Office of College Counseling and Advisement
Our college counseling services are dedicated to the whole student and his/her life at Austin Preparatory School. A counselor is a highly skilled professional with extensive training in human behavior and development, personal counseling, interpersonal skills and college and career counseling. A counselor is an advisor, a teacher, a listener and a primary support person for the student. Counselors work with students and parents separately and together on developmental issues, academic planning and course selection, orientation, transition, testing, academic and personal issues and the college selection process.
Counselors, teachers and advisors work together closely to make the school experience a rich and rewarding one for each student. The counselor is interested in assisting students to achieve their maximum potential academically while encouraging social and extracurricular experiences that provide maximum personal growth.
As a support person for the student and for his/her family, the counselors are often the first person a parent contacts regarding any questions or concerns about the student or about Austin Prep. Counselors respect the confidentiality of the relationship they form with a student and his/her family. They seek to understand the expectations and concerns a parent has for his/her child and advise accordingly.
College Counseling
The College Counseling Center at Austin Preparatory School seeks to work collaboratively with students and their families navigating the college process.
Through individual meetings and school counseling group seminars, counselors work with students to find colleges and universities that match their academic achievements, personal strengths and career aspirations. Starting in sophomore year, counselors help students to prepare for admissions testing, understand financial aid, and make enrollment decisions.
Meet the staff
Brian J. Ford, Director of College Counseling
Mr. Ford comes to Austin Prep after spending the past seven years working in college admissions, most recently as Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston University. Prior to his tenure at Boston University, he served as Assistant Director of Admissions at Bryant University, his alma mater. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a management concentration and earned his Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Boston University.
Brian is a lifelong Massachusetts resident and currently resides in Stoneham with his wife, Amanda. A former collegiate cross country and track athlete, Brian is an avid runner and is also a season ticket holder for the New England Revolution (professional soccer). He also enjoys reading, traveling to Cape Cod and spending time with his nephew, Ian, and niece, Emma.
Mrs. Jessica Lenci, Middle School Counselor
Mrs. Nicole Luongo, College Counselor
Mrs. Luongo has been a school counselor at Austin Prep since 2010. She has a science background with teaching experience at the graduate, undergraduate and high school levels. Mrs. Luongo has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Westfield State College, a master of arts in teaching (MAT) degree in secondary teaching of biology from Simmons College and a master's degree in education (secondary school counseling) from Salem State University.
In her spare time, Mrs. Luongo enjoys reading, volunteering with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and camping with her family.
Mrs. Cynthia Pitta, College Counselor
Mrs. Pitta earned a bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College and a master's degree in school counseling from Northeastern University. She also completed graduate coursework through Boston University and is certified as an assistant principal/principal grades 5-12. Prior to coming to Austin, she was a school counselor at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School and Dedham High School.
A former college All-American in soccer, Mrs. Pitta has coached college and high school soccer and enjoys playing golf and reading.
Mrs. My Doan, College Counselor
Mrs. Doan earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a master’s in educational studies from Tufts University. She has worked in college admissions at Bentley University and Emmanuel College, as well as at the middle and secondary level at Boston College High School. Additionally, she spent seven years working in career counseling at Tufts University and is excited to bring her experiences to the Austin Prep community to help students and their families navigate the college search and application process.
She lives in Reading with her husband and two young daughters. In her spare time, she loves spending time outdoors with family, traveling, and practicing yoga.