Education Matters, So Let the Experts Guide You Through Each Step

Kim Stodghill

Founder & Lead Consultant

Jennie Hubbard

Essay Expert & Educational Consultant

Maureen Paschal

Educational Consultant

Melinda DeMaria

Educational Consultant

Read our full bios

Meet The Stodghill Consulting Team

Kim Stodghill

Founder, Stodghill Consulting

Favorite Book: All the Light We Cannot See
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere there is sand, surf, and sun
Coffee Order: Triple Venti Latte with one raw sugar

With nearly 30 years of experience in education, Kim Stodghill has worked with young adults in roles ranging from coach to advisor, in both colleges and independent schools. To Kim, college is all about fit, thus her primary goal is to help each student find the ideal match for the next phase of their education– academically, socially, spiritually, and financially. She knows college is as much about education in the classroom as it is about gaining the skills to be a successful adult. 

Since each student requires a different level of involvement and guidance, Kim’s approach is tailored to meet the needs of the individual student and family. From athlete to artist, engineer to English major, she assists students in the college search and application processes, with each case being as unique as the student involved.

Her professional work has been bolstered through her volunteer efforts and service on a variety of advisory boards for multiple colleges, service to the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling Executive Board, and the Carolina Youth Coalition. Through this work, she has advocated for access to higher education focusing on diversity and inclusion. Guiding students and helping them find their brightest futures is her primary goal. 

Kim is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, SOLSTICE, SACAC, and NACAC. She has taught parent education courses for UNC Charlotte, written for Teen Life magazine, and presented multiple times at regional and national conferences on various aspects of the college journey. 

She shares her passion for education through Stodghill Consulting and is eager to help each client’s family minimize the stress of the college application process while maximizing opportunity. 

 

Jennie Hubbard

Essay Expert/Educational Consultant 

My Favorite Book: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
My Favorite Sandwich: Ripe tomato & Duke’s Mayonnaise on white bread
My Favorite Activity: Seeing live music (especially Widespread Panic)

Jennie brings 17 years of experience as a teacher and librarian to her role as college essay specialist at Stodghill Consulting. After joining the team and quickly demonstrating her talent for connecting with students she honed her counseling skills and also works as a full-time consultant on the team.

Maureen Paschal

Educational Consultant

Favorite TV Show – Derry Girls
Favorite Food – Everything bagel with plain cream cheese
Favorite Superstition – Keep your bread right side up to avoid an argument
As a student advisor, student success coach, history teacher and librarian at Charlotte Latin School for 13 years, Maureen’s favorite part of her job was always working with students and watching them blossom into confident young adults.

In 2023, Maureen decided to follow her passion for working with individual students as they navigated the college admissions process. She began doing college counseling full-time and earned a Graduate Certificate in College Counseling from UC – San Diego. She is also a member of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling.

Maureen’s goal is for your family to actually enjoy the college application process. While college admissions season can be a stressful time, it can also be an opportunity for quality time spent together as a family learning about your child’s goals and dreams, traveling together to visit colleges, and most fun of all, celebrating their victories.

She has been published by Grown and Flown, Today Parents, and On Parenting from the Washington Post, where she shared insights as both an educator and a mother of four mostly grown children.

Maureen lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband and her dog. Her favorite activity in the world is spending time with her husband and her grown children laughing and talking all together on the screen porch.

Melinda DeMaria

Educational Consultant

Favorite Book: Tuesdays with Morrie
Favorite Vacation Spot: A lake in the mountains
Coffee Order: Sweet tea over coffee every day though I do enjoy a London Fog

After almost 30 years in college admission counseling, Melinda joins Stodghill Consulting eager to partner with students and families navigating the college admission process. Having spent time in the undergraduate admissions offices of the University of Pennsylvania and University of Georgia, she seeks to support students in managing their stress and finding joy in the application experience.

Melinda’s commitment to professional development is reflected in her involvement and board service with several national and regional organizations, including the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC). She has presented at numerous conferences on topics ranging from effective recruitment strategies for colleges to creating winning college applications.

Melinda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Georgia Southern University and a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling Services from Clemson University. She also holds certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training from UGA.

Why Work With Us?

Not only does the Stodghill Consulting team each have unique backgrounds in the world of education, but they also draw from decades of direct experience with the college application process. They maintain a network of expert resources across the country to help enhance their efforts with each individual student, and their custom approach is highly personalized and effective. They offer support for students and parents in a variety of ways, working to eliminate the stress that can take over as application deadlines draw near.

When you work with Stodghill Consulting, you benefit from:

  • Experience and expertise – They know the application process back to front, and can help ensure it is straightforward and successful for your student.
  • Educational Backgrounds – The team has spent their careers gaining extensive experience in education, and their industry knowledge bolsters the process. 
  • A Team Approach – Not just the team, but they regularly consult with all their professional contacts and resources. 
  • A Custom Game Plan – There is no formula for college admission success, so each student gets a personalized, tailored approach.
  • A Low-Stress Process – Parents can be as involved as they choose throughout the process, but either way, our goal is to decrease the stressors that accompany prepping for and applying to college.
  • A Wealth of Information – We also send newsletters, host seminars, and give our clients access to a variety of information and materials to aid in their college application process.

