King County

Find Your Admissions Counselor: Washington: King County

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Adrian Hodos, Associate Director of Admissions

Phone: 206-296-5805

Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA

Education: BA in American Studies, Scripps College

Favorite “hidden gem” in Seattle: Agua Verde Paddle Club, located in the University District – this is the perfect place to rent kayaks on a sunny Seattle day (and grab some Mexican food by the lake). You can paddle under the Montlake Bridge to the Arboretum, or into Lake Union and take in the amazing view of the Seattle skyline.

Tips for writing a college admissions essay: Pick a topic where your personality and voice comes out. Share your essay with several trusted editors and remember that nothing is perfect the first time around.

Fun fact: I love to travel! Since my first year of college, I have been to 19 countries.

Jason Moy, Associate Director of Admissions

Phone: 206-296-5804

Email: moyj@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Richland, WA

Education: Masters in International Business, Seattle University; BA in Asian Studies, University of Puget Sound

Favorite dinner spot in Seattle: Serious Pie – a Tom Douglas Pizzeria with fresh, local ingredients. My favorite is the Dandelion greens & fried egg pie

Tips and tricks for writing an effective personal statement: 650 words may seem like a lot, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll use up your allotment to tell me your story. Be specific! Leave me wanting more when I finish your essay.

Something we would be surprised to know about you: I lived in Japan teaching English, where I gained a great appreciation for the art of karaoke.

Julia Ossowski, Admissions Counselor

Phone: 206-296-2216

Email: ossowski@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Tucson, AZ

Education: BA in International Economics and Spanish, Seattle University

Favorite brunch spot in Seattle: Señor Moose in Ballard. The huevos rancheros and chilaquiles are the best in town – take it from an Arizona native!

Favorite place to grab a cup of coffee: On campus, The Sidebar in Sullivan Law Center. We serve great local coffee in every café on campus, but I like to think that buying it in the law school will infuse a little extra IQ power into my latte.

What’s one piece of advice you have for a prospective SU student? Find the admissions counselor for your region and get in contact with them! Ask us questions; tell us more about what you are looking for in your college experience. We genuinely love any opportunity to get to know you better.

Katie O'Brien, Associate Director of Admissions

Phone: 206-296-5814

Email: obrienk@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Spokane, WA

Education: M.Ed. in Student Development Administration, Seattle University; BA in Communication Studies (Nonprofit Leadership minor), Seattle University

Favorite place to grab a cup of coffee: On campus- the Byte in the Library; off campus- Bakery Nouveau (so I can get a chocolate croissant too!)

What’s one piece of advice you have for a prospective SU student? Utilize your Admissions Counselor! I love being able to work with a student throughout the entire admissions process and am happy to offer advice for applying to SU as well as the college search process as a whole. Having one “go-to” person in the office will make life easier for you.

Fun fact: I danced so hard at my wedding that I dislocated my knee. Whoops!

Mónica Tafoya, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions & Campus Visit Coordinator

Phone: 206-296-6971

Email: tafoyam@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Ephrata, WA

Education: BA in Spanish, Western Washington University

Favorite brunch spot in Seattle: Easy Street Records in West Seattle. While you wait for your table to be ready, you can score lots of great new and used music!

Favorite place to read a book on campus: Anywhere I can find a quiet sunny spot, usually in the quad.

What’s one piece of advice you have for a prospective SU student? Talk to current students from your school or area and get to hear firsthand from them what their experience has been on campus.

Patrick McCarthy, Assistant Director of Admissions

Phone: 206-296-6246

Email: mccarthp@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Born in Phoenix, but Seattle is my home.

Education: BA in Strategic Communication (Public Relations emphasis), Northern Arizona University

Favorite Seattle band/artist: Allen Stone

Favorite Seattle park: Bhy Kracke Park. One of the best views of the Seattle skyline – scope out Lake Union, downtown, Capitol Hill and the Space Needle all from one spot.

