https://ingeniusprep.com/app/uploads/2020/07/Mary_Chobanian.png

Mary Chobanian

MEd, Higher Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

MA, Secondary Education, Villanova University

BA, History, Dickinson College

Hi, I am a Former Admissions Officer with InGenius Prep based in New York City. I completed my Bachelor of Arts in United States History at Dickinson College and graduated with honors. I pursued my Master of Arts in Secondary Education, earning a certification to teach Social Studies, at Villanova University, before beginning my career in higher education. I worked as an assistant director of admissions at my alma mater, Dickinson College, for four years, promoting equitable student access to college, admissions volunteer and alumni engagement, and higher education policy at state and federal levels. I also established valuable partnerships with community colleges and nonprofit organizations supporting educational access for underrepresented populations and nontraditional students. As a regional admissions manager, I reviewed thousands of applications for Dickinson, focusing on various regions across the United States. I also coordinated admissions events and supervised the student tour guides, building meaningful relationships across the campus community. Seeking an opportunity to deepen my involvement with and understanding of issues in higher education, I left my position at Dickinson to earn a Master of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing on Higher Education Administration. I took courses across the Harvard University campus, conducted research with faculty on student success in higher education, and read hundreds of applications for Harvard Law School. Following graduation, I briefly worked in fundraising and alumni relations at New York University—and read applications with Barnard College—before moving into college counseling full-time.

I have long been passionate about teaching and mentoring students through secondary and higher education. Outside of my work in admissions, I have tutored English as a foreign language, taught in public high schools outside Philadelphia, lead college counseling workshops for Native American students, taught high school students SAT prep and college essay writing in Boston and Manhattan, and mentored Chinese students visiting the U.S. in leadership development. I have worked with varying student populations and enjoy differentiating my instruction to accommodate students’ individual learning preferences. I strongly believe that every student has the right to quality education and am committed to helping students succeed. I look forward to working with more students and empowering them to discover their passions to positively transform the world.

Outside of work, you can find me practicing yoga, dancing, traveling, reading, baking, and hiking with my dog, Pippin. I also have more recently been playing violin and studying foreign languages. I am always learning new things!