd jobs after she earned a BA in Journalism from Seattle University. She enjoys a variety of interests that include painting, baking, roller-skating, and watching movies. Despite an allergy to animal dander, she loves all creatures big and small.

 

Mark Strong – Enrollment Processor

Mark has a B.A. in Linguistics, and more recently an M. Ed in Education and TESOL certification from CityU. He taught ESL in Seattle and East Asia for ten years before switching to customer service and eventually CityU. A receptionist for multiple campuses for almost 3 years, Mark joined the Enrollment Processing Team at the end of 2021. Mark enjoys baking, blogging, brewing and vanquishing villains virtually in video vames…er, games.

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Angela Rembert – Financial Advisor

Angela has worked in higher education for most of her professional career having served as a Financial Aid Counselor, Retention Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty. In her free time, she enjoys short getaways and authentic dining experiences.

Angela primarily supports students regarding financial options and processes. She can be reached at 206.239.4794.

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Paul Schindler – Partner Development Specialist

Paul Schindler has been with the CityU team since 2021. He received his Bachelors from UC Davis in Economics and MS in Educational Counseling from CSUS. He comes from a diverse background of Bio-tech, Software and Higher Education program administration with a focus on business development, investor relations, and relationship management.

Paul currently works with various corporate and association partnerships to deliver programs that benefit the unique advantages of a CityU education and the corporate field.

For more information, please contact Paul Schindler at schindlerpaul@cityu.edu or visit www.cityu.edu/partnerships/.

Tanishia Norman – Community Engagement Specialist

Tanishia Norman has been working as the Community Engagement Specialist at CityU since 2021 with focus on engagement with community businesses in the PNW and community colleges.

Tanishia primarily supports community college transfers who are looking to transfer into one of CityU’s programs.

Join Tanishia for our CityU Transfer Thursdays, our information session for you to learn more about CityU and our transfer process, every third Thursday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.!

For more information, please contact Tanishia Norman at normantanishia@cityu.edu or visit www.cityu.edu/admissions-us/transfer-students/.