Admissions Team/Contact
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Office of Admissions
admissions@hws.edu
Text: (315) 350-3291
Voice: (315) 781-3622
or (800) 852-2256Vice President and Dean of Admissions John Young
Young was named Vice President and Dean of Admissions in June 2018. He has responsibility for leading the admissions and financial aid teams. Prior to his arrival at HWS, he worked on the admissions staffs at Colgate University and Skidmore College. He has been involved in several admissions professional organizations, most significantly the New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling. Young presents regularly at high schools across the country on a variety of topics and is a speaker at the Summer Institute for new admissions officers and college counselors. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Colgate University. John currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from Hartford, Litchfield, Tolland, and Waterbury Counties in Connecticut.
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Associate Vice President and Director of International Enrollment and Success MARYLYN O’HORA UHNAK
Phone: (315) 781-3750
Text: (315) 290-3623
WeChat: hws_marylynMarylyn joined the HWS Admissions team in 2008 having spent the previous five years in admissions at her alma mater, Wells College. While at HWS, she has taken on multiple roles both within the Admissions Office as well as the Office of the President. Within admissions, her work has included campus visit and event oversight, transfer admission and international student enrollment. Branching between admissions and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, her dynamic position is focused on providing holistic support to international students, from admission all the way to graduation, and beyond.
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Director of Admissions ALAN PAYNTER
Phone: (315) 781-3622
Text: (315) 828-0951Paynter came to HWS in September 2020 from Hershey, Pa., after spending the last 20 years at both Dickinson College and Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania where he led diversity recruitment initiatives, served as the athletics liaison, and co-coordinated social media and admissions yield strategy. He’s been a sought-after speaker on various admissions related topics as well as other motivational topics. Alan, a South Jersey native, is a first-generation college student and product of the Federal Trio Programs. He earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Kutztown University and masters from Duquesne University. Paynter played football in college and has also been a high school and club track and field head coach for over 20 years. Alan is a diehard college sports fan and supporter of his three children, Christopher, Maliyah and Jaren. Alan currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from Greater Philadelphia area and the Lehigh Valley area in Pennsylvania; Montgomery County, Maryland; District of Columbia; Florida and Tennessee.
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Associate Director of Admissions, Director of New England Recruitment Kate Beyer '07
Phone: (207) 577-3821
Text: (315) 828-0965Kate graduated from William Smith in 2007 with a bachelor of arts degree in individual studies – Diversity in the Workplace. Following graduation, Kate was the first AmeriCorps VISTA member at HWS, serving with the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning. She later worked at Massachusetts Campus Compact, where she was the coordinator of student initiatives. Kate returned to HWS in 2012 and currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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Associate Director of Admissions Julie Washington
Phone: (973) 658-6292
Text: (315) 325-9044Julie is passionate about the value of a liberal arts education and helping students navigate the college admission process. She is a first generation college graduate, originally from Indiana with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a Master's Degree in Higher Education. Julie has served at both the national and regional levels on many higher education executive boards and committees as well as presented on various topics at education conferences nationwide. She remains committed to advocating for access, diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. Julie loves cheering on her children and favorite sports teams but especially enjoys basketball, given her Hoosier roots! Julie currently serves as the admissions counselor for students in New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.
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Associate Director of Admissions Maren Welch
Phone: (315) 781-3315
Text: (315) 828-0905Maren attended Siena College where she majored in English and played four years on the Siena women’s soccer team. She joined the HWS enrollment team in 2015 and has spent time in both admissions and financial aid. Maren currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from the Rochester and Finger Lakes areas of New York, as well as Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska and Kansas.
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Associate Director of Admissions Sue Willard '99
Phone: (315) 781-3865
Text: (315) 325-9003Sue earned a bachelor's degree in history from William Smith College in 1999 and completed the education program. After earning a master's degree in history and serving as a graduate assistant soccer coach at Washington College, she returned to William Smith as assistant coach for the Herons in 2001. From there, Sue went on to coach soccer at both the NCAA Division I and III levels, before rejoining HWS in the Office of Admissions. Sue currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from Fairfield County, Connecticut; Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester Counties in New York; Colorado; Idaho; Montana; North Dakota; South Dakota and Wyoming.
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Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Christina Brundage
Phone: (315) 781-3789
Text: (315) 325-9036Christina graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay with a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing and communication arts. Prior to joining the HWS admissions staff, she worked in finance, and as an entrepreneur. Having recently migrated from the Midwest, Christina is excited to champion all that Hobart and William Smith Colleges has to offer.
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Senior Assistant Director of Admissions/Director of Diversity Recruitment & Initiatives Jon Sebastian-Walkes
Phone: (315) 781-4235
Text: (315) 325-9039Jon currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, New York.
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Assistant Director of Admissions Sam Allen '20
Text: (315) 325-9010
Born and raised in Lewisburg, Penn., Sam graduated from Hobart and William Smith in 2020 with a B.A. in Sociology. While on campus, Sam was a member of the varsity basketball team, served as a Lead Teaching Fellow for the Sociology Department, studied abroad in Galway, Ireland and was inducted into the Druid and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Societies. Outside of work, he enjoys engaging in thoughtful discussion with friends and family and is working to sharpen his cooking skills. Sam currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from California, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
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Assistant Director of Admissions and Event Coordinator Jillian Augustine
Phone: (315) 781-4514
Text: (315) 828-0841A Geneva native, Jillian graduated from The University at Albany, SUNY, in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in communications. Prior to joining the admissions staff, Jillian spent three summers working with Conferences and Events at HWS. She currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from the South and Gulf coast states, Hawaii, Utah, Nevada and Alaska.
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Assistant Director of Admissions Cassidy Brown
Phone: (315) 781-4659
Cassidy graduated from Utica College in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in communication arts and theater. She then went on to graduate from Canisius College in 2021 with her master's degree in higher education and student affairs administration. Cassidy currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from Syracuse, New York; New Hampshire and Maine.
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Assistant Director of Admissions Ryan Hofmann '20
Phone: (315) 781-4236
Text: (315) 325-9047Born in Tampa, Fla., and raised in Lindenhurst, N.Y., Ryan is a first-generation graduate from the Hobart and William Smith Classes of 2020 (#proud). He graduated with a B.A. in psychology and a history minor. At HWS Ryan played quarterback for the Hobart football team, was a member of Theta Delta Chi and the HWS fly fishing club, involved in the HWS leadership certificate program, a senior intern in the admissions office and worked with the athletic communications department for three years. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys staying active by fishing or playing golf. Ryan currently serves as the admissions counselor for students from the Capital District, New York; Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Windham Counties Connecticut; Long Island, New York; Vermont; Montana; Idaho and Wyoming.
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Assistant Director of Admissions Kendra Kosten
Phone: (315) 781-4034
Kendra attended Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., graduating in 2016 with a B.S. in Psychology. She returned to her roots in Rochester, N.Y. for graduate school at Roberts Wesleyan where she graduated with a M.S. in School Counseling & Certificate of Advanced Study. Kendra comes to HWS with a mental health background, having worked in surrounding school districts in the Finger Lakes Region. She currently serves as the Admissions Counselor for New York regions of Buffalo & Albany, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and Minnesota.
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Assistant Director of Admissions for Communications Jordan Roblyer
Phone: (315) 781-3693
Jordan graduated from Elmira College in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in History. After graduation, Jordan worked as a mental health counselor assisting students at Elmira High School. Later, he rejoined Elmira College as an Admissions Counselor before joining HWS in August of 2021.
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