Tips and tricks for writing an effective personal statement: Tell us something about YOU! Answer the prompt but tell us something we won’t get see in the rest of your application. Let you shine through.

Tamara Long, Assistant Director of Admissions & Campus Visit Coordinator

Phone: 206-296-5809

Email: longt@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Education: MS in School Psychology, Miami University; BA in Psychology, Seattle University

Favorite Seattle band/artist: THEESatisfaction

Favorite dinner spot in Seattle: Ba Bar on 12th Ave. – they have great chicken pho that’s perfect on a rainy day in Seattle

Why do you enjoy working at Seattle University? I appreciate working in an environment that encourages us to consider social justice in everything that we do.

Lucas Ruiz, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

Phone: 206-296-5807

Email: ruizl1@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Salem, OR

Education: BA in Business Administration, Marketing (minor in International Business), Seattle University

Favorite Weekend Activity in Seattle: Wandering through the Ballard Farmers Market

Why do you enjoy working at Seattle University? It’s not every day that you get to work in an environment that has a sincere passion for working toward a greater good. I am constantly inspired by the students, faculty and staff that I interact with through the work I do in Admissions.

Favorite Seattle Band/Artist: The Head and the Heart

Favorite place on SU’s campus: The front steps outside of the Lemieux Library on a sunny day.

Kyle Rapp, Admissions Counselor

Phone: 206-296-5804

Email: rappk@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Encinitas, CA

Education: BA in Liberal Studies, Minor in Philosophy, Seattle University

Favorite Place to Read on SU’s Campus: The quiet reading room in the Lemieux Library. Pure silence is hard to pass up.

Favorite dinner spot in Seattle: Rancho Bravo—the closest thing to a burrito from San Diego!

Why do you enjoy working at Seattle University? Seattle University is holistic in every way, which is reflected in the values we promote, to the engagement of the faculty and staff, and the student voices that re-shape the campus mosaic each year. What’s not to love?

Melore Nielsen, Dean of Admissions

Phone: 206-296-5813

Email: mnielsen@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Bothell, WA

Education: MA in Education, Seattle University; BA in Psychology, University of Washington

Favorite place to grab a cup of coffee in Seattle: Café Presse on 12th Ave. (with a chocolate croissant!)

Favorite place on Seattle U’s campus: Standing in front of sculptor Steve Heilmer’s Gratia Plena (“Full of Grace”) in the Chapel of St. Ignatius. The sculpture is so inspiring and intriguing.

A piece of advice for a prospective SU student: Make time to reflect on what you want out of your college years. At the risk of being cliché, it really is a journey and not just a destination. (Also, listen to your gut…it’s trying to tell you something.)

Yobel Mengistu, Admissions Counselor

Phone: 206-296-5812

Email: mengistuyobe@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Kent, WA

Education: BA in Communication, minor in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations University of Washington

Favorite place to grab a cup of coffee in Seattle: Cortona Cafe in the Central District.

What’s one piece of advice you have for a prospective SU student? Take advantage of your resources. Always ask questions, and believe in the value that you provide to Seattle University. This will show in your essays towards your application, and allow you to show the unique side of yourself that makes you stand out.

JR Rabago, Admissions Counselor

Phone: 206-296-5809

Email: rabagoa@seattleu.edu

Hometown: Ewa Beach, HI

Education: BA in Criminal Justice with a Specialization in Administration of Justice

Favorite Seattle event/festival: Pista sa Nayon, which is part of Seattle’s SeaFair. This event celebrates the heritage, cultural traditions, and all things Filipino. There are lots of FOOD, music, dance performances, and exhibits.

Favorite brunch spot in Seattle: Kauai Family Restaurant in Georgetown. After you are done eating there, get a slice of cake from Cakes of Paradise.

What’s one piece of advice you have for a prospective SU student? Be passionate, vulnerable, and authentic in your personal statement. Writing on a topic that you are personally invested in will help us clearly see who you are.