ABOUT
CollegePath LA is a community organization of volunteers who help public high school students explore careers, apply to college and thrive once they get there. We have developed a model project at John Marshall High School, an urban school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. We share our know-how and curricula with other schools and organizations.
Many of our students are the first in their families to pursue a college education. Many speak a language other than English at home. They need personalized guidance to navigate the bewildering college application process. Marshall, like other large public high schools, has only one college counselor. We help fill this resource gap by drawing on the talents, experience and goodwill of people in our community.
We coordinate with Marshall’s principal, teachers and college counselor to offer campus workshops on topics ranging from career choices to SAT preparation to college essay writing. We also organize social events outside of school that bring students together with each other and with community volunteers.
Students flourish in this support network, which includes recent Marshall graduates who return to share candid tales of college life. Adult volunteers are gratified to make a difference in the lives of students. The community benefits when its citizens are better educated. We believe engaged volunteers become advocates for public education. Everybody wins!
Many of our students are the first in their families to pursue a college education. Many speak a language other than English at home. They need personalized guidance to navigate the bewildering college application process. Marshall, like other large public high schools, has only one college counselor. We help fill this resource gap by drawing on the talents, experience and goodwill of people in our community.
We coordinate with Marshall’s principal, teachers and college counselor to offer campus workshops on topics ranging from career choices to SAT preparation to college essay writing. We also organize social events outside of school that bring students together with each other and with community volunteers.
Students flourish in this support network, which includes recent Marshall graduates who return to share candid tales of college life. Adult volunteers are gratified to make a difference in the lives of students. The community benefits when its citizens are better educated. We believe engaged volunteers become advocates for public education. Everybody wins!
History
CollegePath LA began when a small group of community members and teachers helped about 30 John Marshall High School seniors with their college essays. The urban school, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District, had about 3,500 students, but only one college counselor.
News of the project spread through the community, with support from a city councilman. In December 2009, about 40 people came to an organizational meeting at Susan Philips’ home near Marshall High School. Participants included young, seasoned and retired professionals with experience in college and high school counseling, education, real estate, law, journalism and other fields.
The first volunteers signed on in 2010. The first initiative was developed to work with high school juniors on career exploration and college applications. Since then, the program has evolved and grown to include about 500 volunteers. Nearly 5,000 students have participated in workshops focused on careers, personal statement writing and financial aid (FAFSA) applications.
News of the project spread through the community, with support from a city councilman. In December 2009, about 40 people came to an organizational meeting at Susan Philips’ home near Marshall High School. Participants included young, seasoned and retired professionals with experience in college and high school counseling, education, real estate, law, journalism and other fields.
The first volunteers signed on in 2010. The first initiative was developed to work with high school juniors on career exploration and college applications. Since then, the program has evolved and grown to include about 500 volunteers. Nearly 5,000 students have participated in workshops focused on careers, personal statement writing and financial aid (FAFSA) applications.
Our TEAM
Susan Philips started CollegePath LA in 2009 with her friend, Lori Zimmerman. Susan is an author and educator who worked for more than 30 years in organizations serving inner-city youth, immigrants, and other underserved populations. Susan’s professional experience includes teaching, curriculum development, and teacher training.
Susan also worked for a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that seeks to instill in our nation’s youth a deeper understanding of citizenship. She has devoted much of her career to encouraging citizens to become active volunteers in their communities—something that enriches her own life.
Susan has an M.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in History from the University of California at Riverside. She speaks Spanish and sign language for the hearing impaired. She lives with her husband, Art, in Silver Lake where she walks every day for exercise.
Susan also worked for a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that seeks to instill in our nation’s youth a deeper understanding of citizenship. She has devoted much of her career to encouraging citizens to become active volunteers in their communities—something that enriches her own life.
Susan has an M.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in History from the University of California at Riverside. She speaks Spanish and sign language for the hearing impaired. She lives with her husband, Art, in Silver Lake where she walks every day for exercise.
