Founded in 2001, the Short List is dedicated to inspiring passion in young adults and helping them achieve their college and professional dreams. We provide students and young professionals with personal guidance and direction that make a true difference in their ability to make “the short list” of their chosen colleges or career. We offer a variety of services, from one-on-one coaching to community and corporate workshops and neighborhood presentations to help clients define their dreams, believe in themselves, and achieve their goals. Contact us to learn more.
BILL SHORT—FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Bill earned his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University. He is a graduate of UCLA’s College Counseling Program and New York University’s Career Planning & Development Program. He is also a member of Harvard’s Institute on College Admissions and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC). Bill is a certified personal coach through the Coach Training Alliance (CTA) and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF). After earning his MBA, Bill held various executive management positions with The Walt Disney Company, the National Hockey League (NHL), Hallmark Entertainment, and Warner Brothers.
BARRIE MESSINGER—College Counselor & Trainer
Barrie earned her College Counseling certification from UCLA and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College in Michigan, where she co-led the Admissions Tele-counseling Program for prospective students. For her senior thesis, Barrie studied the challenges students from Malaysia, China, and Japan face in understanding U.S. culture and education. Barrie began her career as the Coordinator of International Initiatives at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which included international admissions recruitment in Canada and Asia. She then served as the study abroad advisor at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Prior to working with The Short List, Barrie was the Associate Program Dean and Regional College Relations Manager for the Institute for the International Education of Students, an international education organization. Barrie has lived, studied, and worked in Asia, Africa, and South America.
TIM DAVID-LANG—COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Tim earned his Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University and his B.A. from Brown University. He began his career as a high school English teacher in Rhode Island and then Barcelona, Spain. Upon his return to the United States he worked as a counselor at the University Freshman Center at St. John’s University in New York City. Tim then served as the college counselor at Humanities Preparatory Academy in New York City during which time he sat on the Advisory Board of the College Access Consortium of New York (CACNY). Tim has been the guidance counselor at the Baccalaureate School for Global Education and The Clinton School, both IB high schools in New York City.
ROBYN MITCHELL—COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Robyn has nearly 10 years of experience as a counselor with The Short List. She is a graduate of the esteemed S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University and UCLA’s College Counseling Program. While at Syracuse, she was the videographer for the football team and the only female on staff. The position earned her a varsity letter in football- one of the first women in the school’s history to do so. After college, Robyn worked in television production on a variety of projects for CBS Sports, ESPN, HGTV, and J. Walter Thompson. However, it was her previous time on the Syracuse student-athlete academic advisory team that led her to return to working with students. Robyn has extensive experience with domestic and international students, expats, as well as transfer students. Her background has given her thorough knowledge of collegiate sports and the recruitment process. As the mother of two children with dyslexia, Robyn is particularly sensitive to the challenges students with learning differences face as they navigate the college admissions process. Robyn has lived in Singapore and the UK, and has traveled throughout Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.
NATALIE CHEN—COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Natalie earned her MBA from Columbia Business School and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester. She is a graduate of the UCLA College Counseling Program. Natalie attended schools in Hong Kong and the US, studying under both British and American-style curriculums. After holding various positions in finance and investment management in New York, Natalie moved back to Hong Kong with her family, where she volunteered at Hong Kong area schools for over 18 years. As the mother of two student-athletes who pursued their studies at elite colleges in the United States, Natalie especially enjoys mentoring student-athletes. In addition, she has traveled throughout Asia, Europe and North America. Natalie works with many of our Asia-based clients, including families who have children attending boarding schools overseas.
SARAH FELDMAN—COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Sarah earned her B.A from Brown University; her Master’s in Education from Harvard University in Adolescent Psychology and Development; a Doctorate in Education from Mills College in Educational Leadership; and her College Counseling certification from the University of California-San Diego. She has served as a College Advisor, coached teachers and principals, taught History at public, private and international schools, and led schools in roles such as Assistant Principal and Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment in California public schools. Sarah has tremendous experience advancing equity and learning opportunities for all students. She ran a non-profit for urban youth in Boston and worked as a Senior Education Researcher at WestEd in San Francisco.
VINCE RICCI—COLLEGE & GRAD SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Vince is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. After graduating from Stanford, Vince moved to New Orleans to run an educational non-profit and teach middle and high school history at Isidore Newman School. He then pursued his own education at New York University, where he earned an MA in Digital Media Design for Learning. Vince has provided cross-cultural admissions counseling to clients applying to undergraduate and graduate programs in the US, UK and Europe, including helping many secure Fulbright Awards. Vince has served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Tokyo and over the past decade, volunteered with The Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC), where he served as a board director for six years, including one year as president.
