about elise
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Elise Yun, Ph.D.
~ B.A. Wellesley College
~ M.M. The Juilliard School of Music
~ Ph.D. New York University
~ Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting-, University of California-Irvine, Division of Continuing Education
-Associate Member, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
-Member, Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC)
Following a dream.
How did a Juilliard-trained pianist become an educational consultant? My path has been a journey of discovery - as a child growing up in central Michigan, music was a soundtrack in my life with the piano as my main voice. When it came time for college, I ventured out east to Wellesley College to pursue a double major in music and psychology and had amazing internships such as at Harvard Project Zero, the research lab in multiple intelligences led by Howard Gardner. I then followed my dream to pursue piano performance, pedagogy, and research at The Juilliard School of Music and New York University.
Education as a calling.
My career in education started as a Teaching Fellow at a K-12 school in New York City, followed by a graduate fellowship at Juilliard, and I never looked back! Since then, I have spent more than 20 years in higher education as a pianist, teacher, advisor, and administrator in institutions such as New York University and Wellesley College. I leapt into an adventure when I moved to China to work as a founding faculty member at an international music school. During those five years, I found myself putting on the hat of the advisor-mentor and loving it -- a path that led me to become an educational consultant.
A unique perspective.
Over the years, I have visited many campuses and guided a number of students through the college and performing arts application process. I have also received training in the premier certificate program for educational consulting from the University of California- Irvine and Associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). IECA stresses the importance of finding the best fit for each student, keeping updated on current trends, visiting colleges, and upholding high ethical and professional standards in the field. With my training and diversity of work and performance experiences, and having been a student and a teacher in both college and conservatory of music settings, I offer a unique perspective in my work with students and families.
To guide and empower.
I recognize that the step to college is an investment for a lifetime of learning and a milestone for a young adult. As a knowledgeable guide, I encourage students to cultivate their genuine interests, to find their voice, and to empower them to make informed decisions on the path to reach this milestone, their happy place.