College Advising

MSW in Social Work, University of Pennsylvania ·
BA in Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

She/Her

Amy was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. After completing her undergraduate degree (BA Psychology) at The University of Pittsburgh, Amy went on to receive her Master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Pennsylvania. She has been working with students and their families for over 32 years in a variety of settings. Amy started her private counseling practice 27 years ago and in the last 12 years she has seen a growing need for assistance in the area of college advising. Amy is an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and attends ongoing continuing education workshops/training to stay abreast of all of the latest developments in the college advising field. Amy believes that each individual student has a unique set of talents, abilities, and interests that can be enriched and developed with the proper guidance. She enjoys working with students to try to make the college application and audition scheduling process less stressful and confusing. Being a college audition parent survivor combined with her counseling/advising background provides Amy with a unique perspective allowing her to offer comprehensive guidance to students and their families throughout the college application and audition process. Amy resides in Delaware with her husband Brett and dog Daisy. Her oldest child Jaq is an MTCA Class of 2017 alumna and graduated from Roosevelt University/CCPA in 2021 with a BFA in MT degree. Amy’s youngest child, Grace (MTCA Class of 2021 alumna) is currently a junior BFA MT major at Ohio University.

BBA in Marketing, Loyola Marymount University

She/Her

Cristin was born and raised in Southern California.  She is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University where she received a BBA in Marketing.  A lifelong dancer in many disciplines, she then crossed over into musical theater and eventually choreography.  She has had the pleasure of choreographing for a youth musical theater company for years and enjoys teaching and working with her teen students (favorite shows include The Music Man and Shrek!).  When her oldest child chose MTCA to guide her through the college audition process, Cristin eagerly followed along and learned an immeasurable amount of information along the way.  After surviving the process with her daughter (and enjoying it!), she decided to pursue college advising as a way to pay it forward.  She completed extensive training with MTCA College Advisor Amy Breslow and attended the Independent Educational Consultants Association Summer Training Institute.  The lessons she learned, combined with her experiences as a performer and instructor of young people, give her a distinctive understanding of every stage of the college audition process.  As a mom to two teenagers, she can also relate to the delicate balance that must exist in guiding the process while also providing support and encouragement as students discover their own unique voices.

M.Ed in Reading Education and Intervention, RU · BA in Acting, SU

She/Her

Suzanne Goldberg is an experienced educator, learning specialist, and student advocate with more than 25 years of supporting students in academic and creative environments. Suzanne has a unique background that blends education, literacy intervention, and professional performing arts experience.
Suzanne began her career as a professional television and commercial actress. Her firsthand experience in the performing arts industry provides valuable insight into audition preparation, artistic development, and the demands of competitive theatre training programs.
She currently serves as a Learning Specialist at a private school in northern New Jersey, where she works closely with students and families to develop individualized strategies that support academic growth, confidence, and self-advocacy. Her experience mentoring students through complex educational pathways has made her a trusted advisor for students and families.
Suzanne earned a Masters of Education in Reading Education and Intervention from Regis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from Syracuse University. She is excited about helping aspiring theatre students identify programs that align with their artistic goals, academic strengths, and personal growth, while supporting them through every stage of the college application journey.
Suzanne lives in Maplewood, NJ with her husband. She is the proud mother of Eli, a New York based theatrical lighting designer (Emerson class of 2025) and Tyler (MTCA Class of 2024,Chapman University Theatre and Performance Class of 2028).

M.S. Speech Language Pathology, Penn State University · B.S. Communication Disorders, University of Colorado

She/Her

Born and raised in the Midwest, Robyn discovered a passion for providing for the individual from the moment the curtain rose on her career.

In Act I, as a speech/language pathologist, she provided therapeutic services to children and adults in educational and medical settings, including counseling clients and families navigating challenging issues.

Act II saw her as founder and manager of a teletherapy speech/language practice for a K-12 online public school serving 20+ states, a role that provided the constant opportunity to solve unique problems.

Her Act III began when her daughter, Mae, became a proud member of the MTCA Class of 2025. While many parents around her bemoaned the roller coaster ride that is the college audition process, Robyn found herself loving (almost) every minute. When it was over, she began looking for ways to stay involved with MTCA while also informally guiding local friends about to embark on their own ride. When MTCA needed new counselors, she jumped at the chance, and now she is very excited to pass on the knowledge and the support she received to incoming MTCA families!

