April 2011

A letter from Mary McDonald, director of college counseling, regarding recent changes in the College Counseling Office:

 As most of you know, Erica Hoff will be out for the rest of the school year on maternity leave (her little boy is due next week).  Erica will not be returning to the Abbey at the end of her leave, as she explores options that will best suit her and her family.

Once we announced the position, we received a number of inquiries and resumes from highly qualified candidates, including current Abbey faculty, counselors from other schools, and college admission professionals.  After thoughtful review of all of the candidates, and with the changing needs of the Abbey and increasing complexities of the college admission world in mind, we are extremely pleased to announce that beginning almost immediately, Portsmouth Abbey School will have three college counselors, two full time and one who will be working with about fifteen students and families in all areas of the college search and application process. Corie McDermott, currently a member of the English Department, tennis and squash coach, and head house parent, has been appointed to the position of Assistant Director of College Counseling.  Kate Smith, a member of the Humanities Department (and past member of the English Department) and house parent, as well as English Department Head and Admission Officer at previous schools, has accepted the position of College Counselor.  These ladies will be joining Mary McDonald and Elizabeth Wall on our College Counseling team.

Corie has been on the Abbey faculty for seven years, and Kate for nine.  Both know our school culture and our students very well, and both are excellent writers.  There is no doubt that they will be tireless and effective advocates for Abbey students.  In addition, both have worked with the College Counseling Office in the past, taking on small groups of students on an "as needed" basis.  In order to "get up to speed" on the complexities of the college application process, Corie and Kate will both be attending conferences and institutes, as well as touring colleges, over the summer.   In addition, Mary McDonald, who has worked as a college counselor for more than twenty years and who has trained literally hundreds of new counselors as a faculty member of both the College Board and the New England Association for College Admission Counseling's summer institutes, will be closely monitoring all steps of the process through the next cycle.

We are very excited to have Corie and Kate join the College Counseling Office.  Their talent, level of professionalism, and dedication to excellence will serve us well.  Both ladies are eager to assume their responsibilities in this challenging and exciting area of school life and are already signing up for conferences and workshops. 

As a reminder, during the transition Susan Wells, retired from Portsmouth Abbey and a seasoned veteran in college counseling, will continue to meet with Mrs. Hoff's former students.  Mrs. Wells will be in Mrs. Hoff's office every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the spring term.  At any other time, please feel free to contact any of us; we work as a team and will be glad to help.


Mary McDonald
Director of College Counseling
401-643-1252 (office)
mmcdonald@portsmouthabbey.org