Meet the College Counseling Staff

Peter Jennings, Director of College Counseling

The summer before starting his undergraduate career at Connecticut College, Peter was faced with what would become a critical life decision: would he rather perform clerical work in the admissions office or drive the Zamboni for his work-study job? He chose the former and that has made all the difference. For the last decade and a half Peter has earned his keep guiding students into their own undergraduate careers. After five years on the admissions staff at Pomona College, Peter became Dean of Juniors and Seniors at Harvard-Westlake School, a day school in Los Angeles, where he also taught tenth-grade English and coached cross-country and track. In 2000, Massachusetts and Concord Academy called him home. Since then, whether shepherding students through the college process, advising, coaching cross-country, or serving as a house parent to twenty-five boys, boarding school life has suited Peter, his wife Sarah, and their three kids just fine. He has yet to drive a Zamboni.

Kate Peltz, Associate Director of College Counseling

Kate Peltz has a keen understanding of the college search process, as hers was an involved and circuitous one. After visiting twenty-three schools in her family’s rusty station wagon (yes, such trips do strengthen parent-child bonds), Kate applied early decision to her first-choice college. Two rounds of transfer applications later, Kate enrolled at Grinnell College, blissfully happy to have finally found “the perfect fit” in the cornfields of Iowa.

Professionally, Kate has helped to guide students through their own institutional transitions. She joined Concord Academy’s College Counseling Office after a one-year stint in the school’s admissions office. Prior to Concord Academy, Kate coordinated the international admissions process at Bucknell University. She didn’t ignore education issues stateside, however, as Kate was also involved with domestic admissions there and at her alma mater. An avid traveler, Kate has visited thirty-two countries and enjoys literature and films with multicultural and international themes. She also likes to swim.

Alison Tomlin, Coordinator of College Counseling

Managing a college counseling office is a lot like directing a marching band across a six-lane highway. Alison Tomlin, backed by a previous career as a compliance officer at a top investment firm, brings order to what many think is a chaotic process. Her job requires significant reserves of energy, a passion for detail, and the willingness to handle student crises at a moment’s notice. For the last five years, Alison has made certain that college visitors were welcomed, transcripts were sent on time, and pressing student queries were answered, while also becoming the resident campus expert on standardized testing. Alison has put her art history degree from Connecticut College to good use, serving as a faculty advisor to a senior project in the discipline, and often calls on the patience she learned while student teaching while she earned her masters in elementary education from Lesley University. When not on campus, Alison feeds her passion for literature, interest in the Boston Bruins, appreciation for sports cars, and her cockatiels, Charlie and Sydney.