JILL TIPOGRAPH—SUMMER PLANNING CONSULTANT
Jill earned her BA in Psychology and an MBA from New York University. She is a dedicated Summer Planning Consultant. With nearly 20 years of passionate worldwide experience, Jill works one-on-one with families to help them identify targeted opportunities that best meet their teen’s summer needs and goals through a comprehensive intake and customized research process. Jill is the author of Your Everything Summer Guide & Planner, as well as a media spokesperson and speaker on parenting, youth, teen, and summer topics. Jill is regularly featured as a summer planning expert in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and on NBC’s Today Show.
JASON MCNEELY—Academic Tutoring & Test Prep
Jason graduated cum laude from Harvard and has been providing academic tutoring and test prep for nearly 20 years. After many years as one of the top tutors at Advantage Testing, an elite New York City tutoring agency, Jason founded his own tutoring firm, which allowed him to integrate into his tutoring practice the specialized teaching strategies and techniques that worked best for his students. His personalized approach achieves extraordinary results for students from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities. Jason’s years of experience with visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners enables him to pull from a broad “tool kit” of techniques that can benefit students from every confidence level and learning style, no matter how intimidating they find standardized testing or course work. Jason also has extensive experience working with students with learning challenges including ADD, ADHD, working memory deficiencies and executive function impairments.
ALFRED PAYTON—BUSINESS & CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Alfred earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Harvard. He heads up The Short List Business Development and Career Counseling. His expertise include initiatives in the areas of digital marketing, technology and software development, career networking, and executive functioning training. Alfred managed consulting and account management at education and financial software companies SunGard and Misys, based variously in the US, Germany and Switzerland. He held senior sales, business development and strategic leadership roles at companies such as Dow Jones, Ringier, and various digital agencies. He currently runs sales and business development at Knexus marketing cloud software company, and recently led a digital strategy project at Combs Enterprises, Sean “P Diddy” Combs’ company.
BRIAN TOBIN—COACHING & MENTORING
Brian received his Coaching Certification from Columbia University, his Masters in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelors in International Affairs from The George Washington University. He is fluent in four languages, and conversant in another two. Brian’s 35-year career included assignments in education, management and finance. He has lived and worked in Tokyo, Singapore, London and New York. Brian leveraged his education and experiences into building a successful coaching and mentoring practice that guides clients through career and leadership development starting as early as college and extending through to the executive corporate level. He especially enjoys mentoring young clients navigating cross-cultural differences whether at the university, grad school or career levels. Brian also received a Certificate in Philanthropy and Fundraising from New York University, and has introduced countless clients to the non-profit world, while encouraging them to give back to their communities.
DAVID TRAVIS—Senior Consultant
Dave graduated cum laude from Harvard. He was a test prep tutor for 20 years and developed The Short List’s Test Prep & Academic Tutoring division before transferring leadership to longtime colleague, veteran tutor and former Harvard classmate Jason McNeely. Dave began his career at an elite Manhattan test prep firm, spent five years in NYC public schools, and eight summers at Phillips Academy in Andover MA, where he trained new instructors and co-wrote the program’s SAT handbook. This rich experience enabled him to create a world-class adaptive curriculum that the tutoring team employs to craft individualized tutoring programs for all ages and levels. Dave specialized in all areas, in particular writing the college essay.
JEANNE KEESLER—ADMINISTRATION
Jeanne has managed business administration for a number of companies for the past 25 years. She was responsible for day-to-day operations and was the key liaison to answer and resolve customer administrative questions. Jeanne ventured on her own as an independent bookkeeper in 2006, focusing her efforts on non-profit and youth organizations. Prior to The Short List, Jeanne worked for a New England non-profit summer service organization for high school students looking to expand their world through community service, and a youth program with its founding mission to empower and support youth. Jeanne is a long-time member of The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and has working relationships with numerous CPA firms around the country.
CHIP BUCHANAN—TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN
Chip has been designer and developer for The Short List since the company’s founding in 2002. His family strongly believed in the value of a good education. Chip attended Phillips Exeter Academy, earned an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from MIT, and a master’s in creative writing at Boston University. His combination of creative and technical skills has shaped The Short List marketing materials and web design. He also has held various roles in corporate communications and digital publishing for companies including Sherwin-Williams, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Ziff Davis Enterprise. Currently he resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and produces for his multimedia design business, ContentGraphics.