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Jody Brooks is a Certified College Counselor with a passion for helping students who have limited access to resources. She has a multi-disciplinary background in mental health counseling, strategic marketing for small businesses, and major gifts fundraising.
At CollegePath LA, Jody has helped launch a newsletter, a mentoring program for first year college students, and a series of video interviews that explore professional careers. Jody developed and maintains the organization’s database. She facilitates workshops to help students with their college essays. Jody holds a B.A. degree in Psychology from Simmons College in Boston, Mass., an M.B.A. in Marketing from Boston University, and a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA. Jody and her husband, Peter, live in the Hollywood hills with their dog, Pablo. |
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Robert Brooks is a retired physician who more than 20 years ago embarked on a second career as a public school science and mathematics instructor, technology coordinator and after-school academic program manager.
Since 2005, Bob has worked at a Los Angeles public school where he serves as its after-school academic program coordinator. He instructs students, leads tutor training, develops curriculum, and collects and analyses statistical data. He also maintains a website that makes information and educational materials available to middle school and high school students.
Bob has worked with CollegePath LA since 2014 as its webmaster and technology consultant. He is also a member of its advisory committee.
Bob earned a M.D. degree from the University of Southern California. He holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford University in Biology and Humanities. He lives in Altadena. His hobbies include photography, reading, and playing the piano.
Since 2005, Bob has worked at a Los Angeles public school where he serves as its after-school academic program coordinator. He instructs students, leads tutor training, develops curriculum, and collects and analyses statistical data. He also maintains a website that makes information and educational materials available to middle school and high school students.
Bob has worked with CollegePath LA since 2014 as its webmaster and technology consultant. He is also a member of its advisory committee.
Bob earned a M.D. degree from the University of Southern California. He holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford University in Biology and Humanities. He lives in Altadena. His hobbies include photography, reading, and playing the piano.
Rhonda Rundle is a writer and editor who worked as a journalist at the Wall Street Journal for 25 years. She started as a columnist for the paper’s Heard on the Street stock market feature, and later covered a broad range of business news, including healthcare policy and companies.
After retirement in 2010, she began volunteering at CollegePath LA, which was then in its infancy. She has led workshops and created supporting materials to help high school students with their college essays. She edits the organization’s website and is a member of the advisory committee.
Rhonda holds M.A. degrees in History and in Business Administration from UCLA. She has a B.A. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. She lives with her husband, Michael, in Los Angeles’s Studio City neighborhood. She enjoys hiking, tennis, and duplicate bridge.
After retirement in 2010, she began volunteering at CollegePath LA, which was then in its infancy. She has led workshops and created supporting materials to help high school students with their college essays. She edits the organization’s website and is a member of the advisory committee.
Rhonda holds M.A. degrees in History and in Business Administration from UCLA. She has a B.A. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. She lives with her husband, Michael, in Los Angeles’s Studio City neighborhood. She enjoys hiking, tennis, and duplicate bridge.
Lori Zimmerman is a veteran nonprofit manager who has helped small and mid-sized charities transform their visions into effective philanthropies. Her expertise includes organizational infrastructure, grant writing, and strategic planning.
Lori's experience as a mother of two grown children partly inspired her in 2009 to create CollegePath LA with Susan Philips. Lori experienced firsthand the dearth of college-counseling support at her younger child's public high school. Lori says the family was able "to figure it out" because the older child went through the process at a private school with more resources.
Lori obtained a M.B.A. degree from the University of Southern California after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts. She is a fiber artist who has exhibited her work in the United States and Canada.
Lori's experience as a mother of two grown children partly inspired her in 2009 to create CollegePath LA with Susan Philips. Lori experienced firsthand the dearth of college-counseling support at her younger child's public high school. Lori says the family was able "to figure it out" because the older child went through the process at a private school with more resources.
Lori obtained a M.B.A. degree from the University of Southern California after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts. She is a fiber artist who has exhibited her work in the United States and Canada.