about the founder
The founder of the Collegeologist is Dorine L. Russo, an independent educational and college consultant, whose more than three decades of experience and life-long connections as a teacher, school counselor, business professional and parent make her an exceptional candidate for assisting students and their families in completing the college admission process. Russo holds: a B.A. in Business Administration along with a double minor in English and Sociology; an M.S. in Education N-6 with a Certificate in Reading from the State of New York; and an M.A. in School Counseling, making her a certified Connecticut School Counselor. Russo has maintained numerous professional affiliations over the years in diverse roles of leadership, including: executive board member, Secretary, and President-elect of The Connecticut School Counseling Association (CSCA); CT state representative of The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) designated to promote the continual professional development of school counselors in Connecticut; member of the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the New England Association of College Admission Counseling (NEACAC);2012 STI Summer Training Institute at Swarthmore College via of The Independent Education Association (IECA); member of the board of the Transition Task Force for the CT State Department of Education, which helps students and families in need of transition and disability services at the college level; and member of the Women's Independence Network (WIN).
community INVOLVEMENT:
Russo is an actively involved and leading advocate for students and parents in her local community. She serves as an instructor for the Farmington and Simsbury Continuing Education programs, through which she offers free hour-long presentations open to the public and directed to parents and students alike, which explain and clarify the steps of the college admission process. In a WIN press release spotlighting the Collegeologist, Russo explains her motivations. Her goal is to help to address, "the huge need for social, emotional, and college and career readiness support for kids and their families," and to, "give parents the tools they need in order to help their children during the college admission process." Russo also wants to help students, who are uncertain about their future after high school, discover unconsidered interests, possible opportunities, or career paths, and collaborate with them in productive face-to-face discussion and work sessions to develop and realize their plans for the future.