We know that each student is special and unique, so this journey looks different for each one of them. Throughout their four years of high school, we seek to help students get to know their authentic selves, develop interests that enrich their lives, and tap into what their best futures should look like.

Ready to get started? Call us for a consultation or simply fill out the contact form below. We look forward to working with you and your student. 

Book a free call

College Planning and Application Process

If you’re ready to start the college planning and application process, you’ve come to the right place!

Since we work virtually, we can support families all over the country.

Here's how it works in 3 simple steps:

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Step 1

Book your initial intake session using the calendar below.

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Step 2

Discuss recommendations for your child’s counseling plan.

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Step 3

Sign up for needed support with your assigned counselor.

Still not sure if this is right for you?

Book a complimentary inquiry call, or send us an email below and we can briefly discuss whether or not we’re a good fit and what level of support we recommend.

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What people are saying about us…

“I’ve worked with Kim for the past five years in helping students gain admission to their dream colleges and universities, and I’ve always found Kim to be a deeply knowledgeable and compassionate counselor. She has a knack for understanding precisely what each of her students needs to succeed, and she goes the extra mile to help her students achieve their college admission goals.”

~ Al Benthall | Benthall Test Prep

“Kim has already helped me and my children and they are only sophomores. She has helped us to understand the aspects of certain career fields they might enjoy because of their natural tendencies and abilities. She has helped them think through their interest outside of school and how that feeds into their college career and their lives. I am encouraged that they are being set up to be successful in their college aspirations.”

~ Class of 2023 Parent

“Kim has already helped me and my children and they are only sophomores. She has helped us to understand the aspects of certain career fields they might enjoy because of their natural tendencies and abilities. She has helped them think through their interest outside of school and how that feeds into their college career and their lives. I am encouraged that they are being set up to be successful in their college aspirations.”

~ Class of 2023 Parent

“My twins started working with Kim the start of their junior year. What impressed me most was her ability to immediately pick up on their differences and create specific plans for both on their college choices. I was also comforted with Kim’s ability to provide critical information during the middle of a pandemic via her “Coffee with Kim” sessions.”

~ Class of 2021 Parent

“Kim has been invaluable during the college search and admission process. She has helped flesh out our college list, guided my daughter in producing a resume, provided support through the process of asking for teacher recommendations and more. When our stress levels start rising, we just schedule an hour with Kim and bring her our questions and concerns. We always leave with answers and a renewed sense of perspective. Her regular “Coffee with Kim” zoom sessions have also been helpful and informative. We are grateful to have her guidance and expertise through this journey!”

~ Class of 2021 Parent

“Kim has been invaluable during the college search and admission process. She has helped flesh out our college list, guided my daughter in producing a resume, provided support through the process of asking for teacher recommendations and more. When our stress levels start rising, we just schedule an hour with Kim and bring her our questions and concerns. We always leave with answers and a renewed sense of perspective. Her regular “Coffee with Kim” zoom sessions have also been helpful and informative. We are grateful to have her guidance and expertise through this journey!”

~ Class of 2021 Parent

“With nearly 20 years of experience in the admissions process and being on all sides of it–-from high school guidance, to private guidance, to behind closed doors reading applications––Kim is the person you want with your student during their college process. As parents, my husband and I felt completely comfortable taking our hands off the “admissions wheel” and had full confidence our daughter was submitting strong applications to colleges that fit her to a tee.”

~– Rachelle McClintock, Class of 2021 Parent

“Mrs. Stodghill was my college guidance counselor throughout my high school career, and I could not have asked for a better one! I am a first generation college student, so going into the process of applying to colleges I was unsure and afraid. Mrs. Stodghill welcomed me with open arms, seeing my potential and inspiring me to accomplish whatever I set my mind to. She carefully critiqued essay after essay, gave me her full attention during meetings, and answered every question I had to the best of her ability. It is truly evident that she has a passion for helping students succeed and loves her work more than anything. I am now able to attend the college of my dreams and feel more prepared than ever.”

~Emma, Class of 2020, Wofford College

“My son and I first met with Kim Stodghill in May of his Junior year of high school. At the initial meeting Kim asked excellent questions, was a great listener, offered helpful guidance and established a trusting rapport with my son. Having gone through the college search process with an older child, what my family valued most was allowing the child to own and guide the process. I knew from the initial meeting that Kim would be a great fit for us, and from there on out, I confidently stepped away! Kim provided a clear path forward with timelines and reminders along the way, supplemented by regular face-to-face meetings and positive encouragement. Kim puts the student and their goals in the center of the process, fully aware of their responsibilities and the independent thinking required to make good decisions for their future. In the end, my son felt very good about the fact that he researched, visited and applied to multiple schools and stayed ahead of all of the deadlines while managing his senior year academics and a varsity sport.”

~ Class of 2020 Parent, UNC

Let Stodghill Consulting be your partner in this journey. 

Unsure about the process or what you need?

Let’s set up an intake session to evaluate and determine what is needed to help your student in the college planning process. 

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