We look forward to hearing from you! Connect with your specific admissions officer, below. Your territory is determined by the address of your school. To receive mailings and digital communications from us, please use our Information Request form. You may also email us at admissions@pomona.edu.
Seth Allen, Vice President for Strategy & Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
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Hometown: Boston, MA
College major: Economics (and lots of creative writing)
Fun fact: I have an identical twin.
Advice for college applicants: Searching for colleges is like experimenting with new foods. You never know what will excite your taste buds. Be open to potential colleges like you are open to new flavors, new spices, and uniquely regional cuisine. You don’t know what you don’t know until you’ve tried it.
Adam Sapp, Assistant Vice President & Director of Admissions
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Territories
States: Hawaii
California: East San Fernando Valley
Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands
International: Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and all other international areas not otherwise assigned
Hometown: Danville, OH
College major: History
Fun fact: I am on my fourth passport–the first three are full!
Advice for college applicants: Read more autobiographies. Why? Because learning how to reflect on your life is a skill best learned early.
Joel A. Hart, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions & Director of Operations
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Territories
States & Cities: New York City
California: San Francisco County
International: Europe, Oceania (Australia/New Zealand)
Hometown: Nashville, TN
College majors: Political Science and Religious Studies
Fun fact: I once (and only once) appeared on Jeopardy!
Advice for college applicants: Stay organized, and check your email.
Edward Pickett III, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions & Director of Recruitment
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Territories
States & Cities: Chicago, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina
California: Claremont, Marin County, Oakland, West Beach, West Los Angeles
Hometown: Oakland/Berkeley, CA
College majors: Media Studies and Studio Art
Fun fact: As a former Sagehen athlete, my favorite TV stations are ESPN and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
Advice for college applicants: Present your authentic self in your application. That’s the person we want to understand because that is the person who will attend college.
Katrina Bruno, Associate Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
California: San Diego County
Other: Homeschool students
Hometown: Miami, FL
College major: Journalism (Sociology minor)
Fun fact: My friends and family find humor in the fact that I have a major fear... of butterflies.
Advice for college applicants: Check out blogs/newspapers/social media sites to learn more about what students on campus are talking about or care about.
Michelle Gonzalez, Associate Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: Arizona, New Mexico, Southeast Texas & the Rio Grande Valley
California: Ontario, Riverside County & San Bernardino County
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
College major: Spanish
Fun fact: I had a Lego-themed wedding. Yes, I have pictures.
Advice for college applicants: Be yourself! Own your experiences.
Scott Smith, Associate Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi
California: Central Coast, Central Valley
Hometown: Martinez, GA
College major: Cinematic Arts
Fun fact: I once almost ran over George Lucas while riding my bike.
Advice for college applicants: College applications can feel like a big test that you’re trying to pass, but try to keep in mind that it really is more a matter of getting to know you—the real you—and how you might contribute to a community.
Paola Franco '17, Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions
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Territories
California: East Los Angeles, South & South Central Los Angeles
Territories: Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
International: Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa Other: Transfer Students
Hometown: Hawthorne, CA
College major: Spanish
Fun fact: I'm a dedicated Dodgers fan, but they’ve managed to lose every single game I’ve attended. Maybe I should stop going to so many . . .
Advice for college applicants: Follow that gut feeling you're having! NOT liking an institution after visiting or doing research is just as valid as falling in love with one.
Kenia Alfaro, Assistant Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: North & Central Texas
California: Long Beach
International: Africa (outside of Northern Africa)
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
College majors: Education Studies and Ethnic Studies
Fun fact: I once hiked part of the Appalachian Trail in the Shenandoah Valley—it was then I realized hiking is not my calling.
Advice for college applicants: Finding a college means finding a place that is the best fit for you, so trust yourself throughout the process and you’ll end up at the right place!
Phoebe Blaisdell, Assistant Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
California: Far Northern California, Hollywood & Wilshire
Hometown: South Hadley, MA
College major: Philosophy
Fun fact: My best skill is my ability to fall down without seriously injuring myself. I've gotten a lot of practice over the years.