Her background in guiding speech clients toward their best possible outcomes combined with her experience as a veteran of the college audition process makes her well suited to support each student’s unique experience as they embark on their post-high school journey.

Robyn currently lives in Maryland with her husband, Marc. Her son, Riley, is a 2026 graduate from University of Maryland – Baltimore County in Computer Science while her daughter, Mae, studies Musical Theatre at Webster University in St. Louis, as part of the MT Class of 2029. She can usually be found feeding her varied passions at the library, in her garden, talking to someone about the college audition process (yes, still!) or maybe working a local election as an election judge.

M.Ed. in Gifted Studies, Kent State University · B.S. in Elementary Education, Cleveland State University

She/Her

Colleen Kessler is an educational consultant, author, speaker, and longtime educator who has spent over 25 years helping students and families navigate complex educational journeys with confidence. With a background in gifted education and social-emotional development, Colleen brings a unique blend of strategy, empathy, and real-world experience to her work with students and parents.

As the founder of Raising Lifelong Learners, an internationally recognized education and homeschooling website and podcast, Colleen has guided thousands of families through individualized learning paths, high-stakes academic decisions, executive function challenges, and the emotional realities of supporting creative, passionate, and neurodivergent learners. She is known for helping families stay grounded and connected during overwhelming seasons while also keeping students organized, motivated, and moving forward.

Her experience as both an educator and audition parent allows her to support families with a balance of practical organization, strategic planning, and compassionate encouragement throughout the process. Colleen especially enjoys helping students identify schools and programs that align not only with their goals and talents, but also with who they are as people. She believes students thrive when they feel understood, supported, and empowered to make thoughtful, authentic choices about their futures.

Colleen and her husband Brian live in Northeast Ohio, where she has homeschooled her four children for over 16 years. Trevor, her oldest son, is a freelance video and audio editor specializing in VFX for shorts and feature films, as well as podcast engineering. Molly, an MTCA 2025 alumna, is a sophomore BFA MT major at Otterbein University. Her daughter, Logan, is homeschooling as a dual-credit student and will graduate in 2029 with both her high school diploma and AA, then pursue a degree in wildlife biology and conservation. Her youngest, Isaac, is a rising eighth grader who continues to homeschool.

MSW in Social Work, Florida State University · BA in Sociology, The University of Tampa

She/Her

Sherri is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has spent more than 30 years supporting students and families in a variety of educational settings.

She is also the parent of a performer bringing valuable firsthand experience navigating the college audition process. Her daughter graduated from Wright State University with a BFA in Musical Theatre, giving Sherri personal insight into the demands, challenges, and excitement families experience throughout the audition and college selection journey, as well as the professional world after graduation.

Throughout her career, she has worked closely with students, parents, educators, and community organizations to help young people identify their strengths, navigate challenges, and achieve their educational goals. Her experience guiding families through complex educational systems has given her a strong understanding of the importance of personalized support, clear communication, and thoughtful planning during major academic transitions. Sherri has extensive experience in interviewing, assessment, parent education, and program coordination, along with a deep commitment to helping students build confidence and make informed decisions about their futures. She is especially passionate about reducing stress for families during the college planning process and helping students find educational pathways that align with their interests, abilities, and long-term goals.

Sherri earned her Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from University of Tampa. She also holds her College Advisor certificate through The National Association of College Admissions. She resides in Florida and enjoys boating, travel and spending time with family and friends.

BA in Marketing, Eastern Kentucky University

She/Her

Jennifer later moved to Los Angeles when Mattel recruited her to help launch direct-to-consumer initiatives for Barbie Collectibles. She went on to lead marketing campaigns and creative projects for iconic entertainment brands including Disney, Activision, Universal Pictures, and Lionsgate, building a reputation for creative strategy, leadership, communication, and mentorship along the way.

Today, as a college counselor, Jennifer combines her professional experience with her passion for the arts, helping students and families navigate applications, prescreens, auditions, and the often overwhelming college process with clarity, encouragement, and warmth. She especially enjoys helping artists discover where they can thrive both creatively and personally.

Jennifer brings a deeply personal perspective to her work. Her son, an MTCA alum, is studying musical theatre at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and her daughter studies toy design and sustainability at Otis College of Art and Design. Jennifer and her husband, Don, who works in the music industry, have built a family life centered around the arts and share their home with their beloved rescue mutt, Lula.