Portsmouth Abbey School is excited to announce the hiring of Diane C. Soboski as the Director of College Counseling beginning July 1, 2023. Ms. Soboski will join the Abbey Community after having served as the Director of Admissions at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont—a position she has held since 2018. She has also held various admissions roles, each with increased responsibilities, over a ten-year career at the College of the Holy Cross, after getting her start in college admissions at Wheelock College in Boston. Additionally, she has served in several leadership positions within the New England Association of College Admissions Counselors (NEACAC), including as the president-elect of the Executive Board, as well as being elected to serve as a representative for the New England Region of the National Association of College Admission Counseling. Ms. Soboski earned her master of education degree in higher education administration from the College of William and Mary and her undergraduate degree from Hamilton College, where she remains actively engaged as an alumna.

“I am thrilled that Diane Soboski will join the Portsmouth Abbey community as the Director of College Counseling,” said Head of School Matt Walter. “Her deep knowledge of the college application and admissions process will be an asset to our students and the School as we continue to enhance our college placement programming and matriculation at our nation’s top colleges and universities.”

While at Champlain College, Soboski oversaw a team of admissions professionals responsible for more than six thousand applications within an increasingly competitive selection process. Her ability to collaborate with colleagues and others involved with financial aid, scholarship and student success was instrumental in supporting institutional goals and those of prospective students and families. Her work at the College of the Holy Cross included supporting international students and student-athletes, and she was the admissions liaison to both the men’s and women’s tennis and track and field teams. 

Ms. Soboski is an accomplished presenter and has led multiple workshops for those in the admissions field regionally and nationally. She has used her experience to support and encourage those new to the profession and has spoken on leadership, navigating institutional culture and teaching students that failure can be okay.  

When asked to share her thoughts on leaving admissions to pursue work in the college counseling arena, Soboski stated, “I am excited to join the Portsmouth Abbey community as the next Director of College Counseling. Over the past two decades working in college admissions, I’ve seen the importance of supporting students through this important milestone in their development. I’m honored to work with students and their families in a more active, hands-on way to ensure that students are utilizing the gifts they’ve been given and fully realizing their potential as they take the next step in their academic journey.”