Affording College

Ellen Fithian, M.D., Ph.D.

College Planning Consultant, Hampton Roads Educational Consulting, LLC  www.hredconsulting.com

Dr. Ellen Fithian earned a B.A. from Wellesley College, an M.D. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning, & Leadership from the College of William and Mary (with an emphasis in gifted education). She was the Director of Precollegiate Learner Programs at the Center for Gifted Education for a year before founding Hampton Roads Educational Consulting, LLC in 2004. She has assisted many local families with academic planning for college through individual consultations as well as parent and student workshops. In addition to her consulting work, she serves on the Virginia Advisory Committee for the Education of the Gifted and the Editorial Advisory Board of the magazine, Parenting for High Potential.

John Corley, M.B.A., C.P.A.

Certified Public Accountant, Medical Management Consulting Group

Mr. John Corley has practiced as a Certified Public Accountant for 29 years. He holds an undergraduate business degree and an M.B.A. from Virginia Tech, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a Certified Healthcare Business Consultant. He is the President of the Medical Management Consulting Group in Virginia Beach, which provides a range of accounting services to individuals and medical practices.

Dave Deibel

Client Relations Manager, Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) www.ecmc.org

Mr. Dave Deibel earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Christopher Newport University. He has worked as a  Financial Aid Counselor at Bryant & Stratton College in Hampton and was the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at the College of William and Mary from 1993 to 2006, where he supervised the student loan program. Currently, he is a Client Relations Manager at the Educational Credit Management
Corporation (ECMC). ECMC is the designated guarantor of student loans for the state of Virginia. 

Vanessa Whitaker, M.A., Ed.D.

Supervisor of School Counseling and AVID for Newport News Public Schools.  http://sbo.nn.k12.va.us/guidance

 Dr. Whitaker earned a B.A. from Hampton University, an M.A. in counseling from the College of William and Mary, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech.  Her extensive professional experiences include teaching at the elementary and high school levels and couseling elementary, middle, & high school students. She has been recognized as School Administrator of the Year by the Virginia School Counselor's Association, Chapter Member of the Year by the Peninsula Counselor's Association, and an Asset Builder by the City of Newport News. She serves on several counselor advisory committees and is a national trainer and consultant for the College Board, AVID, & the Education Trust. 

Scott Miller

Asociate Director (Acting) Financial Aid University of Virginia http://www.virginia.edu/financialaid

Mr. Scott Miller earned a B.A. from Mercer University and an M. Div in Education
from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky with
aspirations of working in denominational or educational administration. He began
his higher education career at Mars Hill College in North Carolina, serving in
several capacities, including the Director of Financial Aid.  In 2003, Mr.
Miller joined Student Financial Services at the University of Virginia where he
directs a vibrant and capable staff of financial aid professionals.  He is
also involved with the Virginia, South Regional and National Associations of
Financial Aid Administrators.  Mr. Miller is an Accredited Financial Counselor
and is a specialist in the area of financial literacy for undergraduate
students.