Meet the College Office
Nicholas Soodik, Director
Nick Soodik has worked in independent schools for over fifteen years. He has taught and advised every grade-level in high school and believes, above all else, that his responsibility is to know his students and to provide them with a nurturing and challenging environment in which to grow. Nick has published numerous articles on the landscape of college admissions, and he's been quoted in such national publications as the Wall Street Journal and Voice of America. He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Northwestern and his master’s degree, also in English, from Cornell. He has two daughters who keep him busy and enjoys gardening, reading novels, and listening to podcasts about politics and the NBA.
JK Park, College Counselor
JK comes to Pingree after serving as a school counselor at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School for 13 years. JK’s academic and counseling experience includes work as a Teaching Fellow in the Prevention Science and Practice Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and as a Graduate and Instructional Assistant at the Learning Resource Center for Student Athletes at Boston College. JK views the college counseling process as a way to challenge students to think independently, critically, and empathically. He firmly believes that this journey exhorts students to open their minds to possibilities that not only include the accumulation of knowledge, but also the development of fully and honestly understanding one’s self. He is humbled by the opportunity to assist students in sharing their personal narratives which he believes is central to the college application process. JK earned his bachelor’s degree from Grove City College and his master’s from Boston College, Lynch Graduate School of Education. Outside of work, JK enjoys being in nature with his wife and his three daughters, especially near a body of water. He savors a good cup of dark roast black coffee, ice cream throughout the year, and anything maple flavored.
Kellee Webb, College Counselor
Kellee Webb was raised in Baltimore, MD. Her passion for creative expression led her to pursue her Professional Music Degree at Berklee College of Music. After teaching music, attending a Spanish language immersion program in Costa Rica, and working in property management, she had a career in postsecondary admissions for eight years at Boston University CDIA and Berklee College of Music. She became the Director of College Guidance and a member of the Diversity Leadership team at The Gunston School in Maryland. Dedicated to helping students navigate the harrowing college admissions process and their upcoming transition year, she spends time addressing stressors associated with applications, and exploring what students will encounter during their first semesters in college. A former personal trainer, she prefers to stay fit via rock climbing, yoga, pilates, and dancing. She loves designing patterns and sewing stuffed animals for friends and family. Never able to get enough tea or literature, she has an intense passion for reading and writing; while in Boston, she edited articles for an online music magazine. She gigs and collaborates with others on countless musical projects, admitting that she'll never stop composing music.
Tracy Johnson, Office Coordinator
Tracy Johnson has worked at Pingree in the College Counseling Office since 1992. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Amherst College before embarking on a career in the banking industry. She knows the College Counseling Office from the inside out, since she is also the mother of three Pingree graduates who were able to find their "perfect fit" colleges.