Cyndy McDonald

 

As the first in my family to attend college, I recognize the challenges many families and students face as they plan and prepare for college.  As a student who received financial aid, I understand how important finding the money to pay for college is.  As a mother of four children (the youngest started college in fall 2006 and one completes her masters degree in the spring of 2007) I understand the parent perspective of sending a child away from home.  As a credentialed high school counselor who has worked at the high school and the middle school level, I understand the challenges high school counselors face as they assist students in this process.  As a professional, with leadership roles in WACAC (Western Association for College Admission Counseling), and as the founder of HECA (Higher Educational Consultants Association) I value professional growth, and being able to stay current on trends in college admissions.  I love working with students, parents and the community in the college admissions process.

Sue Nyberg

 

Having recently retired after a 38 year career in education, I feel as one of the newer members of McDonald and Associates I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to my job. Born and raised in Hanford, after graduating form high school, I attended The College of the Sequoias. After obtaining my AA degree I transferred to CSU Fresno where I received my BA in English with a minor in biology and completed my Standard Secondary Teaching Credential. After serving as the lead teacher for the Tulare County Department of Education's Pregnant Minors Program for six years and teaching at Valley High Continuation School in Tulare for ten years, I returned to college and obtained my Pupil Personnel Credential in Counseling from Fresno Pacific University. I have worked as a counselor at Tulare Union High School for 22 years. As the mother of two children, I have had personal experience sending my daughter to our local junior college and  my son to a California State University and from there to grad school back East. While in college, my son was a member of the CSU Fresno Track Team which gives me some personal knowledge regarding college sports. I look forward to working with students and parents as they embark on the college admission process. Sharing this experience with families has long been one of the most rewarding parts of my job as a high school counselor.

Suzanne

 

“Dream Big” – An expression that I have found to encourage and motivate not only myself, but students on a daily basis.

While I attended California State University, Long Beach I truly found my passion in life. Connecting with students, parents, and teachers about higher education for the last ten years has been an adventure that has been both inspirational and rewarding.

I first began to guide students of all ages through the admission process at CSU Long Beach in the office of University Outreach and School Relations while I was an undergraduate. Upon graduation I continued to work at the University while partnering with Long Beach Unified for the GEAR UP Program. A few years later I moved back the Central Valley and continued to work at the high school level in College & Career Planning at Merced Union High School District and now currently at Kingsburg High School. With the unique experience of having worked at the University and high school I’ve been able to gain knowledge on all aspects of succeeding in college; Preparation, Application and Sustainment. 

Returning to Fresno after I graduated from college and got married, has allowed me to continue to grow both professionally and personally. Having two small children, I am constantly trying to look into the future to see what it has in store for them. Knowing that the “crystal ball of life” isn’t always the clearest, I rely on the importance of planning and preparation to help my children achieve their educational and personal goals.

Throughout my experience the most important thing that I have learned is that “It is never to early to begin planning for college”