About Dana
Growing up in Newtown, CT, Dana had a great high school experience and was privileged with wonderful support in and out of school. However, she never had a college counselor and had to embark on the college application process on her own. So with her college guidebooks in hand and hours of research under her belt, Dana’s excitement for all things college was ignited.
Dana began her career in education and advocacy more than 20 years ago as a student at the University of Maryland where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and was an active student leader on campus. She chose to continue her graduate studies with a Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Enrollment Management from the University of Miami. Her first professional experiences were at the University of Michigan, the University of Miami, and Barry University as a career counselor and then as an assistant director and director of orientation, leadership, and first-year programming.
After working with first-year college students and creating programs that would increase retention, Dana began to wonder how students were being supported in their high schools and what they were doing to be prepared for college. After realizing to be successful in college, students need excellent guidance while in high school, Dana transitioned to work as a school-based college counselor. She has served as a high school director of college counseling and has volunteered for nationally-recognized college access programs.
Currently, she works with The Idea School and Nishmat Adin to develop their college counseling offices and recently supported the youth leadership development organization, Elevate NY, to develop their college counseling program. She served as the Director of Career Services at Magen David Yeshivah High School in Brooklyn, NY, Director of College Counseling at the Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, MD, and Associate Director of College Counseling at the Scheck Hillel Community School in North Miami Beach, FL. Dana’s personal and professional experiences guide her approach as a college counselor who integrates strong career development and social-emotional well-being as important parts of the college admissions process.
Dana Ponsky’s unique background in college and graduate school admissions, career counseling, and student development services at both the high school and collegiate level, along with her entrepreneurial endeavors spans nearly twenty years. This perspective provides 9th -12th students, college students, and families, based in the US and abroad, with the tools and resources to learn not just what it takes to have a great application to get into college, but most importantly, what is needed to ensure long-term success in college and beyond.
Dana’s process is simple. Meet the student where they are and help them find the right school with as little anxiety as possible.
Dana has earned the selective designation as a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and an active member of the Jewish affinity group (CAJUE) associated with the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC). Based in Brooklyn, New York, Dana services are available through virtual options and there she is available to clients around the U.S. and abroad.
Dana enjoys walking throughout the city, exploring new neighbors, researching where to eat great food, traveling, and being with friends and loved ones whenever possible. She is excited to bring her unique knowledge and style of college counseling and advising to students and their families.