Needham Community Education

Mindy Popp, the managing director and principal consultant of Popp & Associates, LLC, has worked in various positions with college and secondary school students, including college counseling, college admissions and financial aid, residential life, teaching and advising for 20+ years. Ms. Popp’s school-based counseling roles include serving as a long-term substitute school counselor at the Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School and as the Associate Director of College Counseling at The Cambridge School of Weston. Prior to working as a school college counselor, she served as the college counselor for Chyten Educational Services. Before joining the staff at Chyten, Ms. Popp worked as a Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Wellesley College. During her tenure there, Ms. Popp developed a comprehensive understanding of critical factors considered and emphasized in the college application process. She reviewed applications for admission, conducted student interviews, facilitated information sessions for students and families, advised Board of Admission student volunteers, and coordinated open house events. Ms. Popp is a member of professional organizations including the New England Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Ms. Popp is a graduate of Tufts University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. You can contact Mindy at mpopp@poppandassociates.com, and learn more from her website:http://www.poppandassociates.com.

Julie Shields-Rutyna, Director of College Planning, Education, and Training, Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA),

joined MEFA in 2007 and in her role provides expertise related to planning, saving, and paying for college to families, colleges, and other organizations. Prior to joining MEFA, Julie worked for the College Board, Nellie Mae, and American Express, and was the Director of Financial Aid at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Julie has been involved with MASFAA in a variety of positions and committees since 1993. She holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge.