Meet the LSS Counseling Team: College Counselors

2/5/21

Preparing for the transition from high school to college can be both exciting and overwhelming. From reviewing university options to finalizing application requirements, there are many steps to consider. Luckily, there are many people willing to help with this process who are experienced in navigating each of these steps along the way. Meet the College Counselors currently guiding Laurel Springs students along their path toward academic success. 

Laurel Springs College Counselors

Kim Alvanos earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus in School Counseling from Immaculata University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Penn State. Prior to joining the Laurel Springs community, Ms. Alvanos worked in special education and outpatient therapy settings. She has a passion for supporting students in reaching their individual goals. Ms. Alvanos enjoys traveling, especially visiting the beach, as well as reading, completing home improvement projects, and tasting savory sweet treats!

 

John Drucis received a Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Widener University and his B.A. in Speech Communication from Pennsylvania State University. With over five years’ counseling experience, Mr. Drucis enjoys working with the students at Laurel Springs where he is able to be a resource to help them with their academic goals. Mr. Drucis loves spending time with his family, cooking, running, and rooting for Penn State Football!

 

Jennifer Hagenbuch attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology, and West Chester University where she earned a Master’s of Science in Counseling in Higher Education-Student Affairs. Prior to joining the Laurel Springs community, Ms. Hagenbuch worked at Immaculata University in the Office of Student Involvement where she was responsible for overseeing all campus activities and traditions as well as recruiting, training and supporting students in leadership roles. Ms. Hagenbuch enjoys supporting Laurel Springs’ students on their educational journey! Her hobbies include spending time outside, cooking, baking, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Lauren Kissinger earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Cabrini College and her Master of Arts degree in School Counseling from Rosemont College. She’s passionate about her role in helping students strive to achieve their personal best. In her free time, she enjoys channeling her creativity through DIY projects, sewing, baking and decorating cakes, and playing board games with friends and family.

 

Chris Lane joined Laurel Springs with nearly 30 years of experience as a secondary school counselor. She earned her Master’s degree in School Counseling from Duquesne University with a K-12 certification. Prior to joining the College Counseling Department, Mrs. Lane launched her career at a rural public school district located in Washington County, Pennsylvania, where she served as a school counselor for nine years. She then completed her public school experience at a large Division I school in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Mrs. Lane brings extensive experience in academic advisement, career services, and the college admissions process. Passionate about animal rescue, Mrs. Lane enjoys hiking with her Alaskan Malamute. She splits her residency between western Pennsylvania and Sarasota, Florida, where she enjoys walking on the beach and swimming in the Gulf. Mrs. Lane feels honored to join the Laurel Springs team and looks forward to meeting with her students.

 

Meghan Longo earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of Rhode Island and her Master’s degree in Higher Education from Drexel University. Before joining Laurel Springs, she worked for over 10 years in higher education, most recently in college admissions at Rutgers University-New Brunswick with a focus on out-of-state and international students. As a counselor, Mrs. Longo enjoys guiding students through the college admissions process and helping them reach their academic goals. In her spare time, Mrs. Longo enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, skiing, and baking.

 

Jessica Todd has 20 years of experience in education, including 15 years as a School Counselor and five years as an English and Spanish teacher. She holds a Master of Education degree in School Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in English. Before coming to Laurel Springs School, Mrs. Todd worked at a private, college-prep school in Fort Myers, Florida, where she worked with students in grades 7-12. She loves all aspects of school counseling and is most passionate about building relationships with students and helping them find the right college fit. Mrs. Todd loves the beach and all things Florida, even though she has lived in many different places, including Mexico, where she learned to speak Spanish. When she’s not enjoying the sunset, Mrs. Todd loves to listen to live music, go for walks, and watch college football.

 

Joseph Grosso has over 13 years’ experience in education as a School Counselor, eight of those years serving as a Director of Counseling Services. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Science degree in School Counseling from Mercy College. Mr. Grosso enjoys all aspects of school counseling and is most passionate about building relationships with students and helping them find the path in life they are most passionate about. Mr. Grosso loves sports and has spent the last 20 years coaching a variety of programs, including baseball, lacrosse, track and field, and football. Mr. Grosso and his wife have two children and a toy poodle named Cooper! Having spent 38 years in New York, Mr. Grosso and his family now live in South Carolina. Mr. Grosso also loves music, games, and amusement parks, and is a big Star Wars fan!

 

Jillian Durante spent seven years as a High School Counselor in Connecticut where she guided students towards their college, personal, and academic goals. She holds her Master’s degree in School Counseling and Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Ms. Durante is a native New Yorker who just recently moved to North Carolina to be closer to her family. In her free time, Ms. Durante enjoys exploring her new surroundings, pursuing her passion for fitness, traveling, and testing out new recipes in the kitchen. An avid lover of nature, she feels most at peace when surrounded by mountain views or a body of water. Ms. Durante is looking forward to empowering Laurel Springs students to find their passions, further develop their abilities, and plan for their futures.

 

Dasha Bindler earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from University of Texas in Austin and holds a teaching certificate from the state of Texas. While living in Pennsylvania, she earned a Master of Science degree from American College in Bryn Mawr. In addition to experience teaching internationally, Mrs. Bindler has been working as a college advisor for over 13 years. She loves the work that she does and feels she can connect and be effective with a variety of students due to her cultural experiences traveling and living abroad. Mrs. Bindler resides in The Woodlands, Texas, and enjoys gardening, walking, and being outdoors.

 

Rebecca Snellman earned her Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of Washington. With over 14 years’ experience as a high school counselor serving students from diverse backgrounds, she has a passion for higher education and supporting students in finding the right college fit. Ms. Snellman has a great appreciation for travel and learning from people who live in different parts of the world. She is an avid reader and nature enthusiast.