Arden Educational Consulting is an educational consulting practice committed to helping students of all backgrounds and abilities find the educational environment where they can become who they want to be. Navigating the college admissions process can be a daunting task, filled with conflicting information, anxiety, and confusing steps. We strive to help students and families focus on finding the right fit. We systematically support students and parents through this journey guiding the student to be more confident, self-aware, and engaged in their education.
Kate launched Arden Education after nearly two decades working in diverse educational enviroments. She has taught history and religion in England and the US, at private, East Coast universities and public universities in Kansas.
Dr. Kate’s primary role as a professor has been coupled with private tutoring in standardized tests, Latin and math and she has successfully coached a Math Counts team to 6 regional individual wins and a 5th Place team in the Kansas State Competition in 2016.
During her time teaching at the university level in Kansas, Dr. Kate also volunteered as a Harvard alumna to interview prospective students and worked as a liaison between local schools and Harvard admissions. Dr. Kate graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Syracuse University, was a visiting student at Oxford University, holds an MTS from Harvard, 1999, and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester in England in 2004. She completed a fellowship at Catholic University of America while teaching Latin at Georgetown Day School.
Dr. Kate is a professional member of IECA and holds a certificate in Educational Consulting from UC Irvine.
Susan Spillman holds a BA of English from the University of Virginia, a JD from Case Western Reserve University, and an MFA of Writing from Wichita State University. After practicing and teaching law and then teaching composition and literature as an Interim Composition Director, she started Think Clearly, Write Precisely SM to help students and professionals with their writing projects. Susan believes that all students offer important ideas worthy of good writing. Susan acts as a guide, helping students craft meaning which not only aids their audience’s understanding, but also takes students on a journey of discovery. She values integrity, attention to detail, kindness, and courtesy. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and drawing. Susan is a member of the Ohio Bar Association and an associate member of IECA.
Liza Risin joins the Arden Education team as an educational advisor, mentor, and writer who specializes in urban and first-gen student applications and graduate school guidance.
Liza’s unique background allows her to turn students’ interests into passions and those passions into careers. After graduating from University of Wisconsin-Madison, she attended Boston University School of Law. Liza represented clients in Federal and State courts, international arbitrations, and before governmental agencies. Liza’s experience editing legal texts for publication and scripts for audiobooks has provided her with the expertise that allows her to guide students and authors through the often challenging writing process.
Liza’s experience and advocacy in education has been far reaching and impactful. Liza worked to implement STEM programming and access for public school students in New Jersey and Florida. Those efforts, as well as teaching in the classroom, running programming, and writing curriculum, have dovetailed with her commitment to students of all ability levels, interests, and backgrounds. Liza is an advocate for under-reperented students in the New York and Miami areas– serving with commitment on Breakthrough Miami– and she advocates for equitable educational opportunities. Liza’s students grow into independent students, decision makers, and forward thinkers.
Liza is an Associate Member of the IECA, and she lives in Coconut Grove, Florida with her family and two terrible poodles.