Advice for college applicants: When trying to get a feel for a school's atmosphere, try to talk to as many students as you can. If you have the chance to take a tour and ask the guide questions, try to find at least one or two other students who might be willing to answer the same questions, and see what the answers have in common or where they differ.
Adriana B. Bustos, Assistant Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
California: Anaheim, Covina & West Covina (except Claremont), Greater Imperial Valley, Santa Ana
Hometown: La Puente, CA
College major: Mathematics (Statistics emphasis)
Fun fact: I love thrifting. My goal this year is to shop almost 100% secondhand clothing for myself.
Advice for college applicants: The perfect college for you depends on ... YOU. Think about what's important to you, whether that's location, size, financial aid, or other factors. College will be a home away from home, so make sure you choose a college that is right for you, somewhere you feel you belong and where you can thrive over the next few years.
Geraldine Castañeda '21, Assistant Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: Illinois (outside Chicago), Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin
California: Napa/Sonoma, Sacramento County, San Jose
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
College major: Public Policy Analysis (PPA), Chicanx/Latinx concentration
Fun fact: I moonlight as a Zumba instructor.
Advice for college applicants: Focus more on making this an enjoyable process for yourself. Write about moments where you find real meaning, lean on people who hype you up, and write your future self a letter to read when you're done with the application process.
Doreen Thode, Assistant Dean of Admissions
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Territories
States: Iowa, Minnesota
California: Santa Barbara & West Ventura County
International: Subcontinent (outside of India) and Central Asia, India
Hometown: Kühren, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (if you have been, I will take you out for coffee)
College major: Sociology
Fun fact: My bucket list includes running a marathon, writing a children's book, and going skydiving.
Advice for college applicants: Take your time when completing the application (but of course be aware of the different application deadlines!). Do not try to do it in one sitting, you will get frustrated. Instead take this process step-by-step and allow for breathing room.
Cecil Sagehen, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Territories
States: Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
California: Contra Costa County
Saaron Gonzalez, Admissions Officer
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Territories
States: Nevada
California: Orange County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County (outside San Jose), Whittier
Hometown: East Los Angeles (East L.A.), CA
College major: Politics
Fun fact: I was a violinist in my high school's orchestra and mariachi.
Advice for college applicants: Begin researching your prospective schools as early as possible. One way to organize your research is to create a spreadsheet with deadlines, programs/events for prospective students, academic programs, faculty, and any other qualities that are important to you in your research or college visit.
Tray Hammond '22, Admissions Officer
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Territories
States: Pennsylvania
California: Alameda County (except Oakland)
International: China, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia (outside Singapore) and Pacific Islands
Hometown: Martin, TN
College major: Theatre (Theatrical Performance track)
Fun fact: As a student at Pomona, I was an extra for a couple episodes of Westworld. One episode was shot in L.A., and the other was shot in Singapore while I was there doing research!
Advice for college applicants: As scary as college applications (and the thought of admissions officers reading those applications) can be, take your time crafting your list: who receives an application from you is completely in your hands. Create a list of schools where you could see yourself thriving. The wait for decisions is hard, but I promise it’ll be worth your while.
Nathalie Jimenez, Admissions Officer
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Territories
States: Delaware, New Jersey, New York (except NYC)
California: West San Fernando Valley, Glendale and Pasadena, and South Bay.
Hometown: Inglewood, CA
College major: Spanish & Portuguese
Fun fact: I was bitten by a camel in Morocco, and I have a picture to prove it.
Advice for college applicants: "Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." Be realistic about colleges that are best fit for you, but don't be afraid to dream big either.
Operations Staff
Kristi Hart, Operations Supervisor for Admissions
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Amy Shankle, Communications Coordinator for Admissions
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Support Staff
Gina Green, Executive Assistant to Vice President, Admissions & Financial Aid
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Josi Muñoz-Rubalcava, Administrative Coordinator to Assistant VP & Director of Admissions
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Socorro Chavez, Administrative Assistant to the Senior Associate Dean & Director of Operations
Arianna Batta Carrillo, Administrative Assistant to the Senior Associate Dean & Director of Recruitment
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