robin doran - owner and consultant

Robin has worked in college admission for over 30 years, during which she has read thousands of college applications and counseled over 1,000 students in the application process. Her career began as an undergraduate student at Southern Methodist University, where she was a tour guide, student panelist, and intern in the Office of Admission. After graduating, she became a professional member of the office as an admission counselor. She also spent five years working at the University of Southern California as the Senior Associate Director of Admission.

On the other side of the desk, Robin worked as a college counselor at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California, The John Cooper School in The Woodlands, The Kinkaid School in Houston, and read applications for UCLA as an outside reader.

Robin started doran+scalora college consulting with Jennifer Scalora in 2014. The company has successfully guided thousands of students through the college application process. Jennifer retired in 2026, and the company transitioned to the Doran Consulting Group, where Robin leads a group of five consultants working with students across the country.

Robert Street Clark - consultant

A native of Portland, Oregon, Robert experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating the college process at a large public high school. Drawn to college admissions early on, he attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA—a highly selective liberal arts college that proved to be a perfect fit. After graduation, he joined Teach For America in Houston and later earned his M.Ed. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University, where he also advised undergraduates and volunteered with Breakthrough Collaborative.

Robert returned to Whitman as Assistant Director of Admission, overseeing recruitment in Texas and serving on the admission committee and as athletic liaison. This experience deepened his insight into selective admissions and his passion for helping students find their ideal college fit.

Robert has served as a Dean at The Kinkaid School, guiding students through academics, extracurriculars, and the college process, while also supporting school admission and student organizations. Robert joined the doran consulting team in 2018 and works with students coast to coast, and is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Higher Education Consulting Association.

Trish Houser - Consultant

Trish Houser joined the Doran Consulting team in the spring of 2020. With a combined 20 years of experience in college admissions and counseling, she most recently served as Associate Director of College Counseling at Episcopal High School in Houston for over a decade, having previously worked as Assistant Director of Admission at Sewanee: The University of the South.

Her passion for college counseling is rooted in her own experience. Having navigated the process with little guidance, she made an initial decision that didn’t feel right, and ultimately found her perfect fit at Texas Lutheran University through an unexpected scholarship opportunity. There, she immersed herself in campus life as an RA, Orientation Leader, and Admission Ambassador, forming lifelong connections with peers and professors alike and gaining a deep appreciation for the transformative power of higher education.

Known as a thoughtful listener and essay “wordsmith,” Trish finds joy in helping students uncover and articulate their stories. She’s especially passionate about supporting students through self-reflection during the college search.

Trish lives in the Heights, where she enjoys writing, reading, cooking, baking, and exploring eclectic new places in the neighborhood.

SteFanie Esposito - Consultant

Stefanie Esposito has over 20 years in college counseling, Stefanie has guided 800+ students and their families through the college admissions process. In 2023, she became a full-time independent educational consultant with the goal of making getting into college a time of growth, possibility and joy for my students and their families.

Previously Stefanie served as the Director of College Counseling at the Dawson School, a K-12 independent college preparatory school in Lafayette, Colorado. Prior to joining Dawson, she helped institute the dean system—a four-year, holistic approach to college counseling—at the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas. As an independent counselor, Stefanie has assisted students from coast to coast in their college search and application process. She earned her bachelors and masters degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and began her career in education as a Teach For America corps member, teaching English and journalism in Houston. 

Stefanie brings to her clients a rich knowledge of colleges and universities in the United States and abroad, thorough understanding of the complexities of the admissions process, and a knack for helping students and their parents thrive through the stresses of junior and senior year. As a writer, educator and seasoned counselor, Stefanie loves helping students tell their story to colleges in a way that is authentic, meaningful and successful in helping them realize their college goals.

Jackie Blumenthal - Consultant

Jackie has spent over a decade helping students navigate the college admissions process, combining her degrees from Vanderbilt University, the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and Wake Forest University with hands-on experience as a college counselor and dean at private schools in Tampa, Knoxville, and Houston. Jackie’s work has always centered on guiding students to develop critical skills—whether it’s self-awareness, time management, or the ability to communicate their unique story. She has also had the privilege of working in admissions at Centre College, Rice University, and more recently reading applications for the University of San Diego, which has given her valuable insights into what makes an application truly stand out.

Jackie believes in a process that’s not just about getting into college, but about building skills that will serve students long after they’ve submitted their applications. From strategic planning and data-driven decisions to fostering self-reflection and growth, she helps students develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the schools that will best support their goals. Jackie’s approach is all about empowering students to feel confident, prepared, and excited about their next chapter. Ultimately, her goal is to help each student find a college where they can thrive—not just academically, but personally, socially, and emotionally—setting the stage for their future success and fulfillment.

Emily Davidson - Consultant

Coming from a family of teachers and principals in the Houston area, Emily is deeply rooted in Houston’s education space. Her enthusiasm for college counseling began with a Senior Fellowship in the Office of Admission at Davidson College, where she was mentored by application readers, experiencing the inner workings of elite college admissions. For the past 10 years, Emily has closely guided students through all aspects of the college application preparation and completion process: course selection, school break planning, test preparation planning, school research, strategic list building, essay writing, activities list curation, interview preparation, and more. Professionally, Emily has designed and delivered training programs for new college counselors as well as application skill curriculum for grades 9-12. She loves matching student interests with niche opportunities. 

Her favorite part of working with young people is guiding their exploration across a full spectrum of interests, from Greek literature to UX design. She has a speciality for helping students build the executive and collaboration skills that will lead to success in college. And of course, nothing is more exciting than helping students curate the application narrative! Emily's philosophy is to counsel with warmth, supporting her students from start to finish. She hopes all students have enjoyable high school years, a smooth application process, and a thriving college experience.