Don’t worry. We’ve got this.
The team from College Calm has been reducing family stress while helping students find the right school since 2009.
Our Philosophy
At College Calm, we love getting to know our students, listening to their stories, learning what motivates them, and helping them find their voice. We consider it our job to reduce the stress and confusion students and families feel during the college application process. Our personalized approach creates a comfortable environment where we focus on student’s strengths, validate their experiences and build their capacity to calmly and effectively complete their college applications.
We do not view high school and the college process as a means to an end, but rather a time when students can learn about their academic assets and personal interests. We challenge students to think about what they can learn about life through the college process, and encourage them to dream about their futures. We believe students need to start the process early enough to give themselves the time to be (or learn to be) pro-active, organized, and thoughtful. By the end of the process, we want our students to find a college where they will thrive, not just attend.
Roxana Dommer
Founder and College Counselor
I founded College Calm in 2009 because I believe that the college process can be an empowering experience for high school students. My background in education and admissions provides me with the unique combination of knowledge and tools to help students complete the college application process. As an application reader in the Stanford University admissions office and an admissions counselor at Santa Clara University, I read and evaluated hundreds of undergraduate applications and have first-hand experience in recognizing what makes the best applications rise to the top. Throughout my 20+ years in education, I have tutored students in reading, writing, math, and executive functioning skills.
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Jenny Dumas
College Counselor
I have dedicated my career to supporting students through academic transitions. I was a high school counselor for ten years, most recently at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, CA. I worked with diverse groups of students which helped me understand how competitive and stressful the college process can be for all students. From creating a college list to writing college essays, I enjoy helping students find their own path and identify their authentic self. I pride myself on being able to help students recognize their strengths, set realistic college goals and make an organized plan to complete each step of the college research and application process without stress.
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Diana Wuerthner
College Counselor
I am a passionate cheerleader for my students, skilled at recognizing their specific strengths and needs and connecting them with the guidance and resources necessary to make informed choices about their future. Over the past decade, I have worked in public and private education with students of all ages, from kindergarten through graduate school. For the past four years, I have worked as a college counselor at a small private school and a college prep public charter school, where I built the counseling programs from the ground up. I believe that there is a “good fit” college for all students and I excel at matching their unique strengths and interests with schools where they will succeed….
Read More The process of applying to and choosing a college can create tremendous stress for students and families. I use an organized approach that keeps them on track and in front of the process so they do not become overwhelmed and actually enjoy the journey. My undergraduate background is in US History, and I have Master’s Degrees in US History and in Library Science, but my true professional calling is helping students navigate the college research and application process. I love using my abilities as a researcher and teacher to curate and present information to students in a clear and coherent way. I am a Bay Area native, and I currently live in the North Bay with my partner, our two kids, six chickens, and one-year-old Golden Retriever, Maude.
Tammy Friedman
College Counselor
I am a UC Davis Summa Cum Laude graduate with two BA degrees in Psychology and Spanish. I also have an MS in Marriage Family Therapy, as well as a Pupil Personnel Services credential. I have worked as a high school counselor for over 20 years.
I have a deep passion for counseling students and helping them on their personal journey. My unique position allows me to understand the relationship and coordination needed with respect to independent counseling and the high school experience. My therapeutic background helps to provide a safe outlet …
Read More for students and families during the highs and lows of the college process. I have expertise in the UC and CSU application process and have participated in five education abroad language immersion programs. I am fluent in Spanish. I am a Bay Area native and San Mateo High School graduate. I love traveling, singing, hiking, and anything related to musicals! I currently live in Rocklin with my husband, two daughters, and our rescue dog Mocha.
Linda Parker Hamilton
Linda Parker Hamilton is an award-wining author, specializing in personal essay and memoir writing. She loves working with young adults through the writing process. Her specialty is guiding writers to discover and share their stories, adding depth, authentic voice, emotional truth, and great narrative technique to make them captivating. For her independent publishing house, Stories to Last, founded in 2006, she has edited and published more than 50 memoirs, biographies and histories. She has four outdoor adventure books on the market (Falcon Guides) and has published both nonfiction and fiction in magazines, newspapers and online. She teaches workshops and speaks professionally about memoir writing, hiking, and interesting moments and people in history. Prior to her 23 years as a professional writer, Linda was a high school teacher, college composition instructor, and private tutor.
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Jennifer Rudy
Synergy Coach and Special Projects
I love my role as a Synergy coach because I am energized by helping students explore their own unique strengths and passions. As a coach, I help students develop several of their own project ideas, narrow down a topic and scope, create specific goals and milestones and provide feedback as they synthesize their ideas into a meaningful project and a final presentation for their peers. It’s extremely gratifying to engage with students as they build a practical skillset for project management and immerse themselves in self-discovery that will support their decisions regarding college, a career, and beyond. I share my personal passion for writing and communication with my students as they transform their own…
Read More “big ideas” into final presentations. My role as a coach mirrors that of my professional life. Whether running nonprofit peer mentor programs or teaching undergraduate-level courses, I have always loved working with young adults. My undergraduate degree is in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, with a minor in Psychology. I also hold a Masters in Public Health. For the last two decades, I have been part of project management, capacity building, organizational development, and strategic fundraising teams within nonprofits, government agencies, and philanthropic foundations in California. My professional interests in public health include youth development, women’s health, social determinants of health disparities, and public health policy. I am a Southern California native and am happiest at the beach! I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, photography, cooking, and being with family and friends. I live in San Carlos with my husband and three children, and my best coping mechanism in life is a little levity.